Innovation Reflection

Reflection #2; due 1/31

Please prepare a written response to the questions and comments below. Upload completed reflections to the course Moodle site by the beginning of our class session and be prepared to discuss in class. My expectation is that the writing be to the point (maybe a page or so in total). Please email TA Pete Mitchell (mitch741@umn.edu) with questions.

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What are some of the “preconditions” necessary for successful corporate innovation?

Creating time and space in peoples lives for reflection, ideation and experimentation: Innovation is non existent at most companies because at the pace business occurs today most employees are already strapped for time with their primary responsibilities. The expectation to meet aggressive deadlines sequesters innovation all together. In order to really focus on innovation talented employees have to be pulled from their operational duties and focus all of their attention on innovating if real results want to be achieved. Time spent elsewhere sets projects back and makes deadlines unachievable. Innovation needs to be added as a core competency in order to structure and put forth time and money into it. By creating additional bandwidth for employees to reflect, ideate, and experiment enables a number of new opportunities to surface.

Maximizing the diversity of thinking that innovation requires: The ability to connect people with different skill sets, capabilities, and perspectives is needed when building innovation. Getting a group of individuals whose thinking is as diverse as possible is essential in uncovering, developing, and achieving successful innovation opportunities. Some of the preconditions for maximizing the diversity for fueling innovation are age, gender, race, culture, and ethnicity. The need for new voices from all over the map both young and old will provide the most voices and therefore the best innovative results....