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Ten Enemies of Innovation

By Dennis McCafferty on 2012-02-13


Innovation. Everyone wants it, but many companies consider it a "nice to have" rather than a "must have". Few C-suite executives openly dismiss the effort employees make to do things better and improve upon products and services, but when it comes to putting plans in motion, sometimes the follow-through isn't there. The book "Relentless Innovation: What Works, What Doesn’t ‑ And What That Means For Your Business" (McGraw-Hill Professional/available now), chronicles a "usual suspects" list of barriers for innovation. Author Jeffrey Phillips says problems could arise from poor planning, budgeting, scheduling or talent managing. Companies must embrace "breakthrough" practices as valued cornerstones of their corporate culture to overcome these obstacles. To make it all work, a perfect balance must be reached between innovation and the need to keep driving the internal operating model. Phillips leads the innovation consulting team for OVO Innovation, a consulting/training firm. For more about the book, click here. Here we look at what you want to avoid if you want to get the greatest ideas and innovations from your team.

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Numbers Aren’t Everything


Quick-win senior execs demand numbers for every decision, when innovation also requires qualitative analysis.

Fear of the Unknown


There’s a constant demand for predictable success. Innovation thrives on the unforeseen.

Stinky Skunks


“Skunkworks” approach will select “chosen few” for innovation. Then expect them to do it as a part-time job.

Failure to Plan


With little guidance given to designated teams, innovation is perceived as “knee jerk” reaction and eventually abandoned.

Follow the Money


CFOs grumble because there is no one department in which to allocate investment for innovation. A good excuse not to spend anything.

Who Does What?


Leadership can’t align innovation steps with day-to-day operations because they don’t know how things get done.

The Lean Machine


The constant push toward greater efficiencies means nobody has the time to think about innovation.

Fuzzy Definition


Not all innovation is the same. “Disruptive” innovation revolutionizes markets. “Open” innovation involves partner collaboration to develop ongoing ideas.

Foregone Conclusions


Early failures lead to ill-conceived conclusions such as “we don’t have innovative people” or “innovation as a technique doesn’t deliver.”

What’s the Incentive?


Other than “attaboys!” there’s little career advancement or financial incentive for teams to pursue innovation.

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