The Science of Innovation

Science or Art? Innovation is not just moving things around, hoping to get a different result. It is doing new stuff in a new way to get new results.

I have put together a keynote that focuses on the Science of Innovation. This acronym of SCIENCE spells out a simple, yet profound framework that, when followed, will help guarantee a successful innovation project. Let’s dive in:

S – solutions-focused. Always begin with the end in mind. We have all heard the Covey law, but very few people seem to understand or follow it. This has become a core value in my life and business. We always plot the endgame before the first step. This is a non-negotiable in innovation.

C – Collaborate Constantly. We are not designed to work alone. I have spoken about this fact ad nauseam, but still, the ego of people kicks in; they try their damnedest to win their race on their own. Adding your ideas to others will always get you to have new ideas you could never have alone.

I – Iterate Intelligently. Face the facts, you are not going to get it right the first time. So embrace failure, lean into it and fail forward, learning as you go. Just do not make the same mistakes twice.

E – Experiment Enthusiastically. Experimentation is where we learn how to learn. Small cyclic side projects are always needed to understand the min-agendas of the main project. Set up a learning centre, we call this Research and Development and do a bunch of stuff that others can learn from. Then bring that learning into the main game.

N – Nurture Newness. We get stuck on red tape and precedents. These are the poison of progress and the glue to the cogs of innovation. Management needs to allow newness to flow and be greased with funding and praise.

C – Commit Customers. Innovation needs to be client-centric and be driven by feedback, reviews, and testing. I have seen too many cases where the manufacturer thought they knew what the customer needed without asking, and it just ended up going south.

E – Empathise Engagement. Listening and engaging all people at all levels of the project at all times is the key to successful innovation. Managers are not on the floor or in the stores or at the coal-face of the customers. 360 feedback is critical and should be a major pillar of all innovation.

These are simple, short overviews of critical ‘scientific principles’ of innovation. If you would like to hear more or get me to speak at your next event, go here: www.brucewade.co.za