Bridging the gap between leadership and innovation to maximise return on investment

A wide gap exists between leadership and innovation, which ultimately affects a company’s return on investment (ROI) potential. Research shows that organisational structures and processes alone are not the solution. This paper explains how a hybrid organisational structure combined with the cultivation of an innovative environment and upskilling employees with domain knowledge and technical skills can bridge the gap between leadership and innovation to maximise the ROI. By providing a step-by-step framework, companies can use this paper as a guide for large business transformations. Additionally, the paper highlights the importance for leaders to shift mindsets to cultivate an innovative environment, because the previous culture set in place was built for an entirely different structure. The selection of team leaders at the business unit level is just as important as selecting the right software applications and processes. The paper concludes by stating the importance of domain knowledge and technical skills focused on team leads who possess both to bridge the gap between leadership and innovation.