Case Study: Managing Innovation at Nypro, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Introduction

            New modern technology brought
tremendous change in the formation of the society. With this dramatic and
drastic changes occurred is the by-product of man’s innumerable inventions and
unending search and discovery of new things. In line with such development, the
field of economic and business landscape proactively engaged in adopting various
creative enhancement techniques in order to participate actively with the
demands set by the time and the phenomenon of globalization. 

            These phenomenological occurrences
lead various transnational or multinational business corporations to observe
with sophistication rapid changes in the organizational management and
structural backdrop of a given company. Trying to make various changes on the
level of human resources management, productivity level, and product demands
make global industries spend lofty budget in exchange for effective economic
production and competitive organizational structures and management.

            The changes in business settings
project a significant shift from the classical tradition to post-classical
tradition on business orientation and transaction. However, the phenomenal and
rapid changes make corporations reacted differently depending on the degree of
how it will affect its management structure and organization’s set of standards
and policies. Since, economic status is an important consideration in a certain
organization or corporation.

 

            Having this case presented, we are
inevitably drawn given plethora of facts and data emerging from various schools
of thought and fields of discipline, to consider that one of the most prevailing
and important factor in the development of an organization as well as its entire
system is the key conceptual term called innovation. In various
researches by prominent and respected business and management scholars or even
of social sciences provide conflicting definitions on the term. Although, this
case is not new to any discipline arguably, posits that no absolute exists
within the bounds of spatial and temporal fields. This only means that one’s
definition is not necessarily incorrect rather should be apply in proper
context.

Managing Innovation

           
In Dr. Franz Beeler’s (2005) presentation on Critical Success Factors
in Innovation and Technology Management, he emphasized the important
concepts which produced effective outcome such as Technology Management Concept,
and Innovation and Venture Management Concept. These concepts as far as Beeler
are concern is effective tools in applying innovation for certain small and
medium enterprises. Furthermore, the underlying significant factors in
furthering innovation of an organization are the utility of technology.

            Quite obvious that technology
becomes an archetypical entity in which the implementation of innovation is
effective. Moreover, the use of management technology needs a serious study and
analysis on how it will successfully induced innovation.

            Since, the world moves in its rapid
pace, the need for continuous innovation in order to be at front of advances and
not at the periphery location, should be considered and observed wisely. The
unpredictable and unprecedented occurrences make the world alive and people
become watchful in their own course of living. The same is true in the course of
economic and business life; in which every firm find its eye in watchful mood.

           
In Eleanor Glor’s article Key Factors in Influencing Innovation in
Government, provides a substantial report on prevailing factors which is
significant in influencing innovation in government structure and system. She
identified at least three important factors involved, namely: individual’s
motivation related to innovation, culture within the workplace, and challenges
presented by an innovation. These three factors affect much on the process of
influencing the government system or structure in dealing with innovation.

            Glor (2001:3) elaborately explained
these factors in a systematic and organized manner. According to her discourse,
individual motivation has two distinct faces: an intrinsic and extrinsic face
value. The extrinsic motivation pertains to “arbitrary rewards and goals” which
typically creates an extrinsic motivation to a person while intrinsic motivation
pertains to achieving certain goals attained in various means such as “meaning”,
“competence”, “self-determination”, and “impact (cited Thomas and Velthouse,
1990).” If this factor successfully exercised and emphasized in a certain
organizational structure, more or less it provides an avenue for innovation not
only of on the systems, products, but on competence of the public workers.

            The culture in workplace on the
other hand should be recognized its importance in both individual and collective
level.  Etzioni, cited by Glor, provides three types of consciousness that
contributed to action of individuals within an organization, namely:
consciousness of the environment, the acting self, and controlling overlayers.
These three factors contribute to the collective consciousness of individuals
which produces autonomy and innovative behavior. The concept of organizational
culture is commonly used to “describe the social environment in a workplace.”
This sociological and organizational development perspective leads us to
understand the underlying significance of “power within the organization.”
Lastly, the magnitude of challenge, it is in this level in which challenges and
opportunities come in many forms. They are found in the “amount of money, time,
work, and psychic energy that would be given or received to implement the
innovation (2001:3).”

