Tip: 10 Red Flags for Innovation

Innovation and Invention in Business
Firstep Eapl Astimen, Manager, Indonesia, Member
Innovation is the output of organizational knowledge creation dealing with organizational capacity in creating new knowledge and disseminating it through all the organization and embody it in products, service and system. Innovation is not invention.

Innovation
Bobby J. Freeman, Student (University), United States, Member
Reminds me of innovative innovations. The retort is: let's not be too innovative because this graduate student penned the following in august of 1965: there is nothing worse than an organized disorganized orginization.
Many central (plains) American farmers would disagree with item five, but DOD might have differences and item eight should be considered for a rewrite.

Innovation Red Flags
Fowze Zadam, Student (University), United Kingdom, Member
11. Introduction of Six Sigma.

Large Firms are Poor Innovators
Bomo Albert-Oguara, Manager, Nigeria, Member
Ever wondered why 60% of innovations are done largely by small and medium sized companies in the UK and USA? A study I did in year 2005-a comparative analysis of the small business scene in three countries-Britain, South Africa and Nigeria pointed to this fact. The disparity between large and small enterprises arise because the small firms are enterpreneurial in attitude to innovation, it is their life blood to remain in business. Large corporations, though noted for ground breaking innovations, tend to be too rigid in the processes of innovation. The lead time from conception to market becomes long by which time the competition has stolen the thunder out of the innovation. The ten red flags should be seen as the ten commandments of innovation in my view.

Innovation Via Creativity
Nwagbosoh, Isaac, Management Consultant, Nigeria, Member
Innovation brings about creativity and development. Enough effort should be geared towards making our environment both innovation-driven and innovation-friendly by improving our infrastructure at both the national and organizational levels to promote research and entrepreneurial development.

My Innovation Red Flags
Dr.P.L.Narasimhan, Professor, India, Member
I headed innovation in a leading manufacturing unit and brought many new innovations. My innovation observations are:
1. Stage gate with check point is a must to reduce cycle time, improve quality, reduce cost, utilize process capability and anticipate market response.
2. Each check point should have many meaningful discussion with cross member team with persons with expertize.
3. The leader is empowered to take the process onwards
4. Management should look for long term results and be ready to take the risk as no one can certainly prove the success, but one can maximize the chance of success by using the correct innovation process
5. The innovation team should be a dedicated team and be motivated.
6. The team should consist of persons with capability to go deep in the subject taken.
7. The leader should allow the team to think freely.

Culture and Innovation
Nwagbosoh, Isaac, Management Consultant, Nigeria, Member
Is there any relationship between political leadership/culture, education and innovation?

Innovation Culture
Andrei Madly, Manager, Romania, Member
I was raised under communism, at the intersection of several cultures, in Transylvania. Communism was a big killer of innovative spirit, of entrepreneurial spirit, and once it becomes part of the culture, it stays…

The Neccesary Environment of Innovation
Bomo Albert-Oguara, Manager, Nigeria, Member
Hi Nwagbosoh, the environment must be conducive to innovation. The following drivers of innovation will help, particularly in emerging economies:
- National concensus, political will and leadership provide the basis, if you will, the ambience.
- Then the educational system must be calibrated for innovation. The national will translates to budgeting for R&D in tertiary as well as research institutions, encouraging industry to invest in R&D through fiscal incentives, creating a
- Robust legal framework for intellectual property rights with enforceability. The key is to see R&D as a contributor to wealth creation and higher standard of living. Emerging economies especially in Africa do not see it this way because they are caught in a time warp
The way to go is to use the cluster concept as a strategic tool to drive the national initiative. It's not rocket science nor is it the wheel that needs to be re-invented.

Empowered Work Teams
de Vries, Project Manager, Netherlands, Member
For real innovation a company needs leaders who are willing to listen for ideas of their employees. Best is to encourage people and establish empowered work teams and challenge them to achieve certain goals. Bureaucratic organizations can hardly be innovative except when they posses some kind of R&D department.

Environment of Innovation
Mohammad Nazim Uddin, Teacher, Bangladesh, Member
People are innovative by nature. Everyone tries to do something differently. Whatever the difference opinion might be, the top level should appreciate it and encourage it. Leaders often think themselves the only 'innovator' as they are leader and they disqualify subordinates that suggest a better alternative. They reject it by typically pointing out a disadvantage. So a democratic organizational environment & motivation are key factors of innovation for a country or an organization or an educational institution.