I don’t know one CEO who would say that innovation wasn’t in the top five priorities for his company. I don’t know one government organisation who wouldn’t agree that the fostering of innovation and creativity wasn’t at the core of any economic or social development strategy. As the manufacturers across the globe struggle with new competition, drive down costs, increase gross profit and retain their customers never has innovation be more keenly persued. Nor, and plumbing increasing depths of irony here, has it been allowed to fall so easily through the cracks. We are a kargely karaoke marketers, poor impersonators of the true stars- the predominant sound we can hear is the creak of bandwagons rolling over the end of cliffs. We yearn for the idea which will differentiate, to be different, to stand out from the crowd. Probably the worst insult you can level today would be to describe an individual or a company as boring, or predictable.
'.....the sound of bandwagons rolling off a cliff'
It is not just about self and corporate esteem but its also about pragmatism too.
The numbers add up
Here’s a thought for you to bear in mind if you are in anyway shape or form responsible for investment, education, finance, research, industry or, bless them, those lost in the corridors of politics. The average ROI on capital investment typically is about 8-10%. The capital return on innovation, (provided you have an innovation management system in place), is on average over 30%.
That’s the conclusion of a major study by the Harvard Business School not some plonker up in Yorkshire beating on his drum again. This is the reason that Sweden, who have a population of one eighth of the UK, actually have a higher national manufacturing output than the UK and Ireland put together.
You can throw extra weight with the innumerable research studies which unequivocally prove that the enhancement of a creative culture in any organisation increases the well being, health, employee retention, and, getting back to the bottom line again, efficiency. of any orgainsition. But then I’m guessing, like me, you are growing slightly weary of being told the obvious. It is one of those things we would all like to invest tiem and money in, but frankly how do we do it? The key, of course, as the academics at HBS tell us, is the active management of the innovation process, and the system that will develop and encourage the positive energies of a company in creativity, provding workable solutions, in simply,innovation.
Innovation is not simply about the glory boys in new product development. It applies to every process, in every department, in Human Resources, in training, in customer support. Innovations, which enhance the relationship with the customers or allow the development of the products and service more profitably for the benefit of employees and shareholders.
You can’t just rely on the odd brainstorming session and a staff suggestion schemes; that will not answer all your prayers.
But maybe something esle will?
We are really excited to be launching The Breeze In A Bottle. Our New DIGITAL magazine, podcast, blog and website. The first truly International Creativity resource for the rest of us.
This is the realisation of a dream for us. The culmination of over 20 years of research, teaching and implementing innovation strategies, of experiences and best practice gathered from companies large and small, institutions, NPO’s and NGO’s from Europe, North America and Asia.
In forthcoming issues and regular features:
• Get your staff excited without driving them mad.
• How to make your boss look good
• Ideation
• Training and creative thinking
• The Management of Innovation
• Methodological problem solving, TRIZ and ASIT
• IP asset management
• Patent protection and enhancement
• ‘Knowledgement’, the management of the knowledge base.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• The management of culture change
• Cross culture creativity
This isn’t just about us or simply one point of view. One thing we have learned is the best ideas generally come from somebody else!
We have already secured contributions from some of the leading names in innovation, with dozens of interviews and commissioned articles for broadcast over the next year. We are thrilled to have some internationally recognised names and world leaders as contributors who have kindly agreed to help us spread the word.
July 1 2006 we are launching a weekly podcast, 30 minutes abstracts of the latest and best ideas of innovation and its management. So you can listen on your MP3 on your commute, while mowing the lawn, doing the ironing- I listen to mine while ‘reading the paper’- At last you have a reason for legitimately putting your Ipod on expenses.
Drop me a line if you need the details
Despite advice from our accountant we do not take advertising, our income arises from the meagre subscription we request after the first trail issue. This basically covers the editorial coffee bill. Being entirely up front, we obviously do not this just for the good of our health but to promote our speaking and in house training services. Hopefully you will see that we do know what we are talking about.
Look out for us on 01.06.06.
Copyright 2006 The Raindancer
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