innowacje, działalność innowacyjna, potencjał innowacyjny, rozwój pracowników

Abstract

In order to develop, companies must work on their own innovative potential, which comprises innovative possibilities and capabilities used in the creation, implementation and management of innovations. Elements of innovative potential include company’s internal resources, where human capital plays a crucial role. Proper management of this capital provides the possibility to improve the company’s competitiveness and innovative capacity. Knowledge is one of the most important factors deciding about competitiveness and development of companies, which, if properly managed, constitutes the basis for the creation of innovation. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the importance of staff development as a key element of innovation. The first part of the article presents basic concepts related to innovation and innovativeness, elements of innovative potential and sources of innovation in a company. The second part comprises results of the empirical study on development of emplyees’ working potential, analysed in the context of increased innovativeness of the investigated companies. The contents of this section include answers to questions of how companies assess their own knowledge potential, how employees develop their skills, and whether they are properly rewarded for their development? Companies should make effective use of the organizational learning process, which includes development as well as broadening and renewal of their competencies. They should analyze and assess whether their resources, capabilities and competencies form a potential that contributes to creation of innovation and value added despite changing conditions.