Open Communication Strategies: Enhancing Innovation at 3M

Nakisha Owens Park University MBA 522: Organizational Behavior and Leadership Unit 3: Case Study 10.1: Open Communication at 3M Dr. Greg Moore

In 2006, 3M experienced a decline in both innovation and efficiency. Recognizing the necessity for action, the CEO and leadership team devised a strategic plan. Communication was noted as an area requiring improvement. Talent VP Sandra Tokach identified two key aspects of communication: promoting collaboration and instructing leaders on effective supervision and personnel development (Neck et al., 2019, p. 298). Effective communication is crucial in fostering customer interactions, facilitating product development, and establishing strong company relationships, as employees directly interact with various stakeholders (Richards, 2019). 3M's success may largely be attributed to enhanced communication, which ultimately catapulted the company to a position of leadership in innovation. Open communication in an organization promotes trust and establishes a relationship between the organization and its personnel. The effectiveness of communication between top and middle management and employees directly correlates with the level of success an organization will achieve. The instance of 3M serves as a prime example of the significant impact that effective communication, encompassing several factors such as compensation, can have on an organization. 3M's current annual revenues exceed $30 billion, with a workforce of 88,000 individuals. The company manufactures a wide range of over 55,000 distinct products (Neck et al., 2019, P298). If the issue of 3Ms culture had not been addressed in 2006 and if communication had not been given high priority, the company's success may have been compromised. 3M utilizes electronic communication through several means. One of the tools is InnovationLive, which is used for brainstorming. According to an article from Tallyfy, brainstorming tools facilitate the collection and organization of an individual's thoughts. "Certain platforms facilitate team voting and commenting on the gathered ideas, thereby streamlining the

process of determining the priority of subsequent actions" (Tallyfy, 2021). This application facilitates seamless cross-departmental brainstorming, even when individuals are located in different buildings or geographical locations. The ability to engage in collaboration with geographically dispersed teams can offer organizations like 3M a greater abundance of unique ideas. 3M also use electronic communication methods such as blogs, wikis, and an internal social networking site. A wiki is a web-based platform that enables employees to interact and generate content, resources, and educational presentations, similar to online brainstorming tools. Social networking platforms facilitate the connection and acknowledgment of employees' development and achievements throughout the organization. Electronic communication offers both benefits and drawbacks. The primary advantage is the ability to access a vast audience of individuals. However, there are significant financial drawbacks associated with these disadvantages. For example, ransomware, a type of malicious software, can render electronic devices completely inoperable. It can be sent through many means such as malicious links, file attachments, or drive-by downloads. Misinterpretation can also occur in electronic communication. According to the information provided in the case study, it can be determined that 3M employs all three modes of communication. The initiation of communication changes occurred under the leadership of George W. Buckley and the executive team of 3M. Buckley and the management team establish a corporate strategy aimed at enhancing employee engagement and fostering creativity, so inspiring higher standards in managers to capture a larger market share; this was downward communication. This form of communication occurs when information is

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passed from "the upper levels of the organizational hierarchy to the lower levels." (Neck et al., 2019, P285). Upward communication refers to the transmission of messages from lower levels of the organization to the upper levels. 3M employs this mode of communication for employees to express their wants and needs to their management. The implementation of communication modifications at 3M facilitated candid dialogue between subordinate staff and their superiors. This communication fosters trust and enhances comprehension in the workplace. Each employee possesses unique qualities, and fostering open and cooperative discussions among them leads to the development of more robust work environments. Lateral communication occurs when messages are "sent between and among the same hierarchical levels" (Neck et al., 2019, P286). At 3M, this form of communication is observed at two hierarchical levels within the organization: middle management and employee level. The implementation of unofficial communication at 3M has facilitated more lateral collaboration. "Random lunches" refer to monthly gatherings when individuals willingly participate and are randomly allocated to share lunch with three other individuals (Neck et al., 2019, P299). These spontaneous encounters facilitate the introduction of individuals from other departments who may not have otherwise crossed paths. To summarize, effective communication inside an organization can promote the establishment of clear objectives and foster confidence among its employees. 3M enhances operational efficiency by leveraging electronic communication to allow for direct and effective interactions between its employees, as well as to foster the professional growth and development of its executives. The success of 3M as the leader in innovations is closely linked to the overall enhancements achieved in its communication with employees.

References 14 free brainstorming tools to facilitate innovation. Tallyfy. (2021, November 4). Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://tallyfy.com/brainstorming-tools/ Neck, C. P., Houghton, J. D., & Murray, E. L. (2019). Organizational behavior: A Skill-Building Approach . SAGE Publications, Incorporated. Richards, L. (2019, March 11). How effective communication will help an organization. Small Business - Chron.com. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/effective- communicationorganization-1400.html

Unit 3 Case Study 3M

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