In “The business of innovation” Steven Johnson emphasized how an open innovation space could nurture new ideas and expand them in grandiose scale. He states that creativity and innovation were mainly born by collaboration rather than isolation, that
“The lone genius is the exception rather than the rule.”
His suggestion of the positive of an open and collaborative environment on nurturing creativity contradicts with the traditional closed rooms of corporate Research & Development. And an open space is exactly the kind of workplace Google provides its employees with, aiding them in capturing the sparks of ideas within themselves.
Google’s well-known 20% policy, where employees are required to spend 20% of their working time to pursue projects of their own interests, highlights Google’s approach to foster innovation within its corporation. Being one of the leadings in this innovative industry, Google does not consider innovations as exceptions but rather as part of its organizational culture. I think this is truly a crucial and necessary approach Google has well addressed.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soYKFWqVVzg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Marissa Mayer after a research on all products released determined that 50% of all product releases were generated as the output of the 20% independent project time.
Being innovative defines and sets Google distinct from many of its competitors.
Source: http://www.think-differently.org/2007/08/google-on-innovation.html