-
Provide
strategic alignment.
Create an inspiring vision and
launch a crusade. Link the
innovation strategy
with corporate
vision, goals,
objectives, and
strategy. Develop a
strategic innovation roadmap
to choose and do
the right things.
-
Define the
innovation process publicly.
Rapid innovation requires
an effective innovation process. Help people understand how they fit
into the system as a whole. Document your innovation process
explicitly via maps and charts, and communicate it implicitly by
words and practice.
-
Build cross-functional expertise
to
harness the power of diversity and discover
synergies. Develop
cross-functional individuals. Shuffle portfolios. Establish
diverse
cross-functional innovation teams.
-
Establish a
creative chaos environment
to
inspire creativity and trigger
accidental
discoveries. Encourage improvisation and wild play. Find the
right
balance between order and chaos.
-
Challenge assumptions.
Think outside-the-box.
Ask searching questions
"Why?" and "What If?" to identify hidden problems and opportunities.
Keep eyes open for inspiration.
Brainstorm
every day.
-
Cross-pollinate.
Incorporate a wide
range of styles, skills, and perspectives
to
inspire and develop winning
innovative solutions. Encourage comments and ideas. Inspire
advocates and critics. Invite outsiders – experts, customers,
suppliers, partners.
Change hats to generate and evaluate ideas.
-
Reward idea generation.
People want to know their ideas make a difference.
Recognition and
rewards
motivate
and encourage people to participate and make quality
contributions. They also demonstrate management commitment to the
innovation program and to the employees.
-
Experiment
to
pursue opportunities, acquire new skills, learn from
feedback and
discover new opportunities.
Create prototypes to visualize and test your ideas, inspire new
ideas, and sell your ideas to your sponsors and peers.
-
Allow freedom to fail. Failure provides a great
learning opportunity and should be viewed as a very lifeblood of
success. Learn from failures, regroup, and start again more
intelligently.
