Innovation Agents and Innovation Tracks

Discuss about the Innovation Agents and Innovation Tracks.

Introduction

In the current high-tech world society, the security of personal information and organizations as well as communication technology systems is very vital. In a systematic study, Kastelle and Steen (2010) denote that these systems are often secured only at their weakest components. The same study denotes that a common challenge in the attempt of securing any ICT system is the critical function of the device that can easily break its safety or security tend to be open to or mixed with the non-critical system functions. It hence put at risk the non-critical functions of the system, an aspect that is likely to compromise the crucial system functions. Data 61 was thus designed with the aim of providing the solution by isolating a component of the microprocessor to ensure the safety and security can be maintained even in case of failure with other parts of the microprocessor. Data 61 thus effectively separates untrusted and trusted functions of the system enabling the microprocessor to operate under all conditions effectively.

The scope of this report- The paper primarily looks into the strategic contribution of CSIRO’s data 61 innovation group contributes to the overall CSIRO’s strategic goals. It also looks into s how the design and culture of the organization support the unit of study with a reflection of the social networks, brokerage capability, human and social capital among other factors. The paper focuses on reflecting on the contemporary developments in the innovation strategy of CSIRO with the aim of identifying the strengths in the culture and design of the organization and how the strengths can be further developed. The paper as well identified gaps that need to be addressed to ensure efficient growth and strengthening of the CSIRO’s data 61 businesses. However, the paper begins by giving brief background information on the Data 61 innovation group.

Background information of CSIRO’s data 61

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organizations (CSIRO) is a globally recognized Australian preeminent research organization. It is known for its outstanding research reputation not only in the scientific and research centers but has a household name as well. Connolly (2015) denotes that the organization has a primary role in the translation of science and technology into services and products that benefit the community and as well enhances productivity and economic prosperity. The same study denotes that the organization has the capacity of, the imagination, and the expertise to evaluate and identify some of the challenges facing industries across Australia and come up with solutions that are smarter, better, and more effective in curbing the challenges (Marceau & Turpin 2007). The organization has a mission of adopting technology and innovation with the aim of helping Australia meet the opportunities and challenges that can shape the future of Australia. As a mission oriented research urgency, CSIRO is focused on helping Australia and the rest of the world understand and urgently respond to the increasing global change as well as the interdependence and integration of human, environmental and scientific systems (Upstill & Spurling 2007, p 114).

The organization is also focused on helping to respond to various digital disruptions and develop effective and more secure digital capabilities for every industry. In the plan of achieving this strategy, Lince (2014) denotes that CSIRO adopts learning activities aimed at generating, analyzing, and organizing massive data to deliver valuable and reliable insights across biophysical and human systems. Therefore, it is an aspect that can only be achieved through networking, innovative collaborations, agility and ability to partner with other stakeholders across organizational boundaries and discipline. It is through collaboration and networking that led to the birth of Data 61.

According to PN (2017), Data 61 is a result of the merger between CSIRO digital research unit and the National ICT Australia (NICTA). The merger has created one of the largest digital research teams globally, a move that has put Australia at the forefront of cyber security research. For many technologists, Data16 is a data revolution that will greatly impact almost every government and industry functions. It has attracted most investors willing to contribute to its goals with the aim of making the most of the emerging the current global data-driven economy beyond technological boundaries in developing and applying cutting-edge technology.

 The merger of the two organizations into Data 16 was adopted to achieve certain goals in the technology industry in Australia and globally. For instance, Connolly (2015) denotes that it adopts the use of data analytics in connecting disparate government datasets and releases them publicly on open data platforms. It also improves the industry cyber security by developing new architects in the cyber security. It hence builds a global data research network with the aim of linking businesses with data resources and researchers. The innovation group as well delivers data analytics training to various global businesses with the aim of ensuring an improved and secure cyber security system globally. 

