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How would you promote innovation?

Published: 10 December 2007 by CA

I am "CA" Atreya (PMP, MBA), the author of this blog. I help businesses in Atlantic Canada achieve their BHAG successfully. You may subscribe to this blog using a feed reader (RSS). Note: We have moved the blog to a new domain to better reflect this blog's objectives.

As a business owner or as a member of the management team, how would you encourage innovation in your organization?

If you are a part of a large organization, are you happy with the current processes in place? Do they encourage or hamper innovation?

What do you think?

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5 Comments »

  • John W. Furst said:

    I’d define innovation as moving a product or service to the next level, like from Vinyl to CD, from text-based to graphics based GUI in computing, etc. Those innovations have been heavily funded and required a significant amount of research.

    However, in the Web world, one can innovate a bit cheaper. The famous ‘Squeeze Page’ is such an example. One guy just had the idea to block his Web site and require people to sign-up with their email address. It’s an innovation, isn’t it?

    Especially in the Web world, you can encourage innovation by thinking ‘results oriented’ and give your team freedom, but it takes kind of a visionary leader to follow through. Not every innovation will be cheap to come up with. –John

    # 11 December 2007 at 2:19 pm
  • CA said:

    Thanks for your inputs John. I may be wrong here, but I get a feeling your reasoning alignes more with inventions rather than innovation.

    I would categorize inventions as a subset of innovation. The “Squeeze Page” you mentioned is what I would call innovation.

    Innovation does not have to cost. In fact the result of an innovative idea is usually a decrease in cost.

    What do you think?

    # 17 December 2007 at 6:22 am
  • John W. Furst said:

    CA, you say, “Innovation does not have to cost. In fact the result of an innovative idea is usually a decrease in cost.” This is true in the long run, and only if the effort produces a real innovation. If it fails, ….

    I found a quote that I liked at
    http://workmash.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/gifford-pinchot-on-how-to-encourage-innovation-at-work/

    “Our winning strategy for fostering innovation at work comes from Barrie W. in Mississauga, Canada. ‘People who come up with innovative solutions to a problem are always rewarded when the solution is a success; indirectly punished for failures; and, the work is usually stopped and innovation stifled if discovered before the job is complete. To keep innovation alive, in most companies, the innovative work must be hidden from senior management until a good solution is developed. To create a truly innovative company, the senior managers must create and support an innovative environment and maintain their commitment. Otherwise, innovation will only be created through the courage of individuals, and the support of their managers.’

    # 17 December 2007 at 7:42 pm
  • Rivers Corbett said:

    Innovation is only fostered by a culture of allowing this…

    People need to be allowed to make mistakes…it;s the only way innovation will happen. Then make sure you have the type of people who like to innovate on your team and reward them for great ideas…or risk losing them to your competitor.

    R

    # 13 April 2009 at 4:46 pm
  • CA (author) said:

    Well said Rivers.

    I have been fortunate enough to work with businesses where my customers/managers have allowed me to take appropriate risks. I guess it is also a function of trust your customers place on you and that has to be earned.

    # 13 April 2009 at 8:22 pm

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