Innovation is a hot topic these days. What creates an innovative culture; one that drives your next blockbuster product or service? How do you identify the talent and set the stage to foster innovation? The IndustryWeek article titled Where Is Your Company's Next Big Idea Coming From? focuses primarily on driving innovation in a manufacturing setting. The article, though, presents a view of talent management that I think applies broadly:

Looking at how people 'flow' through an organization there are three stages; recruiting and integration (now being called onboarding), development and retention. During each stage people can contribute -- from fresh perspectives during recruiting -- to a better understanding of customer needs during retention.

In the retention stage, create an environment where supervisors catch people doing something right, rather than focusing only on catching mistakes. Make idea implementation part of every leader's role. It should involve building an environment that encourages ideas, helps employees develop knowledge and sharpens employees’ problem-solving skills to increase the quality and impact of their ideas.