Innovation, without a doubt, is the key differentiator for businesses to succeed in the digital age.
With over 50 patents and recently launched leading edge product Tachyon earlier this month, 1E is the quintessential innovative company.
As a leading software lifecycle automation company, it is creating a culture of constant change to ensure it stays ahead in the digital world. The phrase, ‘change is the new constant’ can often be found in research papers and articles, and it is to that maxim that 1E abides.
In order to maintain a flexible and adaptive approach to remain at the forefront of the IT industry, what does constant change mean for the business and the people working within it?
1E’s approach to this is multifaceted: We understand the need to be more transparent and to share information with employees – clarity informs certainty. We also encourage our people to be empowered. Empowerment (and the need for people to have control over their lives) helps people veer away from the threat response and towards one of willing collaboration, therefore helping to make change happen.
For starters, we acknowledge that change is uncomfortable for most people. Neuroscience research confirms the brain’s key driver is survival – it works on the principle of avoiding threats (a low-level one in this instance compared to, say, a saber-toothed tiger). Whilst evolution has moved on, our brains still subconsciously look out for threats, whatever shape they may take. Uncertainty throws up the same innate, internal response as it would with any threat – snarling beast or otherwise. This acknowledgment of the effects of uncertainty can help us understand how to deal with human resistance to change.
While we’re subconsciously avoiding threats, research shows our brains crave certainty. When we lack certainty, the brain gets distracted as it tries to work out what disparate pieces of information mean and whether they all make sense.
Awareness is also key to overcome resistance to change. 1E’s teams are encouraged to help drive a culture of self-awareness in order to help people progress and develop. This practice of self- awareness furnishes an individual with a clearer perception of their personalities such as strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions – Understanding these elements will help both the employer and employee understand how that individual might approach a state of constant change.
In enabling 1E employees to flourish, the company aims to create a vision of change that is framed positively. Perceptions of change are important in order for it to be fully embraced within an innovative business. Dealing with ambiguity and having the ability to change and adapt quickly to the market and business requires working a little out of one’s comfort zone to ensure the business continuously evolves and innovates.
A diverse workforce is also critical in order for us to innovate and adapt quickly to change. We recognize diversity is one of the key differentiators in driving innovation and, as such, recruiting a diverse team in terms of gender, age and race, for example, is of equal importance as recruiting a diverse skill set. For us, diversity includes both someone’s unique character as well as the diverse range of skills and ideas they bring to the business. We work with managers to review the skills and competencies we have within the business and ensure that we continue to recruit for a broad range of backgrounds and skills.
Visit our careers page if you’d like to work for a truly innovative company.
