Organization Culture Roadblocks to Innovation

Abstract

The Department of Defense Acquisition workforce and industry partners are “under the gun” to be more innovative and “do things differently.” Although the “Big A” Venn diagram of resources, requirements, and acquisition system can present inherent roadblocks to innovation, the biggest roadblock to overcome is the entrenched culture. This paper seeks to highlight changes needed to create a culture that supports innovation and unleashes the acquisition workforce to meet the needs of the warfighter. The author lays out six major roadblocks to create a high performing organization and a culture that aligns with providing capabilities at the speed of relevance and creating value by doing things differently.