Strategic contribution of CSIRO’s data61 to CSIRO’s overall strategic goals

CSIRO’s data 61 as a cyber security strategy is based on the theme of building resilient and trustworthy cyber systems, share awareness on risk-based cyber approaches as well as strengthening social and human dimension and knowledge of cyber security. As a result, the Data61 Innovation Group has enabled the Australian government to address or develop their cyber security strategies in various ways. For instance, it has enabled the development of PfOD (Platforms for Open Data) that enables data sharing while simultaneously maintaining integrity and data privacy. It has enabled the development of a nationally recognized cyber security data curriculum that has been developed in partnership with the AICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors). In a systematic study, Daft (2016) also points out that over 70 research projects have been developed by the CSIRO’s data 61 as the merger organizations collaborate with various Australian Universities. These institutions are given the mandate of addressing research areas in vital cyber security aspects with the aim of aligning them with the national cyber security strategy (Lowenthal 2016, p. 236).

According to O'Brien (2016), the strategic design and concepts of an organization can be organic or mechanical. The mechanical structure often have an individual specialization where the employees work separately with specialization in a particular task while an organic structure has a joined specialization involving coordination of tasks between employees. CSIRO adopts an organic structure involving collaboration of different stakeholders such as the government, public institutions, and private sectors. The networking in the formation of CSIRO’s data 61 has enabled CSIRO top open more doors of opportunities and unique windows of building a momentum around the rapidly expanding global cyber security challenge. With the strategies adopted, Australia is addressing its cyber security needs while building a research base as a nation as well as jobs in various industries that will underpin a more secure future of the digital error. Working with CSIRO, the federal government of Australia has enabled the implementation of a significant plan to address the global cyber security needs as it helps the nation develop and achieve a leading global position in data research as well as data security capabilities as pointed out by Connolly (2015, p. 1). However, the same study admits that the progress achieved so far by CSIRO has never been easy without the collaboration of the academia, private sectors, and the government. The expertise in the CSIRO’s data 61 is unique and exceptional as their strategy involves networking and collaboration is exactly what CSIRO required to drive its operations towards becoming an initiative with unparalleled expertise in the essential areas of global technological innovations. The expertise within the CSIRO’s data 61 is founded on the theme of building a resilient and trustworthy cyber system that is as well a primary goal of the merger organizations.

The CSIRO’s data 61 has also been supported by over $9 million partnership between the Defense Science and Technology Group and the CSIRO with the aim of collaborating research projects with other nine Australian academic institutions around cyber security (Connolly 2015, p. 1). As a result, the innovation group has made it easier for the CSIRO to as well focus on ecosystem projects that have since been seen successful. These include the opening of the Melbourne Victorian Cyber Security and Innovation Center, launching of tow primary blockchain reports to create awareness to the Australian Industries concerning the opportunities, privacy and security risks of blockchain technology, as well as encouraging dialogue between researchers, industry, and the government.

How CSIRO’s organizational design and culture support Data61

The overall business plan of the organization has core functionality, innovation, and ideas implementation is three core functions that are considered as in terms of social and human capital, brokerage capabilities, boundary management, and social networks. For instance, Date 61 adopts horizontal structures as a design model of the organization with individual self management teams with the aim of ensuring a decentralized non-managerial organizational structure with quick motivation and feedback (CSIRO 2016). However, it leverages boundary management by adopting both vertical and horizontal organizational structure to allow a flexible redesign, flexibility, and continuous change. Niose (2010) also denotes that it is adopted to allow project changes in the introduction of new business technology and innovation programs. Data61 hence enables a clear focus towards big data, cyber security, and technological innovation concepts meant to drive networks, boundary management, social capital, and brokering in the data technologies like the data science.

Human social capital as a collaborative exercise adopts human interaction and collective capital strategies for personal gains as pointed out by Macke and Dilly (2010, p. 123). It involves adopting a set of informal values and norms equal to the members of certain groups, hence considered a vital component of social theory for both economic and human development. CSIRO (2016) denotes that it is adopted to allow collaborative and easy decision-making for innovation requirements that are geared towards the set objectives of the organization.

Social networks- With the organic structure of management adopted by the organization, social networking is easily achieved, an aspect that has allowed the organization to strengthen its ability of growth and flexibility to the change in the market and environmental conditions. For instance, big data analysis enables the company to access large amount of data through the social networks by finding the patterns within the data sets in the networks while unfolding the internal and external aspects of the organization (Macke & Dilly 2010, p. 121).

