The Seeds of Innovation Cultivating the Synergy that Fosters New Ideas AUTHOR: Elaine Dundon PUBLISHER: AMACON DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2002 NUMBER OF PAGES: 241 pages Book pic

Organizations must become more innovative as markets become more dynamic and competitive. There are several components in fostering innovation in a corporation --- Creative Thinking , Strategic Thinking , and Transformational Thinking . THE BIG IDEA

Organizations must become more innovative as markets become more dynamic and competitive.

There are several components in fostering innovation in a corporation --- Creative Thinking , Strategic Thinking , and Transformational Thinking .

Introduction to Innovation Management The Need for Innovation Innovation is composed of four components - creativity , strategy , implementation , and profitability . Three Types of Innovation Efficiency Innovation Evolutionary Innovation Revolutionary Innovation The Seeds of Innovation Creative Thinking Strategic Thinking Transformational Thinking

The Need for Innovation

Innovation is composed of four components - creativity , strategy , implementation , and profitability .

Three Types of Innovation

Efficiency Innovation

Evolutionary Innovation

Revolutionary Innovation

The Seeds of Innovation

Creative Thinking

Strategic Thinking

Transformational Thinking

The Nine Step Innovation Process Three key stages in the process: Understanding Gathering information. Clarifying the Real Problem. Setting Innovation Goalposts. Imagination 4. Seeking Stimuli. 5. Uncovering Insights. 6. Identifying Ideas. Action 7. Developing the Innovation Roadmap. 8. Gaining Commitment. 9. Implementing the Innovation Roadmap. Introduction to Innovation Management

The Nine Step Innovation Process

Three key stages in the process:

Understanding

Gathering information.

Clarifying the Real Problem.

Setting Innovation Goalposts.

Imagination

4. Seeking Stimuli.

5. Uncovering Insights.

6. Identifying Ideas.

Action

7. Developing the Innovation Roadmap.

8. Gaining Commitment.

9. Implementing the Innovation Roadmap.

Believe in Creativity Realize that everybody is creative in their own way. To believe in creativity, one must learn to accept failure. Be Curious Creativity thrives on curiosity. A curious mind acknowledges the fact that there are alternative ideas that exist. Curious minds challenge traditions. The Seeds of Creative Thinking

Believe in Creativity

Realize that everybody is creative in their own way.

To believe in creativity, one must learn to accept failure.

Be Curious

Creativity thrives on curiosity.

A curious mind acknowledges the fact that there are alternative ideas that exist. Curious minds challenge traditions.

Discover New Connections Creative Connection Power Tools: Rummaging the Attic Cultivating Obsession Analyzing Frustrations Identifying Gold Standard Adopting and Adapting Combining Ideas Finding Similarities Breaking Down the DNA Listing and Twisting Become a Visual Thinker The Seeds of Creative Thinking

Discover New Connections

Creative Connection Power Tools:

Rummaging the Attic

Cultivating Obsession

Analyzing Frustrations

Identifying Gold Standard

Adopting and Adapting

Combining Ideas

Finding Similarities

Breaking Down the DNA

Listing and Twisting

Become a Visual Thinker

Evolving From Brainstorming to Innovation Groups Brainstorming poses several challenges: Lack of process. Lack of skilled facilitator. Lack of skilled participants. Listing of rules. No agreement on problem. Lack of stimuli. Pressure to be creative on queue. Pressure to converge quickly. Lack of follow up. The Seeds of Creative Thinking

Evolving From Brainstorming to Innovation Groups

Brainstorming poses several challenges:

Lack of process.

Lack of skilled facilitator.

Lack of skilled participants.

Listing of rules.

No agreement on problem.

Lack of stimuli.

Pressure to be creative on queue.

Pressure to converge quickly.

Lack of follow up.

See the BIG Picture Elements in seeing the big picture: Systems Thinking Clarifying the Real Problem Setting Innovation Goalposts Five ways to set Innovation Goalposts: Gather information about various angles of the problem Define the real problem Discuss the ideal solution Decide on the type of innovation to implement Pre-determine the strategic idea criteria. The Seeds of Strategic Thinking

See the BIG Picture

Elements in seeing the big picture:

Systems Thinking

Clarifying the Real Problem

Setting Innovation Goalposts

Five ways to set Innovation Goalposts:

Gather information about various angles of the problem

Define the real problem

Discuss the ideal solution

Decide on the type of innovation to implement

Pre-determine the strategic idea criteria.

BIG-Picture Criteria: The idea must be simple. The idea must support the overall business strategy. The idea must be distinctly new and better. The idea must be proven. The idea must be profitable. The idea must be quickly implemented. Look Into the Future Imagination focuses on three steps: Seeking Stimuli - Observing and analyzing: Current states of organization’s business. Customer ideas. Existing solutions available within the category. Current benchmarking excellence in their field. The Seeds of Strategic Thinking

BIG-Picture Criteria:

The idea must be simple.

The idea must support the overall business strategy.

The idea must be distinctly new and better.

The idea must be proven.

The idea must be profitable.

The idea must be quickly implemented.

Look Into the Future

Imagination focuses on three steps:

Seeking Stimuli - Observing and analyzing:

Current states of organization’s business.

Customer ideas.

Existing solutions available within the category.

Current benchmarking excellence in their field.

