Innovative workplaces

As human capital is the source of innovation, one of the policy principles of the OECD Innovation Strategy is to "foster innovative workplaces". Education and training systems must rise to the challenge of providing people with the means to learn and re-train throughout their life. Companies and organizations need to maximize the human resources they have at their disposal. Do employers make the best use of people's skills for innovation? Are some work organizations more associated with innovation than others? If so, are these organizations more widespread in some countries than in others? Are they associated with particular labor market policies, managerial practices, learning cultures or certain levels of education? What are the challenges for innovation within organizations? This volume shows that interaction within organizations - as well as individual and organizational learning and training - are important for innovation. The analytical tools and empirical results this study provides show how some work organizations may foster innovation through the use of employee autonomy and discretion, supported by learning and training opportunities.--Publisher's description.