Innovation
=THINK INSIDE THE BOX
Think Outside the Box
Innovation
• Objective: Enable you to create ideas, projects, and proposals that truly stand out.
Innovation
• The ability to be innovative will help make your project or proposal stand out, but also it will give you a permanent edge in any undertaking.
Innovation and Creativity
• Innovation and Invention
• Invention = New• Innovation = ties ideas to customer
experience and results in increased customer value
Invention
• What ideas or products can you think of that were inventions?
Printing Press - 1439
Cotton Gin - 1792
Invention?• Telephone – Alexander Graham Bell• Radio – Marconi, Tesla…• Television• Light Bulb• Automobile• Computer• Desktop Publishing
24-hour Cable TV?
Nothing is New. Everything is Recycled
• Coffee:• 1800s: age of commodities – whole
beans• 1900-1950: age of goods – ground
coffee• 1960-1980: age of services – cup of
joe• 1990s: age of experiences – lattes• Now: age of authenticity – whole
beans
Innovation: Definitions (?)
• The ability to see relationships where others have not
• The process begins with figuring out a better way of doing something and ends with something new and useful.
• The process can take a few seconds or a few years.
Innovation and Creativity
• Creativity:• deviant from the norm• pertinent to the task at hand
• Innovation: • a practical application of creative efforts
designed to satisfy a need
Innovation is:
• a habit; it applies to everything you do.
• a process; the process can be learned.
• the ability to make connections, especially among disparate entities.
• not an absolute – operates on a scale• in business, it’s a team sport.• Nature vs. Nurture
The Innovation Quiz
• What famous product was considered a failure and abandoned - but became a success when one of the engineers took some discarded samples home, only to find that his teenage daughters used the product for setting their hair?
• a) styling gelb) Scotch tapec) Post-It notes
The Innovation Quiz
• What famous product was considered a failure and abandoned - but became a success when one of the engineers took some discarded samples home, only to find that his teenage daughters used the product for setting their hair?
• a) styling gelb) Scotch tapec) Post-It notes
The Innovation Quiz
• What famous inventor threw a paint-filled sponge at the wall and then looked to see what shapes he could find in the splatters of paint, then thought about connections between the image he saw and the problem he was working on?
• a) Alexander Graham Bellb) George Washington Carverc) Leonardo da Vinci
The Innovation Quiz
• What famous inventor threw a paint-filled sponge at the wall and then looked to see what shapes he could find in the splatters of paint, then thinking about connections between the image he saw and the problem he was working on?
• a) Alexander Graham Bellb) George Washington Carverc) Leonardo da Vinci
The Innovation Quiz• What famous inventor was standing
by a well when he saw a stone hit the water at the same time a bell rang. Watching the circular ripples in the water while at the same time listening to the ringing of the bell, he realized that sound travels in waves.
• a) Sir Isaac Newtonb) Leonardo da Vincic) Marconi
The Innovation Quiz• What famous inventor was standing
by a well when he saw a stone hit the water at the same time a bell rang. Watching the circular ripples in the water while at the same time listening to the ringing of the bell, he realized that sound travels in waves.
• a) Sir Isaac Newtonb) Leonardo da Vincic) Marconi
The Innovation Quiz
• Who solved a famous problem by imagining he was travelling on a beam of light?
• a) Thomas Edisonb) Albert Einsteinc) Benjamin Franklin
The Innovation Quiz
• Who solved a famous problem by imagining he was travelling on a beam of light?
• a) Thomas Edisonb) Albert Einsteinc) Benjamin Franklin
How can YOU become more innovative?
Becoming More Innovative
• The process of innovation
• How the brain works
• The application of the process
• Develop an Innovative Attitude
The Process of Innovation
• Preparation• Idea Formation• Incubation• Illumination• Evaluation
How the Brain Works• Left Brain:• uses logic• facts rule• words and
language• order/pattern
perception• reality based• forms strategies• practical• safe
• Right Brain:• uses feelings• big picture
orientation• symbols and
images• philosophy &
religion• appreciates• spatial
perception• fantasy based• impetuous• risk taking
Right Brain – Left Brain
Right Brain – Left Brain
Application of the Process • Practice the three Cs: Clothes, Color,
Count
• When getting dressed, look at the colors you are putting on. Quickly list as many alternative color names as you can.
• e.g: brown: warm brown, rust, young oak, toast, burnt sienna, burnt earth, squirrel, evening orange, café au lait, sun-kissed mahogany, rolling-in-the-mud Old Yeller.
Application of the Process
• Use other people as sounding blocks:
• e.g: At a group gathering, start a progressive story about anything. A wacky group somewhere else in the country or world who is also just gathering.
• Each person adds a few sentences to the story.
Application of the Process • Play the TV/movie game
• Study a character, and write down a dozen or so ways that he or she reminds you of yourself.
• Then, during the commercials, figure out a link between one of the traits and the product being advertised. Pick a different one for each commercial break.
• e.g: needs to go on a diet, is humorous, is a college grad, drives a red car…
Learn from the innovators
• Combine your personal and professional lives:• Be a Poet• Be a Thief• Throw a Fit• Hop About• Daydream• Push the Limits• Paint a Picture
Develop an Attitude for Innovation
• Learn to deal with failure
• Learn from discarded ideas
• Learn how to be silly
• Convince yourself that you are creative
Failure
• Failure is a learning tool
• Don’t fear being silly or being different
• Careful ideas aren’t the best ones
Let’s Try It!
• Take out a sheet of paper.
• List as many ways as you can that you think you can become more innovative.
• Turn to a person sitting next to you and share your ideas.
Working in Groups
Six Thinking Hats• White: covers facts, figures,
information needs• Red: covers intuition, feelings,
emotions• Black: covers negatives and
problems• Yellow: covers logical and positive
sides• Green: covers alternatives,
provocations, changes• Blue: covers overview, process• 6 Hats helps by considering a
decision from several viewpoints
Big Red Property Management Co.
• The directors are considering whether to build a new office building to rent out. The economy is doing well and vacant office space is decreasing.
Applying the 6 Thinking Hats
• Black (devil’s advocate):• Government projections may
be wrong• If building is ugly, renters will
go elsewhere• Maybe the money would be
better spent buying up existing property
• Blue (process):• Keeps members from
criticizing each other
Applying the 6 Thinking Hats
• White (facts):• Consider current/future vacant office
space trends • Consider government projections on
economic growth
• Red (emotions)• Some directors feel the building will
be cost-effective but will look ugly
• “He who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.”
• - Niccolo Machiaveli,
• The Prince
Questions?
Brainstorming
• Turn it into a routine• daydream, draw, visualize, doodle…
• Do it while exercising, bathing, walking
• The subconscious is full of ideas• e.g: play Imagine with your idea or
product:• imagine if it spoke to you• imagine if it was a toy• imagine if it was a cartoon character
Mindmapping
Mindmapping