• BSBINN801A - Lead innovative thinking and practice

Lead innovative thinking and practice

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to generate, lead and sustain innovative organisational thinking and practice.The unit also covers generating innovative thinking and creativity to lead sustainable innovative practices; supporting a culture of innovation; and maintaining a sustained approach to innovative thinking and practice.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.


This unit applies to individuals who initiate and lead innovation in any industry or community context. Each organisation's thinking and practice will be different depending on its core business, purpose, size, complexity and broader operating context.

Leaders encourage innovative thinking and practice in relation to drivers shaping the particular work environment. Managers may use innovative thinking and practice to advance learning and business processes that contribute to organisational strategies, business plans and goals.

Elements and Performance Criteria



1. Generate innovative thinking and creativity

1.1. Research and use a range of techniques and tools to generate new ideas and thinking

1.2. Research and analyse trends shaping organisation's current and future thinking and practice

1.3. Introduce and promote creative thinking techniques to foster personal and team innovation

1.4. Evaluate overall context for individual and collective innovative thinking and creativity

1.5. Research and analyse specific conditions for innovation and issues that impact on individual and collective innovative thinking and creativity

1.6. Research and review innovation drivers and enablers

2. Lead innovative practices

2.1. Develop personal leadership style to model positive innovative thinking and practice

2.2. Review, challenge and refine own style and practice in relation to modelling and supporting innovation

2.3. Assess and determine the requirements to promote sustainable innovative activity for the operational context and people involved

2.4. Devise and implement most appropriate means to promote knowledge transfer

2.5. Identify, evaluate and manage risks associated with innovation within an organisation

3. Generate and support a culture of innovation

3.1. Introduce and promote innovative practices, processes, products or services appropriate to audience and organisational requirements

3.2. Establish ways to capture, communicate and share innovative ideas and practices

3.3. Initiate and foster communication, consultation and team development approaches that support innovation

3.4. Identify, assess and provide adequate resources for innovation to occur

3.5. Develop and apply strategies to foster a workplace culture capable of encouraging innovation

3.6. Establish mechanisms at system and process level that can support innovation

4. Sustain innovative thinking and practice

4.1. Develop strategies to make innovation an integral part of organisational activity

4.2. Develop and monitor processes to ensure ongoing awareness of individual and collective contributions to innovative thinking and practice

4.3. Analyse potential barriers and risks to innovation and devise strategies to respond

4.4. Analyse and reflect on innovation performance as a basis for developing strategies for improvement

Required Skills

Required skills

communication, consultation and negotiation skills to model and lead open and collaborative relationships

planning and organisational skills to develop, implement and sustain practical strategies for innovation

problem-solving skills to assess challenges and risks at a strategic level and to develop appropriate responses

research and analytical skills to work with structurally intricate and conceptually complex innovation texts and broader industry contexts; and to develop materials which deal with complex ideas and concepts

self-management and learning skills to evaluate and enhance personal effectiveness, and to promote a culture of ongoing learning and development

team and leadership skills to generate, promote and sustain innovation in an organisational or community setting

technology skills to use computers for document production and research of innovative practices and theories

Required knowledge

current and past theories and thinking about innovation and creativity

leadership styles including the way that different approaches impact on innovation in organisations, and specific approaches that foster innovation

legislative framework that affects business operations in a given context, including particular legislation with a direct impact on innovation, for example concerning copyright, trademarks, intellectual property, occupational health and safety (OHS)

management techniques and tools for the encouragement of creative thinking and for turning good ideas and creative thinking into innovation

organisational and industry context for innovation including overarching mission, objectives and strategies

relationship between theory and thinking on innovation and creativity, and applied practice

risk assessment and management strategies in the context of innovation


theories, processes and practice of organisational transformation and the management of the stages of change

typical strategic challenges and barriers to innovation within organisations and ways of overcoming these challenges and barriers

Evidence Required


Overview of assessment


Evidence of the following is essential:


critical examination of trends in thinking and emerging practices as they relate to an organisation's current thinking and practices


Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

assessment over a sufficient timeframe to allow holistic assessment of the candidate's capacity to lead and sustain innovative thinking and practice

opportunities for interaction with others to reflect the collaborative nature of the innovation process

access to current organisational documentation and support materials.

Method of assessment



evaluation of reports prepared by the candidate to propose strategies and techniques for building innovative thinking and practice within a given organisational context

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of innovation theory and practice, context for innovation, and factors that affect innovation in a particular organisation.

Guidance information for assessment


BSBINN601B Manage organisational change

BSBLED701A Lead personal and strategic transformation

BSBLED702A Lead learning strategy implementation

PSPMNGT614A Facilitate knowledge management.

Range Statement


Range of techniques and tools for creative thinking may include:


concept maps

creative thinking matrix

DeBono tools (e.g. six hats)

foresight tools

Kirton Adaptation Innovation Inventory

mindmapping (Buzan)

nominal group technique

scenario analysis.

Overall context may include the environment relating to:


electronic and non-physical context


local or regional


work group or community.

Conditions for innovation may span causal factors and issues relating to:

ability to gain and respond to customer feedback

available resources (in all their forms)

business systems

changes to workflow and processes

competency, capability and skills of the workforce

culture and values

economic change

emerging technologies

executive support for innovation



government regulations, policy or funding initiatives


labour market and industry changes and restructures

learning culture

management practices

new business models

new markets

organisational sociocultural circumstances and issues (for example, within Indigenous organisations)

research and development focus and support

shift to knowledge economy or new economy

structure and design of work in the organisation

technology change and convergence

vision, core purpose and capabilities.

Drivers are factors or changes that impel innovative practice and may include:

customer expectations


market shifts

new legislation (such as compliance)

policies (such as environmental protection)

price and profitability

technology change.

Enablers are factors that help innovation overcome barriers and may include:





intellectual property


management support





skilled workforce


Leadership style will usually be differentiated by five classical approaches:

autocratic (non-participative)

charismatic flexibility

democratic (participative)

laissez faire (free reign)


Risks may include:

damage to property/equipment


market changes

OHS (including disease)

product failure

professional incompetence

resource deficiencies

systems and process failures.

Mechanisms at system and process level may be physical or electronic and relate to:

customer management

human resources

information technology





planning (strategic and corporate)


research and development


resource management

supply chain management

structural and performance hierarchies (strata).


Unit sector

Competency Field

Creativity and Innovation - Innovation

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Licensing Information

Not applicable.