Innovation as Part of Change
Introduction
There are many definitions of innovation; it can be defined broadly as 'change that adds value'; it demonstrates the importance of innovation in change.
Some key ingredients for innovation
- look at things differently
"...one of the key ingredients to innovation is the ability to look at a product or service from outside and analyse how it might be improved, without being weighed down by convention, or the way process has always been done..."
Andrew Walker and Chris Lumley as quoted by Sally Patten, 2022f
- be an outsider (sometimes it is easier for an outsider, who has no background in the industry, to successfully disrupt a product or service as they are not encumbered by existing industry norms
"...where you start dictates where you will finish. If you start from incumbent thinking, you start from old systems and old processes. You can't disrupt. You really can't innovate at the pace that the companies that are starting with a blank sheet of paper..."
Andrew Walker as quoted by Sally Patten, 2022g)
- have great implementation (ability to execute successfully in the market place; ability to go from creativity (have a great new idea) to innovation (successfully implementing the new idea); involves experimentation, trial and error, etc to test the idea
"...Many companies still use outdated innovation practices such as business plans (making assumptions about customer behaviour that is ultimately very tricky to predict), along with rolling large amounts of resources and pilots or soft launches, without having to run smaller experiments first.."
Amantha Imber, 2022a
A possible framework for experimentation
"....a six step experimental framework which incorporates hypothesis testing, data collection (upfront, during and after) and learning. Experiment reports and case studies are then shared to drive wider learning and improvement..."
Amantha Imber, 2022a
An example is an Australian law firm (King & Wood Mallesons)
"...we are committed to designing the future of law, exploring what is possible, and harnessing our people's dare-to-try approach to problem-solving. We empower our people to identify opportunities for growth and ways to improve the way we deliver services. Sponsorship of innovation is a whole-of-firm priority, with opportunities and initiatives designed to encourage this at all levels..."
Michelle Mahoney as quoted by Amantha Imber, 2022a
- market effectively (understand how to market your product or service; know your market place including competition, customers, etc)
(for more details, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base)
- actively challenge the status quo (try to find new ways of doing things; exploring alternatives, etc; an example of this is the Special Group New Zealand that encouraged meddling in the New Zealand election
"...Election advertising is traditionally very serious and earnest. Special Group's campaign capitalised on this category norm to produce election advertising that cut through and delivered results, in large part through using humour..."
Amantha Imber, 2022a
"...Special is first and foremost a creative company...... our purpose is to use strategically targeted creativity to create change - consumer perceptions, to build brands, to drive sales, or to change consumer behaviour - all which represents challenges to the status quo..."
Michael Redwood as quoted by Amantha Imber, 2022a)
(for more details, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base)
- be prepared to seek outside or external help (don't suffer from 'not invented here' syndrome, which refers to the human tendency to avoid using ideas and resources from outside your organisation which can be problematic when it comes to innovation; need to deliberately stay connected to the outside world, ie as a top priority; take outside-in approach)
- use humour (encourages the brain to think differently)
(for more details, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base)