Simon Hill discusses decentralizing and democratizing innovation in organizations. He argues that innovation resides throughout an organization, not in certain groups or individuals, as collaboration and exchange of ideas drives progress more than any single person's intelligence. Successful innovative cultures communicate openly, embrace diversity of thought, and encourage specialization through exchange rather than isolating groups. Examples from Samsung show that taking a democratic approach to innovation over several years generated substantial financial benefits.

1. Decentralised & Democratised
Innovation
Simon Hill
simon@wazoku.com
@mrsihill / @wazokuhq

2. The Next 40 (ish) minutes of your life….
• A bit about me
– My background and experience
– My view on the innovation landscape;
• Decentralisation & Democratisation of our work places
– drawing upon exchange of ideas and specialisation to deliver profitability,
progress and innovation;
– how well we collaborate is what drives progress (not how smart we are);
Tasmania vs. Tierra del Fuego;
• Examples from the shop floor
• Questions (and hopefully some answers)

3. Simon Hill….
(ex-)Consultant
Tech Founder
CEO Wazoku
Innovation Leader
Ideas Person

4. What is Wazoku?
Swahili for ‘Great Idea’
Leading Innovation Software Company
Powers innovation and engagement
within networks at some of the world’s
leading organisations
Award winning software, recognised by
leading analyst organisations

5. A quick quiz

6. A quick quiz
Who should make our weapons?!
(a) Oz should make both the axe and the sword
(b) Oz should make the sword and Adam the axe
(c) Adam should make the sword and Oz the axe

7. A quick quiz
Who should make our weapons?!
(a) Oz should make both the axe and the sword
(b) Oz should make the sword and Adam the axe
(c) Adam should make the sword and Oz the axe

8. We live in highly innovative times…??

9. The Pace of Change

10. Yes, but…

11. Change is NOT (necessarily) innovation

12. Many innovation structures are flawed

13. A world of incremental innovation?
X386
$287bn
$325bn

14. Bloated Hierarchies

15. Risk Aversion and Short-termism

16. Decentralising the Organisation
structures,
processes &
procedures

17. Business is more social than ever…
…but what does that
have to do with

18. Let us explore this a little
• The Enterprise is getting ever more social……

19. Let us explore this a little
• Enabling us to more easily share knowledge,
expertise, opinion and pictures of cats doing
funny things…

20. Where next?
• The next evolution of this is seeing us asking
salient questions around data, IP, workflow,
productivity, KPIs, privacy etc…and of course
innovation
Create and share ideas, discuss and
vote on them. Encourage participants
to improve ideas.
Evaluate ideas against specific criteria.
Develop and elaborate a short list of
ideas.
Choose the best ideas to implement to
achieve desired outcomes.

21. How do we build the Innovative
Organisation?

22. In the innovative enterprise….

23. In the innovative organisation, where does
innovation reside?

24. In the innovative organisation, where does
innovation reside?

25. In the democratic innovative organisation….

26. Creativity and Innovation are part of
everyone’s job

28. In this high performing culture we
communicate openly

29. Embrace diversity, exchange and
specialisation
vs.
Tasmania vs. Tierra del Fuego

30. From our morning workshop

31. The Results

32. Innovation at Samsung (over 3.5 yrs)

36. “Good programming ideas need development, feedback and discussion. Employee
engagement is a key part of how the BBC operates and we believe there is a wealth of
untapped creative talent which, using Wazoku’s platform customised to our specific needs, can
be used to generate some fantastic TV shows.”
Pat Younge, Chief Creative Officer, BBC Production

40. Parting Thought – It’s a matter of
perspective and context!