¶ … Communications
Innovation at L3 Communications
Company Background
Innovation Strategy
Planning for Innovation
Management Systems and Innovation Metrics
Rewards and Incentives
Organizational Learning
Leadership's Commitment to Innovation
Leadership's Innovation Strategy Involvement
Ethics in Innovation
Company Background
L-3 is a prime contractor in Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems, platform and logistics solutions, and national security solutions; L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms (L-3, N.d.). The company's client base includes an array of different organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense and its prime contractors, U.S. government intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Justice, allied foreign governments, domestic and foreign commercial customers and select other U.S. federal, state and local government agencies.
The L-3 concept was developed along three different central components that constitute the organization's high level objectives (L-3, N.d.):
Agility: L-3's ability to respond and adapt quickly to the needs of our customers and the environment.
Innovation: L-3's drive for developing new technologies, new ideas, and new ways of thinking to deliver the best solutions for our customers.
Commitment: L-3's continual focus on quality, service and performance to meet and exceed our customers' expectations.
L-3 defines its success by being flexible and responsive in their ability to meet our customers' needs. The company claims that every part of our business is focused on quick and agile response, innovative thinking and a relentless commitment to getting the job done. The company is currently a top ten defense contractor and has delivered government solutions to the U.S. defense organizations for over a decade.
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York (Roge, 2012). L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, L-3 Communications Corporation, provides command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; and government services in the United States and internationally. Its C3ISR segment offers fleet management sustainment and support. The company's Government Services segment provides communication software support, information technology services, and various engineering development services and integration support (Roge, 2012).
It's Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance segment offers modernization and refurbishments, upgrades and sustainment, maintenance, and logistics support services, as well as turnkey aviation life cycle management services for military and various government and commercial customers. The company's Electronic Systems segment provides components, products, subsystems, systems, and related services across various business areasL-3 Communications, with $15.5 billion in estimated 2011 revenues, is an historically acquisitive maker of military and homeland security electronics, and conducts business through four operating segments. The company's primary end-markets consist of the U.S. DoD (76% of 2010 revenue), international customers (13%), other U.S. government agencies (7%), and domestic commercial customers (4%). Sales to the DoD were distributed among the armed services as follows: Army 25% of sales, U.S. Air Force 25%, Navy and Marines 16%, and all other defense customers 10% (Roge, 2012).
The demand for company's military weapons systems is driven primarily by growth in the U.S. defense budget. With the last decade, the procurement and R&D budgets within the U.S. defense budget grew at 9.0% and 7.6% compound annual growth rates (CAGRs), respectively which represents a strong growth market for the company; however, Standard & Poor's expects growth in the U.S. defense budget to flatten out or decline going forward, due to pressure resulting from high U.S. budget deficits and this level of growth may no longer be sustainable indefinitely (Roge, 2012).
Innovation Strategy
L-3's innovation strategy is centered on a concept that they refer to as situational awareness (L-3, 2012). The company defines this innovation strategy as:
Situational awareness has always been critical to our customers, and L-3's ability to adapt is integral to everything we do. Our strategy is defined by our focus on the evolving geopolitical, economic and market forces that create the landscape in which we operate. This is L-3's strength -- the ability to deliver in every environment (L-3, 2012).
The idea is that the company monitors the environment and develops solutions to help their client's tackle obstacles when they arise. The company proactively tries to integrate with its clients and be responsive to whatever situation arises in the world.
The company promotes innovation through a variety of different routes and even through external partnerships with strategic partners. Recently, MEMS manufacturer Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) announced that...
L3Harris: Interview and Change ModelIntroductionL3 Harris is a leader in aerospace and defense technology, focusing on innovative solutions and design excellence. To further develop its organizational effectiveness and foster a positive work culture, a Positive Organizational Diagnosis Exercise was conducted based on an interview with a long-standing employee. This paper examines the strengths, unique qualities, and aspirations of L3 Harris, outlines a positive change agenda, and recommends specific actions to
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