Diversity Innovation Support Scheme (DINNOS)

As a socio-political issue, demographic change poses new challenges not only for politics, but also for the economy. Various studies have shown that greater age heterogeneity in work teams can have both positive and negative effects on companies at various organizational levels. On the one hand, age-heterogeneous teams show increased performance and productivity, which are influenced by diverse knowledge and different perspectives. On the other hand, studies have shown that age heterogeneity can impair innovation performance. Reasons for this negative effect can be found at both an individual and organizational level. At an individual level, increased age is associated with a decline in cognitive abilities, which form the basis for the development of innovative ideas. At an organizational level, negative age stereotypes and the resulting conflicts lead to a reduction in group cohesion and group performance.

In order to prevent and even reverse these negative effects of age heterogeneity on innovation performance, we are conducting the "Diversity Innovation Support Scheme" (DINNOS) project together with Aston University in Birmingham, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the Kienbaum Institute & ISM for Leadership and Transformation. Together, we are investigating the influence of age heterogeneity on innovation performance in companies and endeavouring to harness the innovation potential in age-heterogeneous teams. The research project is being funded by the European Union over three years as part of the Horizon 2020 / INNOSUP programme.

The Diversity Innovation Support Scheme (DINNOS) is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises for which demographic change poses a particular challenge. The scheme has already been piloted in a previous research project in Germany and includes cognitive training for older employees and management training that focuses on reducing age stereotypes or related conflicts. In order to enable an evaluation according to scientific standards, 300 small and medium-sized companies in Germany and the UK will participate in the training courses as part of a randomised controlled study. For the evaluation, cognitive skills and creativity will be measured at an individual level and a combination of subjective and objective indicators, such as age stereotypes and productivity, at an organizational level.

Are you a small or medium-sized company and would like to take part in our training programmes free of charge?
Please get in touch with us!

You can also find further information on the project website.

 

Duration: 10/2019 - 03/2023

Funded by: European Union (Horizon 2020)

Project partner: