Back in 2013 this article hit home and it looks like we are still in a similar place. Simply soliciting ideas is not a game changer. Investing in a platform or system or just forming an innovation team is not the answer. Everyone’s got ideas, it just comes down to whether they’re tied to corporate objectives, have a likelihood for success, can be measured, The correct culture is in place and the investment is truly understood.
My position on innovation, which is not unique, is that innovation is achieved only after an impact is made regardless of whether it is big or small (big I vs little i). The generation of input and ideas is ideation not innovation.
In order to enable the innovative benefits companies desire, the culture needs to support it and that takes time to develop like growing a garden. The right resources need to be put in place with diverse backgrounds able to provide input from varying perspectives. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe that’s applicable to all industries, but the general principles allow the benefits to be realized it’s tailored to the nuances of the particular industry.
Companies that are truly innovative develop the machine over time, they understand what it takes to develop the culture, infrastructure and metrics to know if they’ve gotten it right.
Please pardon the programming reference in the title, it’s Monday and raining… Best I could do in terms of humor 🙂
https://hbr.org/2013/07/innovation-isnt-an-idea-proble?cm_sp=Topics-_-Links-_-Read%20These%20First