Skunk Works Innovation Culture
Module Eight Benchmark Study Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
In Milestone Two, you recommended a strategic plan to the organization from the course scenario for the IoT innovation project. Now that senior management of this company has approved your recommendation, your task is to recommend ways the organization can better support innovation. Remember that your perspective is still that of a middle manager for one of the top U.S. producers of luxury and mass-market automobiles and trucks.
In this assignment, you will read a case study and write a report that compares the course scenario organization’s structure and innovation culture with those of Skunk Works. This report may help you identify ways to improve your organizational structure and culture in an effort to better support innovation.
Prompt
Using the information about the company in the Organization Overview document and referring to the Skunk Works case study in this module’s resources, compare the organization from the course scenario with Skunk Works and identify differences in organizational structure and culture related to innovation. Your comparison should include the following points:
Organizational Structure: Compare the organization’s structure with that of the Skunk Works innovation team at Lockheed. Identify the points of similarity and difference and discuss their implications for an organization’s overall ability to innovate.
Shared Vision: Compare the shared vision of the organization and that of the Skunk Works innovation team. Identify the points of similarity and difference and discuss their implications for an organization’s overall ability to innovate.
Creative Climate: Compare the creative climate of the organization and that of the Skunk Works innovation team. Identify the points of similarity and difference and discuss their implications for an organization’s overall ability to innovate.
Effectiveness of Teamwork: Compare the effectiveness of teamwork in the organization and the Skunk Works innovation team. Identify the points of similarity and difference and discuss their implications for an organization’s overall ability to innovate.
What to Submit
Submit a 1- to 3-page Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. You are not required to use sources. However, if you choose to use sources, they should be cited in APA format. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.
Skunk Works Innovation Culture
Student Name
Institution
Course Name
Instructor
Date
Skunk Works Innovation Culture
Innovation can be greatly encouraged and fostered by an organization. Organizations can unlock the creative potential of their staff by fostering open dialogue, risk tolerance, and empowerment. Leaders are essential in creating an innovative culture because they set a good example, offer resources and assistance, and promote intrapreneurship. The study presents a detailed comparison of Skunk Works' innovative structure and the hierarchical organization of the luxury car business. The objective is to identify potential strategies for improving the business's organizational framework and culture to encourage innovation.
Organizational Structure
Multiple levels of hierarchy contribute to the complexity of the organizational structure found in the automotive industry. Because of the tall matrixed structural architecture of the organization, it is difficult to determine the exact number of hierarchical levels. Tall structures are perceived as complex since they increase the gap between customers and decision-makers. There was no hierarchy in the organizational structure of the Skunk Works organization. A few individuals within the corporation were in charge of carrying out their responsibilities. There are significant