            These three important factors in the
mind of Glor contribute to the implementation of innovation in the government
structures or systems. Undeniably, the success of the implementation only
measured on how people within an organization respond to such an innovative
call. Nevertheless, only when all members of organization support such project,
then it would be a successful endeavor and hopefully make an organization more
productive as well as compete fairly with those advanced organization.

Innovators then should observe such case and
bring to consciousness relevant and significant factors that if and when treated
easily maybe detrimental to the implementation of any innovation in certain
organization.

Case Analysis

           
The idea of Lankton to implement Novaplast system in the internal
marketplace may have varied implications. These implications are dependent on
the way we look at the idea of internal marketplace putting them in the context
of Nypro Incorporated organization’s structure.

            According to Wikipedia (retrieved
July 8, 2008), internal marketing refers to “an ongoing process that occurs
strictly within a company or organization whereby the functioning process
aligns, motivates and empowers employees at all management levels to
consistently deliver a satisfying customer experience.” Given this definition we
can draw several ideas about the benefits it offers, on the other hand, problems
that would arise upon its implementation.

Internal marketing strategy as part of
innovation enhancement technique provides several benefits like it encourages
and empowers employees as belong to internal market to perform better, gives
them accountability and responsibility, creates common understanding of the
nature of business organization, motivates employees to offer outstanding
service to clients by appreciating their valuable contribution to the success of
the business, establishes good coordination and cooperation among departments of
the business entity.

            These benefits appropriately reflect
Nypro’s core competencies and values and core beliefs. In this case, I would
like to present these core competencies and values and core beliefs as
instruments to prove that such marketing innovation complements Nypro’s
organizational goals and objectives.

 

Core Competencies and Values and Core Beliefs

           
The Nypro Incorporated as leading supplier of high volume custom
injection molded parts which serviced to over 50 large companies in the
healthcare, electronics, telecommunications, and non-automotive industries,
achieves dominance by developing and sustaining a high level of precision and
quality in their injection molding processes and working closely with their
customers and suppliers to ensure success. This success is guided by their
observation, implementation, and exercise of core competencies, values and core
beliefs. Nypro’s core competencies are basically gears towards excellent service
to suppliers and customers giving more importance to precision of work and
performance. The core competencies are located in various marketing strategies
like program management for rapid global launches, customer focused design
solutions, rapid precision tooling, superior supply chain management, being
market leading manufacturing solutions, and global reliability, repeatability
and consistency. These competencies clearly in harmony with the nature of
internal marketing process which Lankton employed.

            Moreover, it reinforces and further
deems the harmony and complementariness of such innovative technique with the
values and core beliefs of the company. In order to achieve higher level of
success and competence in producing goods and services, the company adheres to
recognize individual’s worth and integrity. Only when company treated and
recognized employees as its asset enable them to uplift employees’ self-esteem,
in turn, perform their tasks competitively. Moreover, respect and civility play
a vital role in Nypro as it encourages employees to behave positively towards
their customers and suppliers, support the needs of each member within the
organization and treat each employee with dignity and encourages them to be
dignified in their manner. In addition, the value of collaboration towards
achieving common goals and objective solutions are important for Nypro in order
to maintain its dominance in the global market. Further, to promote individual
initiative and creativity fosters growth, development and progress both on
individual and the company itself. Lastly, profitable performance leads to
sustained growth and profitability, which are essential to the health and
prosperity of the company.

            Thus, it is clear that Lankton
decision of implementing the Novaplast system within the internal marketplace is
just fitting and considerably increased innovative performance. As I mentioned
in the previous discussion, technology sometimes dictates what to do and
organizations rely mostly on the advancement and trends set by new technologies.
Henceforth, Lankton had decided it right to implement such strategy in response
to the demands set by new technology.

Conclusion

           
This case study focused on how managing innovation of Nypro Incorporated
through the initiative and managerial savvy of Lankton. Indeed, he did the right
procedure of strategizing effective planning for innovation. He did it right in
consonance with the present core competencies and values and core beliefs of the
company.

 

References

Beeler, F.J,
(2005). Critical Success Factors in Innovation and Technology Management.
Innovations- und Technologiemanagement,10-11, Osec, Business Network Switzerland

Glor, E.D,
(2001). Key Factors Influencing Innovation in Government. The Innovation
Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal. Vol. 6(2)

NYPRO. Retrieved July 8, 2008. www.nypro.com

Wikipedia.
Internal Marketing. Retrieved July 8, 2008. www.wikipedia .com