Innovation Buzz

Help! I’m stuck in a tunnel and I can’t get out!

Where do new ideas come from? How do they actually get anywhere? Is it possible to have an innovative culture in the middle of big bureaucracy? Is it possible to break those chains that bind you and really tap into your creativity and imagination? (Another topic would be where did the imagination from my childhood go??) I believe that there are methodologies that help shape the way you look at the world and mindsets that can help see new things and opportunities. I believe that there are processes that you can go through to build out ideas and make them viable. I believe that, although it takes a lot of effort, you can have innovation in a big corporation – it’s not just reserved for the smaller more nimble organizations.

Innovation definitely seems to be a big buzz word for the day. I know that we have discussed it in every MBA class I have taken so far (yes, probably even in accounting). But I think the need to create new ideas, crafted into whatever new catch phrase, is not a new topic nor will it go anyway anytime soon. Especially in a time of economic contraction and a fundamental shift in the way the economy will grows, we need to be looking to push out the economic frontier. We need to push for further productivity – whether through process or product innovation. So let’s work together on fostering creativity. Let’s help the small business create jobs and let’s help the big business contribute responsible to the growth of the world economy. I’ll be talking more about my ideas on innovation and new ideas in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned. And be sure the chime in. I’m sure there are a lot of opinions out there about it!