Constructive approach to error-making boosts innovation

The results of the Swiss HR Barometer were generated from a survey of over 2000 employees and show that a tendency towards both innovation and learning from errors are commonplace in Switzerland. Some 86% of employees believe that errors can be helpful for their own work, providing them with the opportunity to learn. This provides a solid foundation for the innovative strength exhibited by companies in Switzerland. Employees also report that they feel supported by leaders and colleagues alike and that, in many companies, there is a culture of psychological safety. A proactive approach to mistakes is promoted, with the view that any errors are reported and used as points of reflection. Another encouraging finding is that fewer than 10% of employees report that they tend to conceal their errors.

However, the survey also reveals potential for improvement, particularly regarding the willingness to allow employees more time to develop new ideas. As well as this, the study shows that cross-departmental management personnel could better support staff with their ideas. Employees could also be better supported when it comes to openly confronting the risks of making mistakes.

Impacts of innovation and error cultures

A company culture that promotes innovative behaviours and learning from mistakes amongst employees is not only desirable in respect of innovation, but also has a positive influence on general attitudes towards work, as well as employees’ experience of their work situation. Those working in companies with such a culture report less stress, more job and career satisfaction, greater commitment to the organisation and less intention to quit.

By the same token, alongside cultural factors, work design is also central to innovative behaviours and learning from errors. Autonomy, task variety and participation are the most important job characteristics in terms of promoting innovation. Whilst a great amount of autonomy and task variety are relatively common, there is a need for improvement as far as participation is concerned. This would involve a company allowing employees to contribute to its decision-making processes.

Trend towards increasing expectations

With regards to working circumstances more generally, which are also recorded by the Swiss HR Barometer, an overall positive picture emerges. This is certainly also a product of the current worker-friendly conditions within the job market. Employee expectations as set out in the so-called psychological contract (see box below) have increased somewhat, as has, in turn, what is offered to employees by companies. Furthermore, compensation deemed reasonable by employees and the availability of development opportunities are causes for concern. With respect to the latter, what is particularly concerning is that the trend towards fewer training days being taken, which had already emerged in previous editions of the Swiss HR Barometer, has become increasingly marked. Equally, performance reviews and career planning, two key components of personnel development, are not carried out or even offered frequently enough.

We can conclude that, if the state of the job market continues to be favourable to employees, working behaviours will become more dynamic. Currently, whereas intention to quit is low, perceived employability has risen for the first time in ten years and employees are reporting more dynamic forms of job (dis)satisfaction, indicating increasing expectations and more willingness to change. Companies should equip themselves with improved HR practices to combat this and pay particular notice to compensation and personnel development.