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The Innovation Paradox - Applied Creativity in Organizations

The Innovation Paradox - Applied Creativity in Organizations. Avinoam Kolodny Technion - Electrical Engineering Department June 2007.

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The Innovation Paradox - Applied Creativity in Organizations

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  1. The Innovation Paradox - Applied Creativity in Organizations Avinoam Kolodny Technion - Electrical Engineering Department June 2007 * F. Chu, A. Kolodny, S. Maital and  D. Perlmutter,  “The innovation paradox:  Reconciling creativity & discipline – How winning organizations combine inspiration with perspiration,” Proceedings of IEEE International Engineering Management Conference, October 2004.

  2. “… In every good project, there is a time when you have to shoot the engineer and start production”. (Anonymous Intel employee, CA ~1980)

  3. Story: The Chinese Emperor and the Painter

  4. The Innovation Paradox Creativity and project implementation often require contradictory mindsets Creativity  Project Chaos Discipline Innovation/Surprise Predictability Flexible time Fixed schedule Best effort Guarantee High risk Low risk Inspiration Perspiration Individual Organization Hierarchy Stability Commitment Safety Teamwork

  5. סיסמה ניהולית: "גם וגם" Need Both:Creativity and Organization • Win the competition by creativity • Use organizational power to execute The conflicting values must be reconciled!

  6. Creativity (inspiration) Creativity Discipline Discipline (perspiration) Applied Creativity • Method to reconcile creativity and discipline • Not by tradeoff, by synergy! • We identified five approaches to applied creativity, used by successful organizations

  7. 1) “The Great Dictator” • A single creative leader • Comes up with ideas • Decides which of them to implement, and how • The organization follows him in discipline mode

  8. 2) “Separation of Forces” Arbitrator Creative Department Implementation Department

  9. DisciplinedImplementation Time ChaoticCreativity 3) “This Train Runs on Time” • Separate project phases, driven by a timetable: • Ideation • Proof of concept • Prototyping • Production

  10. 4) “Elders of the Tribe” • Ideas are advanced by young creative members • Cross-examination by experienced members • Culture: • Manage for discipline • Admiration of creativity

  11. 5) “Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground” • Same people iteratively shift gears between creativity and discipline: • Creative, wild brainstorming • No idea is rejected (“head in the clouds”) • Detailed evaluation of ideas • By practicality and benefit (“feet on the ground”)

  12. Challenges of Applied Creativity • Conceiving new ideas • Choosing a good idea • Managing execution

  13. What is the Right Approach for My Organization? • There are probably many more ways to achieve Applied Creativity • Find an approach which suits your organization’s • culture • structure • people • Essential issue: Let the people know the organization’s problems and difficulties!

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