Innovation…..

Innovation is a term that has become a need in current evolving market trends and every company is striving hard to innovate something new by implementing cutting edge technology that would benefit the organization and customers. This is great but how is innovation being done is the most fun part.

Innovation according to me should be based on passion but if we take a look at the current trend, innovation is nothing but a competition, where they are compared and the best one that fulfills all gaols of the company are awarded and praised. As per me, awards should be given to everyone who is trying to bring something new. It is very sad to see that innovations in the current companies are nothing but a bunch of documents and presentations.

More weight is given to benefit and KPI’s(this thing I will never understand nor have any interest in understanding), documents, presentations. People team up, create approaches, presentations, documents and that’s all, actual implementation goes for a toss why this happens?

The company generally puts a mandate on every person to innovate and assigns a deadline, so everybody on compulsion tries to innovate and create documents, presentations describing the same. phew…. You cannot force someone to innovate, this is one of the primary issues, instead, try creating a motivating environment that will make the person themselves contribute. I know this is difficult and time-consuming but would definitely yield better results than documents and presentations.

Now let’s come to KPI’s the thing which is more important than the actual innovation. All want a KPI attached to an innovation fair enough but most of it which are shown are half baked. Ask a person to prove the KPI in a demo with numbers that will show how well the innovation is being implemented. It would be good if a company stops looking at only monetary benefits for any innovation. Innovation’s outcome prime motive is to showcase stating what we have achieved, next steps KPI”s, etc.., that is the most fun part. Actual implementation always takes a back seat.

How can we improve this???

Create an environment where we have monthly meetings, select a random set of people and ask them their view on what can be innovated in areas that are contributing, even if we get answers that are very basic appreciate, award each one of them who spoke. Don't have any motivational speeches asking all to participate. refrain from putting a mandate on everyone to innovate. Don’t focus on KPI’s, monetary benefits, just appreciate every person's thoughts that are shared, stick to a basic document that just explains what is going to be achieved, follow this exercise for a few months, you will definitely see an increase in participation. This is a long journey but with a better outcome. I understand this sounds like a philosophy class but not harm in tying if willing to :-)

Appreciate the Thought, not the outcome :-)

I understand this is not easy to digest for many folks out there, my intention was just to tap the creative mind in every person to make the best out of it.

Innovation should be driven by passion and not competition.

Thanks for reading Have a Good Day :-)