The Ideal Environment for Innovation: What One Internship Taught Me

by John Wayne Lee

Whenever you shop for groceries, do you ever observe the process of how it’s done? Most of the time, the cashier scans the product you check out, takes your payment, and gives you the receipt—all within a few minutes. Most of us take this process for granted; however, the technology to make it work is actually more complex than one might think.

Which technology? Barcodes—a method of representing data and information in a visual representation that can easily be read by a machine, which lets it identify an object instantly through a scanner. In the retail industry, barcodes have transformed operations by reducing human error, improving inventory management, and streamlining point-of-sale systems (Bing & Yang, 2019).

Recently, I had the opportunity to create a barcode system for an enterprise as an intern. Initially, I was intimidated by this project, as I had no experience with similar tasks. The number of products (and their variations) that they had in their store was in the thousands, and I had to complete it in three weeks. Frankly, I did not believe that I could execute it in such a short amount of time. However, despite my lack of confidence and experience, I’m proud to say that I was able to do so without delay and contribute invaluably to the business at the end of my stay. How was I able to accomplish this? Join me as I showcase my experience with the Roots Collective.

Photo from the author’s last day of his internship at the Roots Collective

The Roots Collective calls itself a community of local and social entrepreneurs. Their mission is “to empower local brands and social enterprises through market access, enable entrepreneurial success, and curate a diverse collection of homegrown brands that embody the essence of the Philippines” (Roots Collective, 2024). They give a platform for Filipino businesses to sell their products physically at their store and pop-ups, and digitally through their website and e-commerce platforms.

As a relatively small business with only one physical branch so far, Roots handled purchases by manually reading, writing, and typing the SKUs of their products into their receipts and databases. Since this was prone to human error and slower compared to other retail shops, they wanted to automate this process through a barcode system, hence my assignment to this project. As an intern with just three weeks' time, I was hesitant at first, feeling it would be too heavy for me, especially given my lack of prior knowledge of barcodes. However, since it fit my program of study and was an opportunity to learn something new, I decided to push my capabilities and pursue the project.

The first thing that stood out to me when I started working with Roots was their team. It was small compared to other businesses, hence a relatively flat organizational structure. This allowed me to easily talk to the leaders of the enterprise when I needed their input on something regarding the project. Secondly, they gave me freedom and autonomy to explore various options and choices in creating their barcode system. While intimidating, this also gave me a safe environment to experiment with what I wished to pursue, allowing me to take risks and consider unconventional solutions. Finally, sometimes they would ask me for advice when it came to other initiatives, such as their branding and marketing; they wanted a take from the younger generation. While minor, these qualities of their team gave me confidence and made me feel seen, as if I were a significant asset to their team.

This solid communication, freedom to explore, and opportunity to give feedback were aspects that I did not expect from an office internship. From my youth, I'd always thought that working for a business or company would be repetitive, monotonous, and dull; I was pleasantly surprised when this wasn’t the case with Roots. Working for them was engaging, challenging, and fulfilling. Not only were these core traits of communication, freedom, and feedback pleasant to have in the workplace, they were also crucial in the completion of the barcode system. After three weeks of research, experimentation, and testing, I was able to create the necessary processes for it to work; as well as create a manual for the enterprise, so that they could use it even after my stay. On my last day, I personally taught the staff how to create and scan the labels.

The autonomy I had in this experience significantly contributed to my learning experience. According to Amabile & Kramer (2011), environments that offer autonomy, encouragement, and non-controlling supervision enhance creativity and intrinsic motivation. Relatedly, according to Schwartz (2020), bureaucratic processes and behaviors in an organization stifle innovation. A bureaucracy values routine, rules, and ways of working where it has been done before—done for efficiency. However, this practice of upholding the status quo presents innovation as inefficient, risky, and not worth the time and effort of the organization. Moreover, a Dutch study found that heavier bureaucratic processes contributed to lower job impact and job satisfaction (Steijn & Van Der Voet, 2017). These findings suggest that what I experienced in the workplace isn’t isolated, but a common phenomenon in the world of work. A highly bureaucratic system, while effective in larger corporations, may not be suitable or fit for certain kinds of workers and organizations.

Reflecting on this experience, I’ve come to appreciate the value of organizational environments that prioritize communication, autonomy, and inclusive feedback. These principles not only foster innovation, but also allow early-career professionals like interns to thrive. It reinforced my belief that adaptability, rather than rigid adherence to protocol, often leads to better outcomes in dynamic work settings. When we approach a problem, it’s crucial to think outside the box; this can be especially difficult to achieve in a firm bound by rules and standards. We must ask ourselves, is the task at hand truly difficult, or is the environment we’re in setting us up for failure? Don’t be afraid to evolve or transform, as change is the first step to innovation.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this student article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Ateneo de Manila University

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References:

Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011). The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business School.

Bing, L., & Yang, L. (2019). Design and development of inventory system based on barcode scanning technology. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering, 563(4), 042092. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/563/4/042092

Schwartz, M. (2020). The (Delicate) art of bureaucracy: Digital Transformation with the Monkey, the Razor, and the Sumo Wrestler. It Revolution Press.

Steijn, B., & Van Der Voet, J. (2017). Relational job characteristics and job satisfaction of public sector employees: When prosocial motivation and red tape collide. Public Administration, 97(1), 64–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12352

Who we are - Roots collective. (2024). Roots Collective PH. https://rootscollective.ph/pages/about