Brokering can undergo a network analysis where it has been adopted as a technique from the social network and the physical science analysis. Brokering is adopted by the organization as an easier way of connecting its different aspects of the larger network with the aim of overseeing other invisible connections and changing the boundaries for the benefit of organization (Thompson & Sandland 2012). Its capability determines the structure in the networks regarding project based innovations through configuration analysis in modernizing the growth and sustainability strategies for the organization.

Boundary Management - According to Hong and Snell (2013), innovative evolution in an organization can only be achieved through the adoption of boundary management strategies. For instance, the organization has developed online collaborative capability through the social networks to allow for the day-to-day interaction as a key boundary object element. The primary aim of agility and sustainability design as an organizational knowledge is aimed at helping learners to critique the organizational designs adopted through the conceptualization of an organizational dynamics, entities, as well as response to shifting pressure from the stakeholders. With their reflection in the role of stakeholder culture, Jones, Felps, and Bigley (2000) denotes that there is a need for understanding the concept With the knowledge of the unit, the assignment gives the learners the opportunity of criticizing the organizational boundaries, structures and forms, processes of decision-making, collaborative practices, communications systems, and innovation models. These are strategic plans that are adopted by the organization as complex adaptive systems to ensure the agility of the organization in the fast moving and ever changing global environment, a proof of proper boundary management.

According to Hamel and Vallikangas (2003), agility is the ability of the organization to adapt quick responsive changes with the aim of renewing its strategies to succeed in the rapidly changing environment.  With the turbulent global business and sustainability environment, technological innovations have been adopted as a solution to the stiff competition and the complex business environment (Hobday, Boddington, & Grantham 2012, p. 19). In responsiveness, CSIRO has a strategy of building a platform to empower the Australians by providing solutions to some of the toughest sustainability challenges. In other words, CSIRO Report (2016) denotes that the platform is aimed at getting science from the lab into the Australian hands as quickly as possible to ensure prosperity and sustainability of both scientific and economic development.

The analysis of the organization is hence relevant to the critical analysis and thinking regarding agility and sustainability. Using the organization as the case study for the assignment, the learner has the opportunity of synthesizing their knowledge by leveraging the unit content across the analysis of the organization. It hence gives a clear explanation and understanding of how the organization has put Australia at the forefront of sustainability and technology through partnership, innovation, and networking based on collaboration with the government, academic institutions, and other private sectors, a true aspect of breakage capability of the organization.

Contemporary developments of CSIRO on innovation strategy

CSIRO’s strength in organization design and culture lies in a wide range of scientific, economic and environmental sectors that are aimed to improve the performance of an industry. All these areas can further be categories under three  CSIRO operative system that are science impact, management of national facilities and CSIRO services in Australia and other parts of the world. The strengths are in the following sectors;

Environment-The constant climate change is increasingly threatening the global biodiversity hence affecting the movement of people, animals and the growth of plants (Vidas & Moghadam 2013, p.446). The changing climate also impacts the existence of pests and introduction of diseases into everyday’s life. In totality, all of these affect the agricultural sector. Therefore to address this by conducting much research on environmental issues.  The human disease pandemic, honey bee colonies, and wheat disease are the leading biosecurity threats that face Australians. CSIRO has partnered with other research bodies such as Bureau of Meteorology to help Australians understand the wind-borne pest such as wheat rust to assist them in control invasive pests in their farms (State of Climate Report 2014). One of such pests are carps, that attack the fresh water system hence costing the large Australian amount of money of about $ 500 per year to control (Carr& Hall 2015). CSIRO with other bodies has recommended that through the use of Cyprinid herpes virus as the biological control agent is very effective in reducing the population of carps in the water bodies.  CSIRO is undertaking human trials of antibody to find the treatment of Hendra virus that is perceived to be deadly while Influenza vaccine virus that grows using eggs have helped in controlling the flu virus.

