Usmanov B. F., Falkovskaya K. I. Developing an Innovation Activization Model for Top Administrators: The Case of Social Welfare Institutions
(Moscow University for the Humanities),
(Moscow Institute of Retraining and Professional Development of
Managerial and Social Welfare Personnel)
Abstract ♦ The article considers the problem of introducing innovative processes in social welfare institutions, listing the factors which influence the level of activity of their top administrators.
We present the outcomes of two opinion polls taken at social welfare institutions of Moscow and Moscow Oblast in 2010 and 2013–2014 (total number of respondents — 100). The outcomes of the first poll showed that the majority of top administrators prefer traditional approaches and are unaware of the importance of updating their administrative activities. The second poll revealed that the majority of respondents have a low need for creativity in solving the arising problems, and their motivation for introducing innovations in administrative activity is low as well.
Among the factors mentioned as inhibiting the introduction of innovations are the lack of finance for innovation; rigid organizational structures; excessive centralization; authoritative management style; resistance to change; need for a new job search; reorganization of habitual ways of activity, etc.
The authors have developed an innovation activization model for administrators at social welfare institutions, available for all three levels of administration: regional (federal), municipal and institutional. The model includes 6 modules: information and communication; experiment and technology; motivation; finances and economy; organization and personnel; and sociology. The authors plan to pilot this model in the regions of Russia in 2015–2016.
Following the results of our study, we have developed practical recommendations on how to enhance innovation for top administrators at social welfare institutions. Some of these may be of special interest, such as organizing a "Social Innovator of the Year" competition, which can become a real motivational factor for social welfare professionals; publishing the "Innovations in Social Sphere Abroad" bulletin; and introduction of "Innovative Activity Establishment of the Social Sphere" as a state statistics indicator.
Usmanov Boris Fatykhovich, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Sociology, Moscow University for the Humanities, Honoured Worker of Science of the Russian Federation. Postal address: B. 3, 5 Yunosti St., Moscow, Russian Federation, 111395. Tel.: +7 (499) 374-50-61. E-mail:
usmanov1939@mail.ru
Falkovskaya Ksenia Igorevna, Candidate of Social Sciences, Associate professor, Associate professor of the Department of Theory and Technology of Social Work, Moscow Institute of Retraining and Professional Development of Managerial and Social Welfare Personnel. Postal address: 10 Basmannyi Lane, Moscow, Russian Federation, 105066. Tel.: +7 (495) 306-24-39. E-mail:
kseniafalk@mail.ru
Citation: Usmanov, B. F. and Falkovskaya K. I. (2014) O razrabotke modeli aktivizatsii innovatsii v upravlencheskoi deiatel'nosti rukovoditelia (na primere sotsial'nykh uchrezhdenii) [Developing an Innovation Activization Model for Top Administrators: The Case of Social Welfare Institutions]. Znanie. Ponimanie. Umenie, no. 3, pp. 176–187. (In Russ.).
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