Failing & learning, fast & cheap. Failure is an essential part of innovation. Innovative solutions improve by trying out something new, experiencing the way it works (or not), observing the reaction of potential customers and adapting. Corporations immediately see waste here. This can be addressed, as I mentioned in my “Passion” blog, with a simple innovation framework: 1. focused creativity, 2. quick experimentation, 3. structured testing. I’ll elaborate here on my experience with phase 2, quick experimentation. This is the optimal phase to fail fast, as it still can be done cheaply. First, I recommend to define a few assumptions: 2-4 key likely reasons why this innovation could work. Example:…
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On carrots…
How to motivate innovators Innovators are not primarily driven by a large bonus, but by sincere management interest. It’s tempting to think more money will create more innovators. I have rarely seen employees suddenly become innovators because of a financial incentive. Real innovators are already passionate believers in the solution they came up with. They only need a little help to keep going. What I did see as very effective was showing personal interest, e.g. through a regular short call with the innovator. To discuss progress and challenges. To check if they still are on target to solve the original problem. To identify opportunities to connect them with experts in…
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Process kills innovation
The case for a lean framework instead A very effective way to demotivate innovators is to let them fill in 3 forms, present at 4 review meetings and do 5 detailed analyses. Don’t. Innovators need freedom. Corporations need efficiency. It’s possible to match both. Innovative corporations need both. But at different stages of innovation. The solution lays in using a simple framework, starting with free-but-focused creativity, quick-lean experimentation and then structured assumption-testing pilots. I’ll illustrate with an example for the initial step in the innovation framework, “free-focused” creativity. This can be as simple as just 3 quick questions: What is the business & customer problem the innovator is trying to solve?…
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PASSION, PASSION, PASSION
Focus on the can-do innovators If innovators are on fire, truly believe in their idea, they will do anything to make it happen. On the other hand vocal, creative people with great ideas, but who count on others to try them out are wasting your and their time. I recall an innovator on the other side of the globe, who had already a “150%” day job. She came up with an original way to increase access and affordability of a key medicine by eliminating traditional distribution costs. She was convinced it would work and made time to overcome complex legal challenges, technical barriers and find colleagues to collaborate on her…