How would you staff the company in order to increase its creativity and effectiveness?

What I would do if I were a manager…

To start the recruitment process, we first develop and prioritize the key requirements needed from the positions, such as special qualifications, traits, characteristics and experience; develop the job description; and place a classified ad in newspapers and recruit online, which will create a diverse candidate pool. Then we screen the CVs / applications, hold employment tests and interview candidates. (Heathfield, S.)

Except for outstanding candidates who meet the requirement, we will consider hiring novices and experts in some unrelated areas as well (Sutton, 2001). They can bring benefit to the company because a variety of experience and backgrounds allows them to see and possibly solve problems from a new perspective.

We apply non-hierarchical, flat organizational structure, which is most conducive to creativity and innovation (Kotelnikov, V.). This structure provides more effective communication processes and increased flexibility to deal with rapidly changing environment. The decision making process is quicker because of less approval levels. Employees have more responsibility, independence and authority. Due to equally distributed authority, it will be easy to build up a small society of mutual trust and support. With support, trust and encouragement from managers, many creative ideas come into world without fear for failure.

Leadership style of management team should preferably be participative, democratic and non-authoritarian.

Training courses of Conflict Management and Effective Meeting will be conducted for the team. Beside their specific jobs, employees are encouraged to join those to know how to deal with difficult situations that usually occur in working environment.
The company rewards failure and success; and punishes inaction. (Sutton, 2001) Most people always pass failure on the way to success. Some failure moves the firm closer to success. Inaction is the worst kind of failure - and the only kind that deserves to be punished.

Essential office facilities are set up. Flexible working hour is applied to make people feel comfortable. I myself cannot work well in a firm that force its employees to work 8hrs/day, from 8am to 5pm. Therefore, we had better let people handle their tasks and time.

Finally, “Aloha Friday” party, serving free breakfast and juice, is held on the last Friday of the month. I myself did enjoy many successful Aloha Friday Parties in my previous company. Before starting our working Friday, we have a chance to “recharge” our energy after a week and be ready for the weekend ahead. Those parties improve co-worker relationships and create a superior working environment that facilitates creativity and innovation.


References:

Sutton, R. (2001). The Weird Rules of Creativity. Harvard Business Review, September 2001

Heathfield, S. Hiring Employees: A Checklist for Success in Hiring Employees. Retrieved 2008-09-15, from http://humanresources.about.com/cs/selectionstaffing/a/hiringchecklist.htm

Kotelnikov, V. Flat Organizational Structure: Empowering People and Making Faster Decisions. Retrieved 2008-09-15, from http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/organization_flat.html