The six rules for successful innovations
Motivation and true understanding of the customers situation and needs drives value added innovations
A lot of companies talk about innovation and how their innovation strategies will grow the company.
What first must be understood and that often is forgotten are these simple prerequisites required to drive innovation;
- Innovations are only made by motivated employees in the company. Have you ever received a really good innovating idea from an unmotivated member of the staff? Motivation to change and improve is the starting point for any work in this arena.
- Working climate must be forgiving and understanding. This means that the working environment and hierarchy must allow mistakes and failures to happen and learn from them rather than penalise the employees and teams that made them.
- An innovation can only be driven from a true understanding of a problem or need. This is why successful products can only be defined & developed by the team that have a good knowledge of the customer and users of the product and service that the innovation concerns.
- Innovations are a consequence and evidence of motivated staff, good working climate and true understanding of the arena where the innovation is taking place.
- True innovations bring value to the receiver and the provider of the solution, it is a win/win relationship and if is done correctly will result in a long-term productive relationship.
- True innovations are done in iterations and will not be bang on the first time. This is the why the organisation need to support and learn from failures and unsuccessful improvements, projects and products. Only ideas that passed several iterations of improvements and variations will be sustainable in the current market place.
Failing to fulfil any of the above prerequisites will result in a weak innovative climate in the company and result in a less competitive situation versus competition. So be careful when you talk about that your company launched a new innovation strategy, as there cannot be something called that, as innovation is only a consequence of a positive culture, behaviour and positive working climate of the company.
The real word for innovation strategy should instead be “Strategy of providing innovative working climate” and nothing else.
Author; Martin Wennerblom
Flooring Sales & Design Contractor
9yGreat ides!
bank insurance department superviser at Sino-Life Group Ltd
9yListening to everyone's voice in company makes inovation.
Retail Sales Specialist @Call it Spring(Aldo Group) | Customer Service Management
9yWell said...i strongly belive in motivation to enhance innovations
Investisseur/BA
9yDe l'importance de comprendre les attentes des collaborateurs.
Great Article . This is exactly an engineer looking for job change.