Four Ways HR stimulates Innovation through Diversity

Four ways HR stimulates
innovation through diverse hires
LESSONS LEARNED FROM INNOVATING WITH INTERNATIONALLY-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
Oscar Malpica, Envisioning Labs CEO
MAPLE Training, ISS of BC 
February 23, 2017
www.envisioninglabs.com

Diversity you say?
DILBERT WISDOM

About
GET TO KNOW US
Innovation and change management
professional with multi-industry experience in
business strategy, innovation management,
R&D, and digital storytelling. Passionate about
technology trends and exploratory innovation. 
Past gigs: Microsoft, Canadian Chamber of
Commerce, Norske Skog, UN Volunteers, PLA.
OSCAR MALPICA
exploratory innovation, R&D, digital storytelling
We help organizations create new products or
services that add value to their brand through
systematic innovation methodologies and
the adoption of emerging technologies.
ENVISIONING LABS

Defining Innovation & Diversity
Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion
Our Experiment - Innovating for Employment Success
4 Ways HR Can Foster Innovation through Diversity Hiring
CSR-i - Corporate Social Responsibility Innovation
Q&A / Discussion
Agenda
TODAY'S MENU

Diversity
A greater share of women and a more
mixed ethnic/racial composition in the
employee base of an organization“
”
What is diversity, really?
LET’S AGREE ON ONE THING

Innovation
Act of generating more value for the customer  
and the business by fulfilling a JOB TO BE DONE 
better than anyone else“
”
What is innovation, really?
LET’S AGREE ON ONE THING

Value Proposition Canvas
LET’S BEGIN AT THE END

Defining Innovation & Diversity
Business Case for Diversity & Innovation
Our Experiment - Innovating for Employment Success
4 Ways HR Can Foster Innovation through Diversity Hiring
CSR-i - Corporate Social Responsibility Innovation
Q&A / Discussion
Agenda
TODAY'S MENU

Business Case for Diversity
BOTTOM LINE: IT WORKS
“Because of our diverse workforce, we’ve
experienced a boost in productivity. When
you can move people to contribute to their
fullest, it has a tremendous impact,”
Rosalind Hudnell, director of global diversity
and inclusion at Intel.
“At the end of the day, when you’re creating
an environment where people can come
together and bring their own views and feel
respected, competitively, your company 
will do so much better,”
Debbie Storey, senior vice 
president of talent development and chief
diversity officer at AT&T.
“We are in 75 countries and we want to hire
the best talent in each locale. Diverse teams
and companies make better decisions.”
Eileen Taylor, global head of diversity,
Deutsche Bank
"We've always known that inclusive
workplaces make organizations stronger; we
see now that much of this strength comes
from innovation.”
Kristina Leung, lead editor on the Canada's
Best Diversity Employers competition and
Senior Editor at Mediacorp Canada Inc
“In a 2010 HR Council employer survey, 73%
of respondents identified ‘enhanced
innovation and creativity’ as a benefit that
would likely flow from a more diverse
workforce”
HRCouncil.ca

BOTTOM LINE: IT WORKS
http://ow.ly/zyE0309gWr4http://ow.ly/QFDI309gWvm http://ow.ly/hKPw309gWwV

http://ow.ly/QFDI309gWvm
DIVERSITY & FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
Note: 
Study analyzed the
relationship between
the level of diversity
(defined as a greater
share of women and a
more mixed ethnic/
racial composition in
the leadership of large
companies) and
company financial
performance
(measured as average
EBIT 2010–2013).

DIVERSITY & INNOVATION
http://ow.ly/hKPw309gWwV
Methodology: 
Survey of 321 executives with
direct responsibility or oversight
for their companies’ diversity
and inclusion programs

http://ow.ly/zyE0309gWr4
Note:
Employee Survey (sample
size: 1,557) in 3 Australian
Companies. Deloitte Australia

http://ow.ly/zyE0309gWr4
Note:
Employee Survey (sample
size: 1,557) in 3 Australian
Companies. Deloitte Australia
When employees think their
organisation is committed to, and
supportive of diversity and they
feel included, employees report
better business performance  
in terms of ability to innovate, (83%
uplift) responsiveness to changing
customer needs (31% uplift)
and team collaboration (42% uplift).
“
”

in a nutshell
A project-based program for newcomers to gain Canadian experience
while earning a stipend through developing new products, services or
experiences for Canadian businesses or organizations
in a nutshell the opportunity in detail potential

the
opportunity
‣ Businesses and organizations welcome innovation
to increase the value to their offerings
‣ Most organizations agree that innovation is
necessary though few know how to adopt it
‣ Newcomers are eager to work on their fields of
expertise though they lack Canadian experience

