Strategic Innovation: Embedding Innovation as a Core Competency in Your Organization

FROM LEADERS' REACTIONS TO THE EMBEDMENT WHEEL

When we began thinking through the concept of embedment as a long-term strategy, we were uncertain how best to communicate it to everyone. We needed a way to ensure that this new way of thinking, new skill sets, and measures and business strategies would become part of our culture in a way that could not be easily dismantled. But we did not know what to call it or how to explain it. To make matters worse, when we tried to discuss embedment, many of Whirlpool's leaders looked at us as if we were from another planet. We were just not getting our point across—and it showed on their faces and in their reactions.

After weeks of discussions, we could see that we needed a different strategy to define and ...