Category Archives: Innovation

One tip for Fresh Thinking

Cognitive Strategy, Innovation, Strategy

Often we find ourselves “stuck in a rut”. Its like we have a sense of deja vu. That we have covered this ground before. Groundhog day!

Its like we have this problem in our business & we can’t seem to crack it. No matter what we try we can’t get new customers, we can’t break though with new products, we always seem to hit the same hurdles with respect to staff, or when our business reaches a certain size we always seem to stumble at the same point.

Well, it was well said by Albert Einstein about this need of a shift:

“we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them”

So, its obvious. To crack the problem we have, we need to try different thinking.

But isn’t the limitation that we have just one brain, and that its wired in a certain way?

Well, yes. But there are different ways to look at the problem. There are different perspectives that you can use. You can potentially crack the problem & achieve success with a changed mental approach.

And so the one tip is, use a different framework to get that fresh thinking.

For example, have you looked at the problem in terms of a system? That is, thinking through on how all the parts and variables are interlinked?

Or, have you looked at the matter through the eyes of say the “Balanced Scorecard”? Dividing the matter up into the quadrants of internal systems, training, stakeholders and finance?

And what about the risk triangle? That is risk evaluation, governance and response. By using before and after behaviours or even reflecting upon conditions before, during and after may be a useful approach.

So, its about being self aware. Understanding how you always seem to approach the matter and giving yourself space for a fresh approach.

This one tip is about being smarter, not being working harder or being more efficient.

 
For more, visit Dellium Advisory, follow on Twitter, connect using LinkedIn, or review my IT-centric blog.

4 Conditions for Innovation

Innovation, Leadership, Strategy

Innovation is an evergreen topic.

Innovation is a requirement to stay competitive in business. Going further, there are multiple studies saying that innovation is a pre-requisite to maintaining your existence in an ever changing economy. For some the word “innovation” is code for improvement, for others it means change. While others see it as a way to bring about something completely new.

Innovation doesn’t necessarily equate with invention – but the mindset of an inventor is an aspect of innovation. Its a component of successful innovation.

Think about it this way.

There are four broad types of innovation:

  1. product
  2. process
  3. position
  4. paradigm

But underlying each of these is time & effort. For innovation is indeed the “successful exploitation of new ideas”. It is not only coming up with new ideas about products, or processes used in your business. But its about successfully exploiting these ideas.

Now, in thinking about the creation of the conditions for successful innovation. Consider the following:

  • do you accept the need to innovate, what is your attitude toward innovation?
  • are you indeed open to new, are you curious?
  • are you comfortable with the fact that other’s ideas may be better?
  • do you understand that successfully innovating takes time and effort?

And so, as you are consider these four conditions for successful innovation, you may well find that you need to develop and refine your organisational culture.  You may even have to develop and refine your own approach to innovation.

However, the successful exploitation of new ideas, whether they be product, process, position or paradigm ideas, is the outcome when these conditions are established. It ensures relevance, freshness & vibrancy.

 

For more, visit Dellium Advisory, follow on Twitter, connect using LinkedIn, or review my IT-centric blog.

Change is Accelerating

Futures, Futurist, Innovation, Strategic Foresight

Heraclitus, a 5th Century BC philosopher, focused on the doctrine of change. He put forth the many pearls of wisdom, which in turn were quoted by the likes of Aristotle and Plato. Two of these are:

  • “You could not step twice into the same river”
  • “It is harder to fight against pleasure than against anger”

But the one he is most remembered for is:

  • “The only thing that is constant in life is change”

Think about that. Here we are today in a world full of change, and some bloke from 2,500 years ago agrees. If change was constantly happening back then, how much more is it around us today.

But, change is not linear. It’s not happening at a steady rate. It does seem that new and significant, that trends and shifts, that developments and advances are upon us with increasing rapidity. Think about this. As much as we have seen over the last 75 years, we will see over the next 25.

Now, reflect upon what we have seen over the last 75 years. The invention of penicillin, the achievements of moon landings, and that all pervasive internet. What will we see over the next 25? Driverless cars as standard, over-the-counter individually-tailored gene-based medicines, holographic shopping experiences?

There is a theory that attempts to describe what we are experiencing. Its called “the accelerating change” theory. Its where as we discover new ways of doing things, we learn more, which in turn opens up more improvements, and so on. And as more people become connected and aware of these improvements, even more change will happen.

Think about that self-serve checkout at the supermarket. Someone figured out a way, based on self-serve at the petrol station, to enable customers to do the same with grocery items. And now, given the convenience and speed of this change at supermarkets, we can get in and out quickly.  I dare say you could find many more examples.

Change will always be with us, and the rate of change is increasing. That has a real impact upon you and upon your organization. How will you, how are you navigating a path forward?

 
For more, visit Dellium Advisory, follow on Twitter, connect using LinkedIn, or review my IT-centric blog.