JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking the celebration of the 16th International Women's Day, Accenture carried out its #EqualityDrivesInnovation research involving 18,000 respondents from 27 countries, including 700 Indonesian respondents. The theme of the research focuses on cultural impact of the workplace environment towards the company's development and ability to innovate. The findings conclude that companies in Indonesia are already aware on the importance of innovation in advancing their company. Furthermore Accenture's research reveals that in Indonesia the culture of equality has been able to triple innovation mindset[1]. Thus, emphasizing the importance of a culture of gender equality, as an important key to driving the company's innovation mindset.
Debby Alishinta, Managing Director of Women in Accenture Sponsor in Indonesia explained, "#EqualityDrivesInnovation shows that the culture of equality is the main driver of innovative mindsets that have a significant impact on the progress of a company. Of all the factors that are the focus of the research, culture is always superior to the others. The culture of equality plays a much more significant role than the geographical, demographic, or company sector factors. Employees show stronger innovative mindset in a workplace with a better culture of gender equality. Research also reveals that equal appreciation on the ability of male and female workers becomes the key to the innovation mindset that gives greater possibilities for companies to compete globally."
The era of digital disruption indeed requires employees to have innovative mindsets to support the existence and competition of companies. Employee's innovation capabilities are indicators of success to meet the needs of the fast-moving markets. Constellation Research: Disrupting Digital Business presented data that 52% of companies listed in Fortune 500 went bankrupt due to digital disruption, while demonstrating that innovation plays an important role in the sustainability of the company. Indonesia currently ranks 85th in the World Innovation Index[2]. In positive manner, #EqualityDrivesInnovation reveals that as many as 95% of company leaders have realized the importance of innovation, and 96% of employees want to be more innovative. Qualitative data in Indonesia also reveals that 80% of organizations encourage and enable employees to be innovative in their daily work.
Globally, the power of the culture of gender equality to lead innovative mindsets is also very strong, and even creates more impact than age or gender. This research also shows that diversity in the company significantly influences the innovation mindset. As for Indonesia, the research #EqualityDrivesInnovation has shown that the country has embraced diversity or cultural differences compared to other countries. Although diversity has significant influence, the culture of gender equality is an important multiplier that helps companies maximizes their innovation. Research has found that globally, innovation mindset is six times greater when diversity is combined with a culture of equality, compared to other companies that do not uphold a culture of equality and diversity. In line with these findings, Accenture also stated that if every country increases the innovation mindset to 10%, global gross domestic product could increase to $8 trillion by 2028.
The equality culture to advance innovative mindset is categorized as follows:
Of the three categories, workplace environment that empowers workers is the main key in improving the innovation mindset. This category includes easy access to training, a reliable environment, and leaders or mentors who can develop their skills, cultivate remote work or work outside the office, able to access training companies with time and format that is flexible, and has the opportunity to work based on passion. In addition, #EqualityDrivesInnovation reports that the factors that support a culture of equality have a greater impact in increasing the innovation mindset than the education level of each individual.
In its efforts to strengthen the findings of this research, Accenture di Indonesia also held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with Femina and the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE), which became a mouthpiece for efforts to gender equality in Indonesia. The discussion also involved nine director level respondents and eleven respondents with up to senior manager level. The FGD participants agreed Indonesian culture, that is known for politeness and friendliness in the workplace makes the country's views on diversity unique. Making diversity more and more accepted over the years compared to other countries.
Petty S. Fatimah, Editor in Chief of Femina and Editorial Director of Prana Group said, "Efforts to uphold the culture of gender equality in the work environment are in fact one of the first steps to implementing a wider culture of gender equality in various fields. Equality in the company will provide more opportunities for Indonesian women to occupy strategic positions and build work situations that give courage to all employees to innovate more without fear of trying and fearing of failure. When culture is equally developed, innovative mindsets also flourish."
Maya Juwita, Executive Director, Indonesia Business Coallition for Women (IBCWE) also said, "IBCWE formed as coalition of a number of companies who are committed to promoting economic empowerment of women and gender equality, including Accenture. We believe that the business, along with governments and civil society, play an important role in reducing disparities, poverty alleviation, and achieving goals of sustainable development. Accenture's #EqualityDrivesInnovation in line with our mission supporting the business environment to have optimal role in improving the economic empowerment of women and gender equality. We see that 'equality drives innovation' could be one important point for the government to encourage businesses to provide equal opportunities for women. Together we have to push women empowerment in economic and work area, remove the obstacles for women to reach higher career.
Releasing various researches to explore ways to improve the quality of employment as well as gender equality is one of Accenture's efforts to achieve its goal of achieving gender equality in employment by 2050. Accenture believes that to achieve the future with equal employment, it must implement firm goals namely by starting to achieve global employment that upholds gender equality in 2025. Another goal is to increase the percentage of women serving as managing directors by 25 percent globally in 2020.
"The appreciation of the culture of gender equality and awareness of the importance of innovation is an extraordinary capital for a company to survive. The top management has a strategic position in leading the corporate culture to uphold equality and empower workers. Furthermore, leaders must be able to guide employees to ward off challenges that hinder the application of a culture of gender equality in the work environment so that a culture of gender equality can be applied well and produces innovative advances that are useful for the company," Debby Alishinta concluded.
Get Accenture global report here: accenture.com/gettingtoequal
Methodology
As part of the research entitled '#EqualityDrivesInnovation', Accenture conducted a survey of more than 18,000 male and female workers with university education in 27 countries – including 700 male and female workers in Indonesia – to understand the important factors in creating a culture of gender equality related to progress and income in the company. The survey was supplemented by in-depth interviews with female workers who were on a "fast track" – fast-growing women in their careers compared to other women. Accenture also analyzes data related to various labor issues, including workforce progress, talent disparity, corporate culture, sexual harassment, gender equality based on level, and company best practices. By combining the findings of this survey, Accenture developed an econometric model to determine the factors that have a significant impact on progress and opportunities for women. This model is used to better understand the implications of these factors on the progress of male and female workers and reduce the income gap. This is possible if companies apply these recommendations.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional service company, which provides a variety of services and solutions of strategies, consulting, digital, technology, and business operations. By combining specialized experience and skills in more than 40 industries and all business functions – supported by the world's largest delivery network – Accenture works at business and technology meeting points to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for stakeholders. With more than 469,000 personnel serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture provides innovation for life and work. Visit our website at www.accenture.com.
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For more information, please contact:
Accenture in Indonesia
Nia Sarinastiti
Inclusion & Diversity Lead and Marketing & Communication Director
Wisma 46 - Kota BNI - Lantai 18
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav.1, Jakarta 10220
Tel : +6221 574 6575
Email: nia.sarinastiti@accenture.com
[1] Culture of Equality – Conditions where 40 factors that encourage improvement in the work environment are present. The more factors that are applied, the more employees are increasing and more prosperous.
[2] https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator
