Facilitating Innovation

Apr 2, 2006

In order to remain competitive, companies are looking to innovation. A constant injection of new ideas keeps a company progressive and gives them an edge in the marketplace. When a company asks you to think outside-the-box do you have a strategy to spark creative thinking? If you lead a team, do you know how to facilitate this sort of idea generation? Read on to learn how to facilitate innovation.

Innovation is a buzz word bantered about by business authors, presenters and researchers. What does it mean to you, the employee? Do you lie awake at night with solutions to your company's problems buzzing through your head? Do you love to brainstorm with other out-of-the-box thinkers? Innovation is now a hot topic in boardrooms as companies make strategic plans to compete and find new markets and efficiencies. Discover how you can use your creative mind to help your company prosper.

There are many strategies to promote creative thinking. Here are some suggestions that may spark innovation in your company.

An Innovation Web Space

Use the companies intranet as a vehicle to promote innovation by idea sharing. For example, in the book, It's not the BIG that eat the Small...It's the FAST that eat the SLOW by Jason Jennings and Laurence Haughton, they explain that the company Charles Scwab has created THINK© (THe Innovation NetworK).

"THINK has four different zones. In Idea Central, ideas are accepted from everyone. The Loop is used to gather proposed ideas for Schwab's Web site. Smart is for Schwab's telephone customer care centers. Venture Quest is for big revolutionary ideas."

The best ideas submitted are worked into actual business plans. The person who suggested the idea can give ownership away, be part of a team working on the idea and/or if qualified, can head the team and present the idea. There is a set of criteria including some key questions that need to be answered in a proposal such as "Who will benefit the most" or "What strategic priority does your idea support the most?".

An Innovation Retreat

Call it a think tank or other label but the concept is to have a focused, intense period of time to spark innovative thinking. Activities that can facilitate idea generation are brainstorming, case studies (provide a problem described in a scenario and have groups work on a solution), simulation exercises (simulate the actual work environment and present a crisis) or contests (individual or group participants).

The Suggestion Box or Wall

You may want to come up with a more modern name than a suggestion box but the concept is to get feedback and ideas from all staff. Traditionally suggestion boxes were used to provide employees an anonymous way of making suggestions for operational improvements. When touring 1-800-GOT-JUNK's head office recently, I noticed a new twist on the concept. They ask for big goal statements from staff and then quoted them (including their name and department) in large type on a common meeting room wall. For example, one staff person suggested that Brian (the CEO) should make an appearance on Dr. Phil. Another suggestion was for Brian to be quoted on a Starbucks coffee cup. The amazing part was that through staff connections both of these goals were achieved. Someone knew someone on Dr. Phil's staff and it turns out they were planning a show on pack rats. 1-800-GOT-JUNK and Brian appeared on the show and volunteered to haul away the junk and talk about hoarding. The Starbucks goal happened in a similar fashion. Through staff connections someone knew someone in Starbucks marketing division and voila!

Having the goals posted in a very visual and in-your-face way allows employees to help achieve the goals through the power of networking.

If you have comments or suggestions on this article, please use the link below to start a discussion.

If you liked this article, try Innovation in Small Business

The copyright of the article Facilitating Innovation in Training/Professional Development is owned by Joni Rose. Permission to republish Facilitating Innovation must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Apr 5, 2006 9:39 AM

Barbara M. Martin :

Hi Joni! I had to use the last option on the poll. I have seen cases where there is no aversion to innovation but rather management is so busy putting out fires or just moving so fast that there is no focus on innovation and no formal approach to nurturing it. Or there is an imbalance where all energy and focus is on the client or the producet and innovation in other areas is neglected. Sure they'd be happy to "find a better way" but it is just not on the radar screen so there is no purposeful effort or emphasis on it. Probably a case where it is needed the most, too!

Apr 5, 2006 6:23 PM

Joni Rose :

Thanks for your post Cottage Garden! So are you saying that you think they value innovation but are not putting energy into it?

Many companies have a great list of corporate values that they've spent many a retreat perfecting. Some even hire a consultant to help them perfect their values and then they sit on a plaque somewhere, be part of the "about us" portion of the web site and recruiting marketing, but fail make them a reality in the business. Company incentives and bonuses reflect other values (such as profit) and do not reward practicing of the values. Typically as well, the CEO and other executives don't role model how the values can be expressed.

