Incubator Reports

Incentives for Motivating Workforce Agility and Innovation

PUBLISHED
September 2022

AUTHORS: Dr. Amanda Girth, Dr. Mike Rayo, Dr. Elizabeth Newton, Mr. Asher Balkin, Ms. Christine Jefferies, Ms. Priyanka Tewani
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Department of Defense (DoD) needs to increase the speed and quality of acquired systems and capabilities, but many hidden barriers hinder workplace innovation and agility. Everything from a lack of resources and staff to shifting priorities, micromanagement, incentive structures, penalties for failure, overly prescriptive processes, and an inconsistent vision can contribute to an environment where analysts determine that the personal risks of embracing experimentation and innovation outweigh the potential benefits to their organization and themselves.