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Join Steve Harrison, Chairman of Lee Hecht Harrison, as he explores the critical role of innovation in today's corporate environment. As an expert in career management, Harrison discusses how innovation impacts job creation, change, and loss while dissecting corporate cultures and leadership styles. Learn about the attributes of companies that “get it” versus those that don’t, and discover practical strategies to institutionalize innovation within your organization. Innovation isn't just about inventing; it's about creating needs and fostering an environment where new ideas can thrive.
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Innovation Matters …Through the Eyes of a Career Management Consultant Steve Harrison Chairman, Lee Hecht Harrison
As Career Management Consultants: • We’re observers of corporate cultures ... especially leadership • We handle the “people impact” of innovation: • Job creation • Job change • Job loss
Innovate: (Webster’s Dictionary) “To make changes, to do something in a new way.” [From ancient French word: “Innovacyon” … renewal, or a new way of doing things.] So … It’s not just inventing “the next big thing” …
Innovation’s Gift:Creating Need!(Sometimes when need doesn’t really exist!)
Need Creation Product Variation Demand Stimulation Supply Expansion Resource Expansion Jobs Expansion Innovation’s Role in Job Creation
Innovation is a Business Imperative: The basis for: • Competitive advantage • Growth • Productivity Some companies “get it” and some don’t
Companies that Don’t “Get It” • Don’t include innovation in their values • Are tolerant of the “NIH” syndrome • Resist a failure-tolerant culture • Don’t install a system-wide process of idea management • Don’t budget resources for innovation
Companies that Don’t “Get It” • Don’t build diversity and collaboration into the process • Don’t sustain innovation endeavor • Don’t walk the “think-outside-the-box” talk • Are not creative around reward, recognition & celebration • Don’t value innovation in leadership
Companies that “Get It” Ensure a sustained innovation process & culture The Trick: Institutionalize Innovation
Clues to Innovative Companies Do they … • Communicate innovation as a cultural and strategic priority? • Create a failure-tolerant environment? • Protect innovators from bureaucracy? • Provide “psychic” income? • Encourage innovation during the good times? (“If it ain’t broke, break it.”)
Clues to Innovative Companies Do they … • Kill the mindset that innovation is only about inventing the Next Big Thing? • Build a culture where there is no such thing as a bad idea? • “Start small; keep it simple?” … Peter Drucker
THE NEW ONE… THE OLD ONE 2002 1872
Clues to Innovative Companies Do they … • Kill the mindset that innovation is only about inventing the Next Big Thing? • Build a culture where there is no such thing as a bad idea? • “Keep it focused; keep it simple?”… Peter Drucker • Value diversity & collaboration? • Make it fun?
Creativity & Culture Corporate culture … “The playing field of innovation”
Honeywell Toyota Samsung Nestle Kimberly Clark Microsoft Medtronic Canon Merck Speedo Nokia “Global Innovation Leaders”: The World’s Top Innovators
Innovative Innovators! Bose – Reinvests 100% earnings into innovation Williams Sonoma – “Customer Care Centers” Kraft– Creates annual innovation budgets Bristol-Meyers Squibb – Conducts “ideathons” Polaroid – “Creativity Labs” Franklin Covey – “Collaboration Rooms” Gore-Tex– “Innovation Democracy”
Innovative Innovators! Whirlpool – Mandatory course on innovation Dupont – “Center for Creativity and Innovation” Microsoft – “Microsoft Research” Airco – Conducts “Brainstorms” IDEO – Consultants in the Art of Innovation The Body Shop – DODGI (Department of Damned Good Ideas)
Beyond Caprice & Serendipity … Failure as the Mother of Invention! Post-It Notes Jacuzzi Champagne Urethane Sponge
Beyond Caprice & Serendipity … Failure as the Mother of Invention! Post-It Notes Jacuzzi Champagne Urethane Sponge Viagra
Building a Bridge Between the Workplace of the Future & Our Underprepared Workforce • Mandatory core course: “Navigating the New World of Work” • More live exposure to the corporate world • Early skills assessments • Internships & co-op programs • States: Partner with, “reward,” and publicize the most innovative companies
Innovation … “Like Nailing Jello to the Wall!” but We still need a “Declaration of Innovation” to “Harvest the Invisible Intelligence” and to Seek the “Beneficial Surprise”
To Avoid This … A banker to Thomas Edison: “Get that #@! toy out of my office!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here’s to an Innovative 2005!