Member Productivity Showcase: Qualcomm

Several things have changed over the last few years, both in the world at large and within i4cp. Though we remain dedicated to relevant and timely research, tools and technology, we are continually looking for ways to further emphasize our network and encourage connectivity among members. The ability to connect with other members to tackle problems and anticipate situations is a key benefit of what we provide. Throughout the year, we will showcase several of our members, explaining what they do and what sets them apart.

Why Qualcomm?
Our first showcased organization is Qualcomm, one of our most active members. Qualcomm, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, is one of Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" and "100 Best Companies to Work For." CIO Magazine has also named Qualcomm as one of the top 11 companies exemplifying the highest level of operational and strategic excellence.

Qualcomm has demonstrated its commitment to productivity throughout the year by engaging i4cp on a variety of projects. Company employees have also actively shared with i4cp's membership a number of programs they have instituted to encourage a culture of creativity and innovation. As a result of this activity, Qualcomm was presented with i4cp's first annual Productivity Pioneer Award at our 37th Annual Membership Conference. As i4cp research in the past has shown, there is a clear correlation between active employee engagement and corporate productivity, which is the basis for Qualcomm's receiving our inaugural award.

While we can't go into everything that Qualcomm has done over the last year, we can remark on a few of the projects upon which we've collaborated, as well as others the company has shared with us or with fellow i4cp members.

The Business Acumen Series for Engineers
Qualcomm became a member of i4cp in late 2007, and one of the first projects on which we collaborated was a business acumen study for technical professionals. The goal of the study was to determine to what degree lack of business acumen is seen as an issue among technical staff at all levels of the organization, and if it is a problem, what are other organizations doing to address it?

We implemented a Pulse Survey, thus saving Qualcomm from incurring the cost of hiring a vendor; the results of the study provided the business case to justify spending money on providing this curriculum.

In May 2008, Qualcomm launched the Business Acumen Series for Engineers, which involved a series of university-developed lectures and classroom experiences that foster knowledge in fundamental topic areas addressed in many MBA programs. There was a particular focus on the business model and identifying skills and knowledge gaps, which is of particular importance because the company's most critical talent segment is engineering. The program has been received with rave reviews and excitement.

Innovation at Qualcomm
Qualcomm looks to set itself apart from competitors by taking advantage of the ingenuity of its people. Particularly in these challenging economic times, the key to future success is innovation and differentiation from competitors. Qualcomm does this as a matter of habit. As the company shared with i4cp members at this year's Annual Membership Conference, several examples of fostering a culture of innovation are part of the fabric of Qualcomm:
  1. Corporate Storytelling: A Key to Innovation
    During an employee's first year, an automated system sends the employee a weekly story written by another, usually senior, employee, which shares failures as well as successes. The stories, called 52 Weeks at QUALCOMM, share historical insight about the company.
  2. Qualcomm Employee Tradeshow
    The annual employee trade show has everything you'd expect - booths, "hands-on" demos, raffles and giveaways. The only difference is this trade show is by the employees, for the employees. The goal of the event is to generate excitement about the company and its employees' ideas as well as educate them about projects and goings-on among other groups.
  3. Qualcomm Technology Forum (QTech)
    QTech is a three-day event that allows engineers to share their ideas with the rest of the company. There are typically over 100 submissions, and 30 engineers are selected to make brief presentations or provide tutorials. The forum is also attended by senior executives and visiting guest keynoters, and it encourages innovation, provides recognition and reinforces the company's competitive advantage.
  4. Qualcomm Innovation Network (QIN)
    QIN has a specific mission: to make innovation at Qualcomm systemic. It is done in a four-step process, moving from idea generation to implementation. The program gets employees at all levels of management and expertise involved, allowing them to be raters and participate in a trading market, thus allowing collective intelligence to select the semi-finalist ideas.
The Results Are in the Bottom Line
Qualcomm is a pioneer in workforce productivity by evidence of its commitment to finding new and better ways of providing its employees the tools, culture, and environment in which to succeed as individuals and as a team, which in the end results in success for the organization. Despite the economy, Qualcomm reported a net income of $341 million in Q1 2009, and the firm's 10% decrease in stock price is far better than the 40% drops the major indexes have seen over the last year.

If you would like to have your company showcased or would like to connect with someone at Qualcomm about one of the company's initiatives, please contact your account manager.