why innovation for newcomers?
MOSAIC Client Education Level - 2012
Trades
1%
College+
45%
Grade 12 or Equal
12%
Under grade 12
32%
No Info
10%
BC Immigrants Unemployment Rate 2012
(age 25-54)*
Immigrants, landed 5 or less years earlier
Immigrants, landed more than 5 to 10 years earlier
Landed immigrants
Immigrants, landed more than 10 years earlier
Total population
Born in Canada
5.4
5.6
5.7
6.7
7.9
9.3
* Statistics Canada

why innovation for newcomers?
Canada’s commitment to open immigration is commendable but the analysis
reveals that the country is not fully utilizing the talents of new immigrants.
Even though immigrants are better educated on average, they face higher
unemployment and underemployment often earning lower incomes.
“
”Excerpt from the article “Recent immigrants are the most educated and yet underemployed in the Canadian Labour Force”
Rotman School of Management. University of Toronto
March 12, 2009

in detail
Project Sourcing
{ }
Solution Design Project Sign Off Solution Deployment
‣ Project Sponsors 
‣ Companies or
organizations in need of
innovative solutions 
‣ Example of sponsors:
- MOSAIC
- City of Vancouver
- TELUS
- Microsoft
- Save the children
‣ Team of newcomers led by
an “Innovation Champion” 
‣ “Design Thinking” is used
as the equalizer
methodology to innovate 
‣ Newcomers are assigned to
projects based on their
skills/expertise
‣ Innovation Champions are
registered Canadian
professionals that sign off
completed projects 
‣ Innovation Champions
coordinate the innovation
process
‣ Examples of solutions:
- Business optimization
- Apps
- Web Development
- Market/user research
- Civic Engagement
- Green Initiatives
- Ideation services
- Prototyping

win-win-win
Companies/Organizations
• Outsourcing innovation services at a competitive cost
• Outsourcing non-critical business projects
• Identify potential hires through the program
• “Inclusive” policy compliance
Newcomers
• Immediate utilization of existing skill set
• Immediate exposure to the Canadian workforce
• “Learn by doing” increases employability
• Possibility to build entrepreneurs
MOSAIC/Hosting organization
• Reduction of unemployment/underemployment
• Possibility to add an extra revenue channel through
intellectual property and/or consulting services
• Deepen partnership with industry and government

Innovating for Employment Success
SPONSORED BY THE BC MINISTRY OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
40
Internationally-Trained
Professionals (ITPs)
12 Innovation Projects

Product &
Service
Innovation
Product
Innovation
HR &
Training
Engineering/
Data
Management
Product
Innovation
Marketing
Service &
Experience
Innovation
HR &
Training
Experience
Innovation
Customer
Service
Service
Innovation
Marketing &
Sales

http://ow.ly/TlTj309h6Hb
About this research

Innovating for Employment Success (IES)
FINAL REPORT
http://ow.ly/OFkF309h6Zw
The research suggests…
rapid improvement of:
employment readiness,
workplace innovation,
initiative and
communication skills
“
”

Innovating for Employment Success (IES)
FINAL REPORT
http://ow.ly/OFkF309h6Zw
https://youtu.be/Cm3u-JMowMs

Four Ways HR Can Foster Innovation
SO GETTING TO THE POINT…
Hire for
Innovation
Create
Opportunities for
Collaboration
Embrace Diversity of
Thought and Reward
Innovation
Institutionalize
Innovation

Hire for
Innovation
Create
Opportunities for
Collaboration
Thought and Reward
Innovation
Institutionalize
Innovation
Look out for personal characteristics in a candidate:
Inquisitive
T-shaped individuals
History of taken initiative
Comfortable with change
Challenges the status quo

Create
Opportunities for
Collaboration
Hire for
Innovation
Thought and Reward
Innovation
Institutionalize
Innovation

Hire for
Innovation
Thought and Reward
Innovation
Institutionalize
Innovation
Thought and Reward
Innovation

Institutionalize
Innovation
Innovation Initiatives &  
Supportive Culture
Research & Development/ 
Innovation Labs
Corporate programs that support, sponsor and
provide leadership to embed innovation in
the corporate culture of the organization.
At worst, it can help boost employee morale,
and improve internal efficiencies. At best it can
help identify technology, product & service
ideas to management/executive for
consideration in future.
Occasionally, it can introduce something truly
new into the company’s offering.
Run a small, independent research lab staffed by
people who don’t fit well working in the regular
operations and who live to explore new ideas.
This group can support the design, development and
running of most of the innovation programs/initiatives.
This team can help senior management identify
where the company should look to for growth,
acquisitions, and where the blindsides are coming from
to pummel the company.
CULTURE LABS

CSR-i: Innovation & Diversity in Action
CORPORATE SOCIAL REPONSIBLITY INNOVATION
envisioninglabs.com/csr-i

Q&A
…AND DISCUSSION
Yes?

Thank you
HR Fostering Innovation through Diversity 
info@envisioninglabs.com

Four Ways HR stimulates Innovation through Diversity

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