This document outlines the agenda for an innovation workshop. The agenda includes time for briefing, an innovation survey, discussing local strategic innovation forums, and working on simple innovation projects. Participants will then present their projects before the workshop concludes. The workshop aims to encourage innovation within vocational education committees through activities like brainstorming problems, developing solutions, and recognizing innovative ideas.

1. Innovation
April 2008
Tony Bourke – vecnpf
tonyb@raising-performance.com

2. Agenda
 12-1 Briefing
 1-2 Lunch
 2-2.05 Innovation Survey
 2.05 – 2.25 Briefing (contd.)
 2.25 – 2.40 Local Strategic Innovation Forum
 2.40 -3.30 Simple innovation projects
 3.30 – 3.55 Present Projects
 3.55 – 4 Gwen actions
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3. Innovation

4. Enterprise Ireland
 Lead
 Innovate
 Grow
 Multinationals innovated
 Irish innovate
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5. Exercise
 Invention v Innovation?
 Inventing – new thing, idea, way
– creating (iPod, iPhone)
 Innovating – simplifying / changing the old
– improving (S/quinn, Amazon)
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6. Exercise
 Inventing (creating) - hard
 Innovating (improving) - easy
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7. Michael Hammer
 Re-engineering the Corporation
 Don’t automate – obliterate
 Workplace innovation – improving the
processes and systems for organising and
managing work
New Models of High Performance Work Systems Jan 2008
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8. Examples of Innovation
 Eliminate forms
 Simplify forms e.g. dob
 2 types of parking tickets
 Increase shampoo sales
 Bills < €5 (TV License)
 Cheque signatures
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9. Exercise
 How have VECs innovated?
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10. Note
 Innovation = Complexity
 Simplify
 Ryanair?
 Wheeled stands Leather seats
 Free meals / drinks Baskets
 Check-in agents Expensive airports
 Safety leaflets Recline
 Booking number No pens …
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11. Exercise
 Main source of innovation?
 DAILY ACTIVITIES
– Customer complaints (bad or good)
– Errors
– Other VECs (creative imitation)
– Frustration (Irish Continental)
– Suppliers
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12. Key Innovation Skill
 Awareness
 Seeing with fresh eyes
 Asking visitors
 New staff
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13. More Examples
 Motor tax online
 VEC - web sites
 Suppliers - accounts in morning
 Invoices - email
 Car wing mirrors - close
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14. Exercise
 What could be simplified in your VEC?
 Key innovation skill?
 Get new things done
Schumpeter 1934
 Complainers v changers
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15. Exercise
 What prevents innovation?
 Middle management
 Culture / habits – NY cabs
 Time - Money - Resources
 Fear
 Resistance to change (loss)
 Why can’t we? V Why we can’t
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16. Exercise
 Driver of innovation?
 Competition (Aer Lingus, universities)
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17. Business Innovation
 Products - new / simpler (mobiles)
 Customers - opening hours (vets)
 Processes - PMDS
 Channels - on-line, podcasts
 VECs?
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18. Warning
 Most innovations do not succeed
 Most organisations that do not innovate die
 Innovate or stagnate
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19. More Examples
 eircom – Smart
 VHI – return forms
 Plain English campaign
 GPs – open in evening
 Government – you keep receipts
 Dell – just-in-time delivery
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20. Essentials for Innovation
 Key elements of workplace innovation –
Employee involvement and participation
 VEC Partnership model
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21. Problem Solving - Dewey
 Write problem down (be specific)
– Principle of Description
 Ask individuals - causes (group)
 Develop multiple solutions (rigour)
 Choose simplest - Occam’s Razor
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22. Exercise
 What problems faces VECs?
 Budgets
 Competitors – FAS, SIFs, commercial…
 Keeping good people
…
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23. Exercise
 Are VECs sufficiently innovative?
 How much more innovative do VECs need
to be?
 Describe how VEC would operate if thrives
on innovation?
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24. Exercise
 How to encourage innovation in VECs?
 Incentives
– Reward
– Recognition
 Safe to fail
 VECNPF awards - Gwen
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25. Project Management
 Planned effort to achieve objective
 Plan (planning)
 Accomplish (doing)
 50:50
 KISS
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26. Closure

27. Local Strategic Innovation Forum
 Local Strategic Innovation Forum
– Role
– Composition
– Responsibilities
– Behaviours
– Reporting arrangements
– Tasks and Timeframes
– Outputs - published by VECNPF end 2008
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28. Agenda
 12-1 Briefing
 1-2 Lunch
 2-2.05 Innovation Survey
 2.05 – 2.30 Briefing (contd.)
 2.30-3.30 Simple innovation projects
 3.30 – 4 Present Projects
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