WINCan (Workplace Innovation Network for Canada) along with WEtech Alliance is pleased to announce we have been awarded a grant from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre, for a project on Workplace Innovation for Quality of Work. We will undertake a Research / Knowledge Synthesis of exemplary global workplace innovation practices and provide recommendations for application, adaptation and advancement of these practices to enhance Canada’s capability for employee-led innovation.
What is Employee-led Workplace Innovation?
“Workplace Innovation is the social process of creating lasting value by mobilizing new ideas in the workplace. Employee-led innovation in the workplace can improve both organizational performance and the quality of work life for employees. Our workplace and academic partners collaborate on a shared challenge: preparing Canada’ s workforce for the Future of Work”
According to the Future Skills Centre of Canada:
“While Canada’s economy is navigating conflicting signals about its future path, current low unemployment rates and labour shortages have necessitated that increased attention be paid to the Quality of Work that Canadian jobs provide, and how that can be defined and improved. Understanding Quality of Work is important for the future of work in Canada, as work quality reflects various dimensions of the health of the labour market – combining not only income and benefits, but also employment security, work environment, professional growth potential and overall social environment”.
The Project
The project is pan-Canadian in scope. Beyond the Knowledge Synthesis, WINCan and WEtech Alliance will undertake a number of “proofs of concept” applying research insights and exemplary practices – largely from European contexts – with a number of Canadian organizations across sectors. These field tests will focus on increasing the organization’s capacity for employee-led innovation, to improve both organizational performance and the quality of work life for employees.
In order to ensure effective knowledge transfer of ideas and exemplary practices between Higher Education and Workplace Organizations, we will be hosting a pan-Canadian series of “Workplace Innovation Roundtables”. The first of these will take place at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) on September 27th, 2022.
According to Blake Melnick, CEO of the Knowledge Management Institute of Canada and WINCan Vice Chairman and Co-Principal Catalyst – Workplace Partnerships:
“The world of work has changed significantly in the past two years and will continue to do so. Leveraging the knowledge, know-how and experience of employees to build and sustain cultures of innovation, is critical for adapting to these changes – from improving organizational performance, to attracting and retaining talent, and to enhancing the quality of work for all employees”
According to Adam Frye, Director of Operations & Partnerships at WEtech Alliance:
“This work is critical in understanding how we can prepare and execute Workplace Innovation in the new workplace reality we face today”
Workplace Innovation for Quality of Work Research Team
WEtech Alliance is an Ontario regional innovation centre that supports startup and growth of innovation and technology businesses in southwestern Ontario. WEtech’s Innovation Catalyst program enables front-line staff to drive employee-led workplace innovation and empower a more innovative workforce.
Workplace Innovation Network for Canada is a B.C.-based not-for-profit supporting collaborations between postsecondary and workplace partners to advance Workplace Innovation in Canada.
The Future Skills Centre – Centre des Compétences futures (FSC-CCF) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to preparing Canadians for employment success. We are collaborating with partners across Canada to rigorously identify, test, measure, and share innovative approaches to assessing and developing the skills Canadians need to thrive in the days and years ahead.
“Workplace Innovation for Quality of Work: Research Synthesis and Recommendations on Adaptation for Canadian Contexts” is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Future Skills Program
Contact Information
For more information or inquiries, please contact:
Blake Melnick, WINCan Vice Chairman and Co-Principal Catalyst, Workplace Partnerships Lead
Email: bmelnick@kminstitute.ca or wincan@kminstitute.ca , Phone: 1416 262-1336