It is interesting to see companies that actually live their values and how they tend to be the successful businesses that are rated highly as great places to work.

Innovation has become such an important competitive edge that companies who don't make it a priority may not be around much longer. They won't be able to keep up with competitors that are innovative.

I think you are absolutely right - those that don't value it are the ones that probably need to value it the most! So what is the fear about? Reduction to profit levels if they divert funds? Reduction to productivity if they reassign work loads? I think it is high time they did a cost-benefit analysis of being innovative. What will it cost them to NOT be innovative?

Joni

Apr 7, 2006 11:06 AM

Barbara M. Martin :

Yes if they are successful they must value it and be innovating in some areas or in most cases they would not be successful.

But maybe they are not always putting effort into innovation in all areas of the operation. Or they are getting it only in certain areas and it seems adequate.

eg Constant innovation in terms of the product itself but lack of innovation in sales area, or, probably more often lack of it in administrative areas. And that attitude can carry over to other areas. As if one weak link can break the chain.

Sometimes nobody realizes they have neglected it, it is not a conscious effort one way or the other, it just happens.

Or, it may be a corporate culture/industry where innovation is considered change and that is too risky.

Or it is just too much trouble to bother with "If it ain't broke why fix it!" or my favorite of all time: "But we've always done it that way!" Lots of reasons.

And anyway, if you have ever been in the trenches how much attention have you really paid to the big pronouncements like "We Must Innovate!" Honestly? "Yeah. Well, fine, good luck with that." It's an automatic, immediate file 13. No practical application. Just a lofty statement.

Sometimes resources are so lacking that there is nothing spare to devote to conscious efforts at innovation -- this is a somewhat desperate situation because it means they have already slipped and truly need it the most. And there is the least hope of making progress, unless somebody pulls something out of a hat and saves the day. Like desperate times force desperate measures, or inspire genious. sigh

Well, we can hope! LOL

Apr 7, 2006 5:22 PM

Joni Rose :

It is so true that many companies forget to be innovative across the board. Their R&D departments may be on innovation caffeine but their sales department is still going door-to-door. Innovation needs to come from the top down to be most effective. If upper administration is innovative and champions the cause then the trickle down effect has a hope.

I also believe that incentives (bonuses, awards etc.) need to reward values like innovation. If there is an incentive tied to it, there is more of a chance it will be considered for more that a “that’s nice” comment and the garbage pail filing system. Some leaders are so good at motivating the troops to a cause that workers get on the bandwagon with very little encouragement.

On the other hand, fear is an incredible motivator! It can motivate a lack of innovation. I have heard the "if it ain’t broke…" speech as well and to me it signals that fear(s) are motivating the resistance. My article on <a href="http://www.careerminded.ca/ResistantPeople.html"TARGET="_blank">Working with Resistant People</a> speaks to this.

As for the lack of resources, it comes down to priorities. Sometimes a crisis like the loss of a big account to a competitor that is more innovative can be a big wake up call. All you can hope is that it doesn’t take a crisis to wake up the powers that be that innovation should be a high priority.

Apr 8, 2006 9:21 AM

Barbara M. Martin :

Amen to that!

Joni, you mentioned

"Some leaders are so good at motivating the troops to a cause that workers get on the bandwagon with very little encouragement."

Do you think people like that are naturals or can it be learned? Have you written about that already?

Apr 8, 2006 7:08 PM

Joni Rose :

I think it is a combination of innate characteristics, education and experience. It is a great article suggestion! Thanks! I'll add it to my list!

I am currently working on a Performance Management series and the first article (to be published tomorrow) is on finding the root cause to performance issues. It ties in nicely with what we are talking about. Thanks for the segue!

Joni

Apr 9, 2006 10:08 AM

Irene Taylor :

Hi Joni,

I am looking forward to your Performance Management series! I'm sure you'll have some great tips that I can use!

Thanks!

Irene

Apr 10, 2006 8:10 AM

Barbara M. Martin :

Great! Looking forward to it!

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