HARNESSING THE HUMAN POTENTIAL IN ORGANIZATIONS
Advanced Seminar in Human Resource
The challenge to tap into the human capital of our employees has always been a challenging one. There are still companies that operate on the idea that people only work because they have to and need to be monitored every moment to make them do what they are supposed to do. Those companies that have attempted to find the potential in their people have reaped great rewards and the employees have found satisfying jobs. The question remains, how do we tap this amazing resource?
3M had humble beginnings and nearly went out of business with its first venture. Five men in Minnesota founded it in 1902. They started" Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) to mine what they thought were corundum, a mineral ideal for making sandpaper and grinding wheels. The mineral, however, turned out to be a low-grade anorthosite. Sales of the poor-quality mineral were weak, and the company nearly failed." The company did not fail but with additional investment moved and started making sandpaper. In 1907 a young man of 20 was hired as a book keeper, he would work his day to be president of 3M and it was William L. McKnight that would one day lay the foundation of employee motivation at 3M.
William encouraged 3M management to "delegate responsibility and encourage men and women to exercise their initiative." It was this principle that eventually led to the dynamic inventions that have made 3M a very successful company. William McKnight was a man before his time. Programs to encourage innovation at 3M were based on Williams's ideas. 3M employees can spend 15% of their time developing ...