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Core Values and Beliefs: A Study of Leading Innovative Organizations

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Abstract

Innovation has been widely regarded as a powerful tool for stimulating economic growth and changing the quality of human life since the beginning of time. Innovation will continue to remain a key driving force for sustainability and growth in the current economic global slowdown. At present there are hardly any studies that show why innovation is successful at some organizations, and yet fails to achieve the desired results at others. The authors investigate the role of “core values and beliefs” of leading innovative companies in India and abroad on how they go about building a unique innovation culture which ensures their continuous growth even in troubled times.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management Studies, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Puttaparthi, 515134, Andhra Pradesh, India

    S. Sai Manohar & Shiv R. Pandit

Authors
  1. S. Sai Manohar
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  2. Shiv R. Pandit
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Sai Manohar.

Appendix

Appendix

Core Values Ranking—Data for Fig. 1

Core values

Percentage

Rank

Core beliefs and values which are commonly practiced by all employees in the organization

66.72051

1

Core values help us to gain real clarity about who we are and what we stand for in business

63.58207

2

Rewards like promotion, status, or recognition are directly linked to effective performance

57.58586

3

Relationships and interactions are based on the values of care and trust

53.81966

4

There is no congruency between what senior managers speak and what they actually do

44.15937

5

Data for Fig. 2

Values

Process innovation

Product innovation

Business model innovation

%

Rank

%

Rank

%

Rank

Profits

17.07

4

17.81

4

  

Product quality

24.67

2

24.83

1

23.62

2

Intense customer focus

24.74

1

23.51

2

27

1

Emphasis on cutting edge technology

  

14.97

5

  

Organizational agility

13.90

5

  

12.85

5

Striving to be a pioneer in the industry

  

18.87

3

16.62

4

Innovation leadership

19.63

3

  

19.88

3

Intellectual property (IP) strength

      

Innovation knowledge flow

      

Reputation for innovation

      

Innovation partner relationships

      

Organizational trust

      

Total

100

 

100

 

100

 

Questionnaire—Core Values

To what extent are the following practices demonstrated in your organization

  • Human relationships and interactions in our organization are based on the values of care and trust.

  • We have a set of core beliefs and values which are commonly practiced by all employees in the organization from top to bottom.

  • Rewards in our organization like promotion, status, monetary gain or recognition are directly linked to effective performance.

  • The core values of our organization help us to gain real clarity about who we are and what we stand for in business.

  • In our organization there is no congruency between what senior managers speak and what they actually do.

Rank in order of priority 5 factors that you believe characterize the efforts and actual behavior of your organization; (number 1 being most important, and 5 being least important).

Ranks 1–5

  • Profits

  • Product quality

  • Intense customer focus

  • Emphasis on cutting edge technology

  • Organizational agility

  • Striving to be a pioneer in the industry

  • Innovation leadership

  • Intellectual Property (IP) strength

  • Innovation knowledge flow

  • Reputation for innovation

  • Innovation partner relationships

  • Organizational trust

The complete questionnaire can be viewed on request.

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Sai Manohar, S., Pandit, S.R. Core Values and Beliefs: A Study of Leading Innovative Organizations. J Bus Ethics 125, 667–680 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1926-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1926-5

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