Innovation
Innovation is too often thought of as big leaps forward and created by specialist teams. This type of innovation might get the headlines but reality is different. Innovation creating incremental, smaller, but important changes should not be seen as a any less worthy.
First it is worth noting that, in my opinion, innovation is not a one-person activity. Working with others, sharing ideas, passing comments, it all leads to a thought that can be that innovation moment. The environment we operate in and the industry we work in push, pull, and drive us. Throughout history is is not uncommon for inventions to be contested - I think this is a reflection that certain conditions and certain knowledge (discoveries) lead people to solve the same or similar problems.
Innovation is more than headlines
The word innovation for many generates thoughts about the next big thing, but in reality this type of innovation comes along rarely. In the world we live in, innovation is much more than the headlines and media posts about the newest product ideas like the Blackberry or iTunes, or breakthroughs in science like vaccines and cancer treatments. Innovation is around us all the time and more likely to be less noticeable steps like new processes, applications, business models, and ideas and improvements that can take a product, a thought, a concept to the next level.
These smaller and seemingly less impressive innovations might make a team more productive, more economical, a product better for the planet, or more accessible to the masses. For example, following the Blackberry analogy, Chinese technology companies lowered the cost of mobile and communication devices and this has put communications and digital services in the hands of many in the poorest communities of the world.
We should not under estimate the importance of small incremental innovation. Advances in electric vehicles, small and many innovations, has enabled the electrification of the trusty London Cab, replacing older and polluting vehicles, resulting in a move towards better air quality for Londoners and longer term benefits in global climate.
How do we enable innovation within our organisations?
The simple answer is that innovation needs to be an organisation wide approach. Teams working as active parts of an innovation eco-system and driving together towards a common goal. Innovation is not a vertical business unit sitting on the periphery of the business. Nor the sole responsibility of innovation leads working in isolation and they silos. Rather a horizontal culture, meaning that successes are achieved when everyone works together and everyone contributes towards the goal.
Innovation is not the sole responsibility, nor the sole privilege, of senior managers or of a department, but for all in an organisation. We have heard the urban myths about factory workers ideas saving millions. Whether true stories or not, the source of any idea, of any innovation, can came from anyone. The Japanese have a name for this, Kaizen.
Rather than waiting for the next big breakthrough, organisations must be able to push from the “factory floor” up and drive more strategic concepts down. The sum of all the smaller, continuous improvements and innovation will lead to a breakthrough one day.
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