Fostering Innovation in the Naval Research and Development Enterprise

NPS NRP Executive SummaryProject Summary: An organizational design framework serves to better understand how cultures of innovation develop among organizations comprising the Naval Research & Development Enterprise (NRDE). Based on conversations and interactions with NRDE members and stakeholders, we sought insights about designing for innovation. These fell into three design domains. First, in the Strategy domain, individuals are working to make sense of the theme and vision of agility. We found individuals engaged in understanding agility, and others remaining skeptical. We found considerable appreciation for a vision - by whatever name - associated with flexibility, speed, learning, collaboration, and opposed to bureaucracy and business as usual. Second, in the Structural domain, non-bureaucratic options are being adopted and diffused in acquisition and contracting and in design processes. There are exemplars of more organic, decentralized structures with greater lateral communications and information sharing. Third, in the Human Resources domain, the importance of talent management and reward systems (e.g., taking calculated risks) seems appreciated, but progress in this domain may be lagging. We find some frustration for resistance to change as well as some top-down design changes that might have been improved by alternative design processes. More progress can likely be made in systematically investigating how to develop the various skills associated with leadership and entrepreneurship and in integrating these into syllabi and curricula for training and education.ASN(RDA) - Research, Development, and AcquisitionDASN Research Development Test and EvaluationNPS-18-N344-AApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited