novation Variables at Lightspeed (Scenario)
Edwin Lee leads a cross-functional product development team at Lightspeed.com, a software company with employees in 10 countries around the world. The members of Edwin's team are hard-working and highly creative, but he wonders if there are ways to stimulate more innovation from the team. As the company has grown, so too has the bureaucracy. Numerous rules and policies have been introduced, and decision making has become highly centralized. This has resulted in resource limitations and tight project deadlines. Fortunately, with the use of web cams and other Internet technology, Edwin is able to hold frequent meetings with his global cross-functional teams. And despite some structural limitations, the company's culture does seem to foster creative solutions. Diverse opinions are encouraged, and even the most unrealistic, "off-the-wall" solutions are accepted without criticism. Mistakes are treated as learning opportunities—a good thing, since there have definitely been some mistakes!

-Which of the following structural suggestions would most likely improve innovation at Lightspeed?
A)limit resources
B)increase time pressures
C)become more organic
D)increase external controls

Question

novation Variables at Lightspeed (Scenario)
Edwin Lee leads a cross-functional product development team at Lightspeed.com, a software company with employees in 10 countries around the world. The members of Edwin's team are hard-working and highly creative, but he wonders if there are ways to stimulate more innovation from the team. As the company has grown, so too has the bureaucracy. Numerous rules and policies have been introduced, and decision making has become highly centralized. This has resulted in resource limitations and tight project deadlines. Fortunately, with the use of web cams and other Internet technology, Edwin is able to hold frequent meetings with his global cross-functional teams. And despite some structural limitations, the company's culture does seem to foster creative solutions. Diverse opinions are encouraged, and even the most unrealistic, "off-the-wall" solutions are accepted without criticism. Mistakes are treated as learning opportunities—a good thing, since there have definitely been some mistakes!

-Which of the following structural suggestions would most likely improve innovation at Lightspeed?
A)limit resources
B)increase time pressures
C)become more organic
D)increase external controls

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Becoming more organic would likely improve innovation at Lightspeed because the company's current centralized decision-making process and numerous rules and policies may be stifling creativity. An organic structure with more decentralized decision-making and fewer rules and policies could allow for more innovation and creativity to emerge. Limiting resources and increasing time pressures could also stifle innovation, while increasing external controls would further centralize decision-making and limit creativity.

Novation Variables at Lightspeed (Scenario)