Community Forum – Small Innovation Rewards

What small things do you do to reward innovation?

How does your company recognize innovation for teams and individual employees on a small scale (as opposed to big one time awards)? I know cash is always nice, but are there also other interesting or inspiring ways you recognize innovation at your companies? – Martha Collins, Director, Global Technology Centers, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Community Responses

Justin French, Pepsico
Many years ago, I used a simple and silly reward and recognition system.  It was called the “Bagel of the Month Award.” I bought a large party bagel that was presented  to the winner at a monthly staff meeting. The person was chosen by a small, rotating committee.  The winner would usually share the bagel with the whole staff after the meeting.  It was fun and everyone really got into the process.  Later on we had a small bagel attached to a plaque. – Don Piehl, IRI Emeritus

Seed funding (<25k) for crazy ideas. Councils of peers and stakeholders to vote on the best ideas. Breakfast recognition town halls for creative thinkers.  Simple recognition amongst peers. Monthly drawing for iPads, parking spaces, or vacation days for creative thinkers who achieved patent applications or project milestones. The easiest one is to allow junior engineers/scientists to present project updates to Sr. Leaders in the organization.  Exposure is a valuable tool. 

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