Look Into the Future Uncovering Insights Four key areas where one should delve into in order to gather insights: Customer needs Emerging technology Marketplace Organizational Needs Identifying Ideas The Seeds of Strategic Thinking

Look Into the Future

Uncovering Insights

Four key areas where one should delve into in order to gather insights:

Customer needs

Emerging technology

Marketplace

Organizational Needs

Identifying Ideas

Do the Extraordinary Target the most profitable customers. Offer something distinctly new and better. Set your innovation priorities. Make sure it’s easy. Pick up the pace. Systemize with modules. Profit from the power of branding. Add credibility. Create a magnet work (network that is the most cost-efficient to your organization). The Seeds of Strategic Thinking

Do the Extraordinary

Target the most profitable customers.

Offer something distinctly new and better.

Set your innovation priorities.

Make sure it’s easy.

Pick up the pace.

Systemize with modules.

Profit from the power of branding.

Add credibility.

Create a magnet work (network that is the most cost-efficient to your organization).

Seek Greater Awareness Seek Greater Awareness of Self The more aware a person is of himself and his environment, the more he is able to take advantage of opportunities to become innovative. Seek Greater Awareness of the Team Barriers in team innovation due to unawareness of these factors: Effect of one’s attitude towards others. Increasing need for more developed social skills. Need for widespread participation in the innovation initiative. Team’s resistance to change. The Seeds of Transformational Thinking

Seek Greater Awareness

Seek Greater Awareness of Self

The more aware a person is of himself and his environment, the more he is able to take advantage of opportunities to become innovative.

Seek Greater Awareness of the Team

Barriers in team innovation due to unawareness of these factors:

Effect of one’s attitude towards others.

Increasing need for more developed social skills.

Need for widespread participation in the innovation initiative.

Team’s resistance to change.

Seek Greater Awareness of the Organization Most innovative organizations possess these characteristics: encourage all employees, partners and suppliers to take an active role in innovation. welcome new ideas and new approaches. redefine rules of the game and challenge complacent competitors. embrace new technology to strengthen their competitive advantage. employ internal processes that support innovation. allocate resources to find, develop, and implement new ideas. reward innovative efforts. move quickly. The Seeds of Transformational Thinking

Seek Greater Awareness of the Organization

Most innovative organizations possess these characteristics:

encourage all employees, partners and suppliers to take an active role in innovation.

welcome new ideas and new approaches.

redefine rules of the game and challenge complacent competitors.

embrace new technology to strengthen their competitive advantage.

employ internal processes that support innovation.

allocate resources to find, develop, and implement new ideas.

reward innovative efforts.

move quickly.

Ignite Passion Passion at the Individual Level Passion is a behavioral manifestation of one’s individuality – one’s life energy. Passion at the Team Level A slated culture lists desired attributes of its team while the real culture recognizes the personalities and behaviors of its members. Passionate Physical Environment A passionate physical environment has energy flowing through it. The Seeds of Transformational Thinking

Ignite Passion

Passion at the Individual Level

Passion is a behavioral manifestation of one’s individuality – one’s life energy.

Passion at the Team Level

A slated culture lists desired attributes of its team while the real culture recognizes the personalities and behaviors of its members.

Passionate Physical Environment

A passionate physical environment has energy flowing through it.

Take Action Developing Innovation Roadmaps First categorize ideas according to their feasibility. Gaining Commitment Three processes in encouraging to be more receptive to change or new ideas: Invalidation Creation of guilt or anxiety Creation of psychological safety Implementation of Roadmaps The innovation leader must apply the right pressure until the plan is fully implemented. Passion, Patience, and Perseverance One must be able to pursue innovative ideas without being easily discouraged. The Seeds of Transformational Thinking

Take Action

Developing Innovation Roadmaps

First categorize ideas according to their feasibility.

Gaining Commitment

Three processes in encouraging to be more receptive to change or new ideas:

Invalidation

Creation of guilt or anxiety

Creation of psychological safety

Implementation of Roadmaps

The innovation leader must apply the right pressure until the plan is fully implemented.

Passion, Patience, and Perseverance

One must be able to pursue innovative ideas without being easily discouraged.

Organizational Innovation The Innovation Systems Architecture Model Shared Innovation Vision and Strategy Innovation Environment Supports Innovation Resource Allocation Innovation Process Networks Innovation Programs Innovation Skills Development Innovation Rewards and Recognition External Stakeholder Innovation (Customers and Partners) The Innovative Organization Assessment: A Holistic Approach Two ways to measure these efforts: Innovation output Innovation throughput The Seeds of Transformational Thinking

Organizational Innovation

The Innovation Systems Architecture Model

Shared Innovation Vision and Strategy

Innovation Environment Supports

Innovation Resource Allocation

Innovation Process Networks

Innovation Programs

Innovation Skills Development

Innovation Rewards and Recognition

External Stakeholder Innovation (Customers and Partners)

The Innovative Organization Assessment: A Holistic Approach

Two ways to measure these efforts:

Innovation output

Innovation throughput

A common misconception about innovation is that it is synonymous to creativity. Creativity is just a component of innovation; strategy and implementation are also important in the innovation process. The integration of these three seeds of innovation - creative thinking , strategic thinking , and transformational thinking -are all essential and must be practiced by all members of the company in order to achieve success and become an innovative organization. Conclusion

A common misconception about innovation is that it is synonymous to creativity.

Creativity is just a component of innovation; strategy and implementation are also important in the innovation process.

The integration of these three seeds of innovation - creative thinking , strategic thinking , and transformational thinking -are all essential and must be practiced by all members of the company in order to achieve success and become an innovative organization.

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