Farming and production- The constant global population growth requires more than 70 per cent of the increase in the food supply to sustain food shortage (Carr & Hall 2015). The food supply should be achieved even in the face of continued diminishing of natural resources, increasing the need for protein-rich diets, the environmental changes and the high level of urbanization. CSIRO has worked on this by combing together all the agricultural facilities forming one of the largest agricultural research institutions to deploy all digital technologies across the agricultural sectors.  The organization came up with molecular markets that addressed major rust –resistance genes to the wheat breeding industry. Through that, the wheat breeding companies were able to produce some varieties of wheat that were resistant to both the existing and emerging wheat diseases.

Silverleaf whitefly is the most damaging and invasive pests that have caused massive loss of crops globally per annum. But after research by the CSIRO, there was a relieve to the farmers when the silverleaf Whitefly Integrated Pest Management Team released biological control, Eretmocerushayati to the pest that was resistant to insecticides (Carr& Hall 2015). Through proper use of the recommended of the pest management solutions, the Silveleafe whitefly was controllable in Australia.

Health- Health research shows that in the next 30 years, Australians aged 65 years and above will be more prone to chronic diseases  such as cardio vascular that kill on average of  after 12 minutes in Australia.(Lowenthal 2016) Therefore, the healthcare should be made more accessible in the future than before . Through enhancing the existing health facilities such as an introduction of broadband satellite technology, to screen people will offer improved services to the elderly Australians on reduced costs will lessen the level of dependency and at the same time optimize the health facilities. They have developed cardiac rehabilitation programs on smartphones and web portal to assist those who have undergone cardiac treatment and are at their respective homes.

Mining and Renewable energy- Australian is a global mining leader faces superior declining mining returns has called the CSIRO to come up with research and innovation methods such as sensor technology system and automation that control both labor and energy usage (Knight et al 2014 p.310). Energy is the core factor in both economic and well being of people globally. Australia enjoys varied sources of energy that is exportable to other countries. Without proper control and management, then the country may face the shortage of the renewable energy through uncontrolled mining. The power flagship has brought together the entire stakeholder to enables healthy energy production and emissions that protect both the social and environmental factors. Through enhancement of solar use in Cyprus that consists of 50 heliostats, producing 150 KW of peak thermal energy has made this achievable.

How to leverage such strengths

The CSIRO strengths can be leveraged further through the adoption of social and human capital concepts to encourage integration with other community organization and relevant stakeholders. For example through plants research, the agency should provide the information and the best breed that are flexible and updated as per the global complexities. Due to the increase of globalization, there is increased movement of people from one country to another. Brokerage capability will hence allow proper research on the infrastructures to improve performance on technological innovations and advances on economic issues such as the transports system across the Australian and globally.

The unit also identifies contemporary issues such as the CSIRO’s responses to sustainability challenges with the aim of building collaborative capability solutions in response to both internal and external pressure from sustainability conflicts, networking, and strategic values. As a result, a successful examination of the strategic design of the company has expanded the knowledge of the learner in the practical examination of workplace design. It is given the learners the opportunity of critically analyzing generic organizational designs as well as how the organization facilitated agile responsiveness to issues such as cyber security that has been addressed by the CSIRO’s Data 61 innovation strategy through social networking and merger strategies with other stakeholders.

Gaps that might be addressed in data61

With a focus on innovation, Data61 currently adopts a horizontal structure with the CEO as the sole entity above the project groups. It hence differs from the CSIRO that adopts both the vertical and horizontal where the employees report directly to the managers who have equal authority. However, for new social networks to be discovered within the structure for effective support and innovation, it requires brokering that needs to be adopted within the horizontal structure. Thompson and Sandland (2012) denote that the big data analysis needs brokering capabilities to effectively understand the citizen and government networks for proper linking with the horizontal design structure.  

Conclusion

CSIRO has proven to be very agile as it has adopted strategies that have enabled the organization remain steadfast and productive in various economic industries as well as putting Australia in the top globally on technological security and cyber safety. The organization is hence a case study that shows a clear collaboration, innovation, and networking as its futures in strategic design and thinking.

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