Title: Workplace innovation: European policy and theoretical foundation

Authors: Frank Pot; Peter Totterdill; Steven Dhondt

Addresses: TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Fagelstraat 46, 2334 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands ' UK Work Organisation Network, 54 High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HW, UK; Kingston University, River House, 53–57 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1LQ, UK; University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK ' TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, P.O. Box 3005, 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands; Catholic University of Leuven, Parkstraat 45, Bus 3601, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract: Workplace innovation is gaining profile as an emerging European policy, creating organisational performance and quality jobs. DG GROW and DG EMPL are leading. Policies regarding work organisation and workplace innovation in the EU over the last 20 years used to be rather fragmented, but more coherence is likely to develop in the near future. Besides social partners and government- and EU-officials a major role was played by European Networks of Applied Researchers. They provided the theories that are part of the foundation of such policies. The evidence for the positive effects of workplace innovation stimulated many entrepreneurs and managers to apply it. National programs appear to be helpful, in particular where coalitions of employers' associations, trade unions, governments and research institutes exist. However, this is still a minority. More research is needed into the obstacles and the mechanism to promote implementation.

Keywords: work organisation; organisational innovation; European policy; theoretical foundation; workplace innovation; organisational performance; job quality.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2016.073428

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.12 No.1, pp.13 - 32

Received: 08 Jul 2015
Accepted: 08 Jul 2015
Published online: 02 Dec 2015 *

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