During our visit to KPMG today, we got to hear from representatives from yet another “Big Four” accounting firm. The visit started out with a presentation from Jim Heatherington, Director of Advisory for the firm. In his presentation, he spoke about globalization and the international aspect of the company, which he has major experience in. Through his endeavors, he has found that we can’t always “look to the blueprint,” but rather be comfortable feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar environments. Embracing other cultures and learning to adapt are key to advancing in business globally.

From an innovation perspective, we also learned about the importance of data analytics and how it has evolved and changed the workplace. KPMG has started a new program called KPMG Ignition, which allows them to collaborate with their clients at various specialized work sites throughout the country. By using this cooperative design, KPMG employees are able to cater directly to their clients wants and needs, allowing them to improve tax and audit processes and find ways to manage more efficiently. Companies that use programs like these to their advantage can easily be labeled as innovative. Rather than continuing with the norm, companies like KPMG and EY are continually adapting to the changing technology and using it to their advantage to increase the efficiency and value of their companies.

At both KPMG and Ernst & Young, the employees place high value on the satisfaction of their clients. They know the importance of client satisfaction in relation to how well the company does revenue wise because of it. In addition, while employees at many firms focus on their own work and success, the employees at both of these firms strive to work together in order to benefit the company as much as possible. In fact, the motto of KPMG is “One firm, One team.” Although this may not fit the technological definition of innovation by advancing with new products and processes, it fulfills the ideological model by creating a system that makes the workplace environment successful in a different way.

Culture tends to be a theme when it comes to the success of firms. Firms that exhibit a culture emphasizing the importance of both productivity and collaboration are able to create effective models for innovation. This innovation allows companies to blow past their competitors in return. Innovation doesn’t necessarily rely on the technological breakthroughs, but rather on the ideals that a firm emphasizes to result in those breakthroughs.