Innovation Architects and more on Innovation

#WIF11 continues.

Jordan Cohen spoke about "getting rid of busy work so you can get to work". This is a huge challenge for us all. "40% of time is spent on necessary but not important" (I am actually surprised it is that low).

His solution at Pfizer was to allow staff to send requests for research. Reports would come back the next day once the request was defined.

I recall a study I did in our MIS dept years ago where users would put in report requests. And we found that within 3 months, half of the users were not using the reports, even though they requested them!

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Paddy Miller on change.

"Innovation Architect - A person who creates a space in which innovation can take place."

My perspective is there is no shortage of ideas and innovation. What there is is a shortage of good implementers. Ideas are a dime a dozen - implementation is what counts.

"Instead of brainstorming, creatives should be trained in stealthstorming - getting ideas sold is a more critical skill than coming up with the idea in the first place. So consider how to keep it under the radar and get it done."

"Predict the future". "This can be done by looking back"

"The best way to innovate is to frame the problem"
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Greg Hall was a mining supply company. He started with a compelling story of the 33 miners in Chili who were trapped 800 ft underground. Oct 14.

There was a space with 3 days supply of water and food.

5 days past. Then 10, 15 and finally 17. The drill broke through the "safe space". They miraculously heard tapping on the pipe. At least one miner was alive. 8 hours to pull up the pipe. There was a note that says they are running out of water, they are trapped - all 33 are alive.

It took 33 more days to dig them out.

Captivating real life story.