This unit standard is intended for managers in all economic sectors.

This unit standard is intended for managers in all economic sectors. These managers would typically be second level managers such as heads of department, section heads or divisional heads, who may have more than one team reporting to them. The qualifying learner is capable of analysing own unit in terms of opportunities for innovation, demonstrating understanding of the techniques that promote creativity, developing a plan for creating an environment conducive to innovation and leading a team through a creative thinking process.

Course Content

Innovation is important as it is one of the primary ways to differentiate your product from the competition. If you can’t compete on price, you’ll need innovative products and ideas to make your business stand out from the crowd.

  • 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 The Concept of Innovation
  • 1.1.1 Barriers to innovation
  • 1.2 Environment conducive to innovation
  • 1.2.1 (incl. 1.2.2 & 1.2.3) Communication
  • 1.2.4 Processes
  • 1.2.5 Incentivise innovation 
  • 1.3 Assessing the culture of innovation
  • 1.4 Interpreting and analysing findings
  • 1.4.1 Detailed analysis
  • 1.4.2 Interpreting information

Some of you may think that creativity is an inborn trait rather than something that can be learned and developed. This may be so, but without a conducive environment for creativity to be expressed, how can we expect to see ideas arising from creative employees?

  • 2. (incl. 2.1) Concept of creativity 
  • 2.2(1) Creativity techniques
  • 2.2(2) Mind mapping 
  • 2.2(3) Lateral thinking 
  • 2.2(4) Problem-solving technique
 

How do you promote innovation in your own organisation? Organisations should develop a plan for creating an environment conducive to innovation. This will be covered in this section.

  • 3. (incl. 3.1) Role of a unit manager in creating an environment conducive to innovation
  •  3.2 Developing a plan to create an environment conducive to innovation 
  •  3.3 The process of implementing an environment conducive to innovation
  • 3.4 Promoting the plan

Creative thinking is the process which we use when we come up with a new idea. It is the merging of ideas which have not been merged before. This creative thinking process can be accidental or deliberate.

  • 4. Introduction
  • 4.1 Application of creativity techniques
  • 4.1.1 Brainstorming
  • 4.1.2 Mind mapping
  • 4.1.3 Lateral thinking
  •  4.2 General alternative solutions
  • 4.3 Selecting the best alternative
  • 4.4 Developing a concept for implementation
  • Non-accredited: Short course only  
  • Duration: 1h 30m
  • Delivery: Classroom/Online/Blended
  • Access Period: 12 Months 
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