Innovation Management ? forced into it!

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Whilst there is a lot of lip service given to innovation, the reality is that it often results from competitors making significant gains ? competitors who themselves have had to be innovative to challenge existing market leaders. Good examples are i) New Coke, forced into action when it lost market share to Pepsi and ii) IBM forced to change as a result of Microsoft.

An irony is that once innovative companies become less so when they have found their Golden Fleece. Finding a killer product forces a firm to concentrate on marketing and improving that product and results in a degree of parochialism and path dependency. Again, a good example is Microsoft ? after Windows 95, innovation has been less significant; growth has resulted less from innovation and more from buying up innovative companies.

These topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.

---

Employee Success! - 7 Ways Feedback Works

By sharing how well you are doing and how well... Read More

Where Businesses Fall Short

1. No vision. Successful businesses have a clear vision or... Read More

Seven Cs to Avoid Procedure Writing Errors

You do your best to make sure your organization is... Read More

Provisioning/User Management System Upgrades: Part II ? Building Awareness And Building Approval

Somewhere in the world is a person who wants to... Read More

5 Interviewing Mistakes That Can Lead To Hiring The Wrong Person

Mistake #1: Going with the flowInexperienced interviewers sometimes fall into... Read More

Plans & Goal Setting - Kicking winning Goals

Kicking Winning Business Goals The competition for business... Read More

Dont Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Credit Policy

Do you know how many customers you have that are... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Creating a Culture of Empowerment

This article relates to the Culture & Climate competency, commonly... Read More

The Email Trap

If you sit at a computer for most of the... Read More

Group Decision Making : Are the Decisions Really Made by the Group?

GROUP DECISION-MAKING: Many managers feel they are well-versed in areas... Read More

Motivation - You Get What You Reward

There's a programme currently running on BBC Television in the... Read More

Offshore This! (Outsourcing Tech Support Overseas)

So I call my telephone company and someone picks up... Read More

Islam in the Workplace

Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More

Interviewing: How to Stay Out of legal Hot Water

Some interviewers ask great questions; others ask dumb questions; and,... Read More

Reflections in the Glass Ceiling

The recent news about one of America's most powerful woman... Read More

Use Every Weapon You Have

One of the strongest weapons available allows business, non-profit and... Read More

Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Earn a Profit

Most people treat meetings as a free resource that can... Read More

CRM ...The Emperors New Clothes

The story of the emperor's new clothes is a fairy... Read More

Book Summary: Mind Your Own Business

A maverick is an independent person who will not go... Read More

Recruitment - What Youre Really, Really Looking For

Imagine that you're a sports coach and you need a... Read More

Think Time... Its Now Or Never

I recently read an article published in the June, 2005... Read More

The Compliance Officers Killer Application

It used to be that only the largest multi-nationals needed... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Human Resources at Work

This article relates to the Human Resource Functions competency, commonly... Read More

Human Resource Communication Pays Off

Human Resource Communications and Corporate Communications ? are they one... Read More

One Simple Idea to Grow Your Business

Perhaps the most common theme I've heard in working with... Read More

OJT - On The Job Training

IntroductionManagers have two powerful ways of improving the performance and... Read More

Employee Surveys: a Strategic Tool for Positive Change

Do you want to measure your workers' level of satisfaction?... Read More

Do You Hear That?

I read a report in the Toronto Star stated that... Read More

Eliminate Performance Anxiety Forever

You've had many years of training in your craft as... Read More

Managing YOUR Expectations

I sit on the board of an organization and at... Read More

Prioritise Your Day - Keep Focus - Win!

Whether you run your own business or manage a team,... Read More

Understanding Every Aspect of Your Organization

GET TO KNOW YOUR ORGANIZATION: If you don't understand an... Read More

Innovation Management: The Power of Emotional Attachment

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More