Build and sustain an innovative work environment

Knowledge Assessment

1. To complete this task refer to (p. 120) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.

Define the term innovation.

2. To complete this task refer to your reading:

- Innovation in Organisations.

Innovation is more than new products and designs, it encompasses a number of different areas.

List the six types of innovation.

3. To complete this task use the internet to search for information.

Research and briefly explain the ‘diffusion of innovations theory'.

4. To complete this task refer to your reading:Guide to the National Quality Standard.

Innovation involves reflection and change. In early education and care services we undertake this as part of the continuous improvement process. This process of ongoing workplace learning is supported by the National Quality Standards (NQS).

List the standard and element from each of the NQS Quality Areas that relate to the process of ongoing workplace learning.

5. To complete this task refer to your reading:
- 7 Habits of Highly Innovative People.

a. List the seven habits of innovative people.

b. List seven techniques you can apply to cultivate creativity.

6. To complete this task refer to (pp. 121 - 122) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
List and describe the six skills necessary for innovative thinking.

7. The statements in the table below have been used to describe or promote innovation. For each statement detail your interpretation of the meaning or intention of the statement.

8. To complete this task refer to (p. 126) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.

What are the five discovery skills that can influence the way innovation can be learned according to Dyer, Gregerson and Christensen (2011)?

9. To complete this task refer to (pp. 123 - 124) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.

a. List the practices that leaders can use to encourage other educators to engage with innovative practice.

b. List the three ways a leader can create a culture of innovation within the organisational climate.

10. To complete this task refer to (pp. 79 - 81) of your reading:
- Motivate, Manage and Reward Performance.
What are some of the ways leaders can reward employee's performance and ideas?

11. To complete this task refer to (pp. 79 - 81) of your reading:
- Motivate, Manage and Reward Performance.

How can management and leaders reflect on practices within the early childhood organisation to create practices that support innovation?

12. To complete this task refer to (pp. 5 - 7) of your reading:
- Innovation Leadership. How to use innovation to lead effectively, work collaboratively and drive results.
Horth and Buchner (2009) suggest that innovative leadership has two components.
a. List the characteristics of each component in the table below as well as questions leaders can reflect on in regards to innovation.

Innovative thinking adds new ideas and value to traditional business thinking and contributes to a positive and effective leadership style.
b. Complete the table below, detailing the new, innovative way of thinking as opposed to the traditional business thinking model.

13. Read the scenario and answer the following questions.

a. In each of the situations below, identify how Katrina could act and/or respond in a manner that shows she values and promotes innovation.

14. To complete this task refer to your reading:
- Six ways to foster innovation through workplace design.
The right workplace environment can facilitate innovation. The design of a space has been shown to be an important driver in improving the speed and outcomes of innovation efforts.
What are the six design strategies for the workspace that support, inspire and enable innovation?

15. To complete this task refer to the readings:
- The effects of physical environment on workplace communication.
- Stimulating Innovation with collaboration rooms.

You will also need to access the following resource:
- Picture Resources. Innovation in the Work Environment.

If we are to create a physical environment which supports innovation we need to consider the design, fit out, resources and equipment provided in the work space.

For this task you are required to review the photographs of staff rooms provided in the resource Picture Resources: Innovation in the Work Environment. Analyse how the environments reflect the innovative principles of building a collaborative space. If the innovative principle is not evident provide an idea that could be included in the environment.

16. Read the scenario and answer the following questions.

Scenario: Innovative Practices

Susanna has recently been appointed as Director of the Little Angels Early Learning Centre, after having worked at this centre for five years as a Room Leader. Susanna knows that most of the families using the centre have English as a second language and many have no extended family close by.

When Susanna was working on the services Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) the educators identified Standard 6.2- Families are supported in their parenting role and their values and beliefs about child rearing are respected as one area where improvement could be made. At present to engage with families they have ‘Day Books" near the parent sign in/sign out folder, they have parent ‘Open Days" twice a year and they send home a service newsletter once a month.

Susanna has read about an innovative idea another service is using to engage with families informally by creating a parent lounge where they hold "coffee mornings' to discuss parenting and share child rearing practices. Susanna decides share this idea with the educators and to ask for other ideas that are innovative and creative to support the involvement of parents that shows respect for the families' values, beliefs and offers a chance to make connections with other families.

a. Describe two innovative practices that would increase engagement with families.

17. To complete this task refer to (p. 128) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
What thirteen steps are involved in trialling and evaluating an innovation?

18. To complete this task refer to (p. 125) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
Innovation often incorporates an element of risk to the organisation, what are four risks?

19. To complete this task refer to (p. 129) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
The table below documents examples of external factors which can influence organisational change.
a. Document the type of external force that represents each set of examples within Early Childhood environments.

20. The table below lists the types of internal factors which can influence organisational change.

a. For each internal force listed, provide an example of factors within an Early Childhood environment that can influence organisational change.

21. To complete this task refer to (p. 133) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
A challenge and barrier to innovation can be resistance to change.
a. Complete the table of organisational factors that contribute to resistance to change.

22. To complete this task refer to (pp. 132 - 133) of your textbook ‘The Business of Child Care'.
The table below lists personal factors that may contribute to resistance to change.
a. Provide a reason for why each of the personal factors listed can pose a barrier to change.

23. Reflect on an area of interest to you within the field of Early Childhood. This may be a theory, topic, or concept, for example Reggio Emilia, music, brain development, or Bronfenbrenner's socio-cultural theory.
Research an article based on this interest.

Write a report no longer than one page, identifying the topic of interest, the article name and source, and a brief summary of the article.
Discuss at least three motivating and innovative ways that you could introduce this to other educators, the program and within pedagogical practices.

Three motivating and innovative ways that you could introduce this to other educators, the program and within pedagogical practices.

24. Based on your research in the previous question suggest two formal and two informal learning opportunities to help develop innovative skills based on your chosen topic of interest.