Innovation from personal mastery
At any given moment all of us, whether in work, personal relationships, or anywhere else in life, are Rote Copying, Surface Understanding, and Personally Mastering many things and many times at many levels.
Problem-solving when you do not know the root cause
In earlier posts, I shared some steps for identifying the problem using creative problem-solving through exploring the current condition selecting a type of problem, Problem-solving is systematic and organized into six stages: Identify the problem Select the type of problem Apply the analytical tools Define a specific problem Apply solutions tools Compile ideas and implement solutions Step … Continued
Innovation by understanding the current situation
In an earlier post, I shared some steps for identifying the problem using creative problem solving or the Leading Innovation process. I often use this systemic problem-solving process to fight the team and leaders’ desire to brainstorm. Brainstorming is usually carried out in a group situation, with each group member suggesting ideas in sequence without … Continued
Creative Problem Solving can innovation be patterned?
The need for Creative Problem Solving. Competitive demands require quicker, more effective, and innovative problem-solving. Problem solvers are expected to quickly provide solutions to increasingly complex problems and develop and design new innovative products and processes while reducing research and development time and costs. To solve creative problems that require creative “out-of-the-box” thinking, we have … Continued
Utopian or idealized planning in organizations does not work
Image Credit “If a terrible simplificateur is someone who sees no problem where there is one, his philosophical antipode is the utopian who see a solution where there is none… [Upotian] extremism in solving human problems seems to occur most frequently as a result of the belief that one has found (or even can find) … Continued
Solution-focused framework for change
“I do not believe that change needs a robust and compelling vision because I do not think that most change efforts have an idea of the endpoint or view until they get there. Also, when you have that clarity of vision it is no longer a change effort it is a project to accomplish someone’s … Continued
Workplace Complexity Through Opportunities
“Workplace complexity dwells in set(s) of options about what is possible rather than a set of options about what is probable.” – Simple Habits for Complex Times. Sitting with a senior management team, we talked about how to understand and prepare the company to work through workplace complexity and Change; one of the managers said, “I … Continued
Understanding Complexity and Change Questions
When consulting a team of managers in the Understanding organizational complexity and change process, one of them asked me what types of questions I may ask a team or person to understand better how to support their progress in change and complexity. I smiled, and we worked out a series of questions. Many of them … Continued
Problem Solving Stop the why
The ‘5 Whys’ can be useful. Identifying the possible root cause can get things started…the next logical step to create a solutions bank.
I have found that it is easier and people on the team move with greater enthusiasm and collaboration when you ‘Start With What’ and determine the solution in the first step.
Innovation through exposure to variation
Society is an extremely large and complexly interacting system and, whether we like it or not, such systems are error controlled. This means, paradoxically, that in them change and evolution can come about only as the result of deviation and pathology, and that without these imperfections a system would become hopelessly stagnant and sterile.