💡Employee Innovation Projects Thrive at Google and 3M
How to Foster Real Innovation in Your Org
TL;DR
Companies like Google and 3M foster innovation through employee-led projects. Key examples include Gmail's secretive development and Apple's Macintosh skunkworks.
Google and 3M have long supported employee-led initiatives, driving groundbreaking innovations without formal approval. Gmail was developed secretly within Google, while the Macintosh originated as a skunkworks project at Apple. This approach fosters creativity by allowing employees to pursue ideas during off-hours or with minimal oversight. The success of these projects hinges on support from multiple levels within an organization, including technology promoters, process promoters, and power promoters.
Key Points
Gmail developed secretly within Google despite not being part of the '20% time' policy
Apple's original Macintosh computer emerged from a skunkworks team in 1984
3M's Post-it Notes originated from its famous '15 percent culture'
Lab126 at Amazon delivered the Kindle and Echo without permission initially
Innovation success requires support from technology, process, and power promoters
Why It Matters
If you're leading a tech team, fostering a culture where employees can pursue innovative ideas during off-hours or with minimal oversight is crucial. This approach has proven successful at companies like Google and Apple, driving major breakthroughs such as Gmail and the Macintosh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're leading a tech team, fostering a culture where employees can pursue innovative ideas during off-hours or with minimal oversight is crucial. This approach has proven successful at companies like Google and Apple, driving major breakthroughs such as Gmail and the Macintosh.
What happened?
Companies like Google and 3M foster innovation through employee-led projects. Key examples include Gmail's secretive development and Apple's Macintosh skunkworks.
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