Comments on: Harry Potter and the definition of innovation http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/ Thu, 17 May 2012 15:14:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Amnon Levav http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-316 Amnon Levav Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:31:01 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-316 Our, dare i say "official" definition od innovation is: The ability to think and act differently in a useful way. I have found this to be a very useful working definition in that it leads to a wide definition of the scope (you can apply it on anything, basically) but puts strict constraints on the results: think and act, must be different, must be useful. Our, dare i say “official” definition od innovation is:
The ability to think and act differently in a useful way.

I have found this to be a very useful working definition in that it leads to a wide definition of the scope (you can apply it on anything, basically) but puts strict constraints on the results: think and act, must be different, must be useful.

]]> By: Lars Andersson http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-244 Lars Andersson Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:32:11 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-244 One way to define innovation could be "Profitably implementation of strategicall creativity" Lars One way to define innovation could be “Profitably implementation of strategicall creativity”

Lars

]]> By: Amit Mayer http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-230 Amit Mayer Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:28:08 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-230 Hi Tamar, hi Fabian, Thanks for you comments! You both addressed the outcome of innovation - the actual change introduced to the real world - as a major part of the definition of innovation. This is, off course, very true for SIT people. We are "raised" to understand that it is ideas in the real WORLD, rather than in a WORD document, that we are after. There are central elements in our methodology that are aimed to facilitate exactly that (e.g. the Closed World principle & the Limit rather than Dilute approach), and it is also considered a major part of our value proposition and responsibility. However, I cannot overlook the fact that many wonderful innovations de jure never become innovations de facto due to various reasons that have nothing to do with the 'quality' of the idea. Should we denounce them for a crime they did not commit? Hi Tamar, hi Fabian,
Thanks for you comments!
You both addressed the outcome of innovation - the actual change introduced to the real world - as a major part of the definition of innovation.
This is, off course, very true for SIT people. We are “raised” to understand that it is ideas in the real WORLD, rather than in a WORD document, that we are after.
There are central elements in our methodology that are aimed to facilitate exactly that (e.g. the Closed World principle & the Limit rather than Dilute approach), and it is also considered a major part of our value proposition and responsibility.
However, I cannot overlook the fact that many wonderful innovations de jure never become innovations de facto due to various reasons that have nothing to do with the ‘quality’ of the idea. Should we denounce them for a crime they did not commit?

]]> By: Fabian Szulanski http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-228 Fabian Szulanski Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:58:03 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-228 I would say that the innovation "alla SIT" process itself could be characterized by the concept of "disciplined imagination" (paraphrasing my cousin Gabriel Szulanski's paper called that way) Ideally it should be fun, and with a feeling of "flow" (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), but as Amnon has (aproximately) said while interviewed by Alexander Haig, "if you like to have fun, guaranteed, you should look elsewhere" Regarding the completion of the definition, the outcome, as understood by prestigious business and design graduate schools, should be related with bringing it into reality. It can be any kind of deliberable value (products, services, experiences, processes, business models, advertisements, etc, etc), but real, not just into the minds of the innovating team/person. Of course such a complex concept as innovation could be defined in hundreds of ways, it will be the composite knowledge that will enlighten our understanding. Cheers! Fabian I would say that the innovation “alla SIT” process itself could be characterized by the concept of “disciplined imagination” (paraphrasing my cousin Gabriel Szulanski’s paper called that way)
Ideally it should be fun, and with a feeling of “flow” (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), but as Amnon has (aproximately) said while interviewed by Alexander Haig, “if you like to have fun, guaranteed, you should look elsewhere”
Regarding the completion of the definition, the outcome, as understood by prestigious business and design graduate schools, should be related with bringing it into reality. It can be any kind of deliberable value (products, services, experiences, processes, business models, advertisements, etc, etc), but real, not just into the minds of the innovating team/person.
Of course such a complex concept as innovation could be defined in hundreds of ways, it will be the composite knowledge that will enlighten our understanding.
Cheers!
Fabian

]]> By: Amit Mayer http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-225 Amit Mayer Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:43:08 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-225 Hi Razi, First - thanks for reading and for taking the time to respond. As I was reading you comment about the right set up, or state of mind, I thought of the lesson that followed the one I mentioned in my post. In that lesson we talked about the difficulties involved with innovation and the methodologies that have been developed to assist/promote/enhance this process. We talked about methodologies like Brain Storming & The 6 Thinking Hats that are designed primarily to mitigate social and psychological barriers to innovation (relevant to the "right setup" or "state of mind") and methodologies like Random Stimulus that are designed to overcome cognitive barriers. One of the things I like most about SIT is the fact that it addresses both the cognitive and the social/psychological barriers to innovation. Moreover, the fact that both these different dimensions are addressed is synergistic. Simply put, the fact that there is a systematic approach to innovation that actually works helps many participants overcome their inhibitions. And when that happens you usually get much more than extensions, complementation or additional angles - you get magic... Hi Razi,
First - thanks for reading and for taking the time to respond.
As I was reading you comment about the right set up, or state of mind, I thought of the lesson that followed the one I mentioned in my post. In that lesson we talked about the difficulties involved with innovation and the methodologies that have been developed to assist/promote/enhance this process.
We talked about methodologies like Brain Storming & The 6 Thinking Hats that are designed primarily to mitigate social and psychological barriers to innovation (relevant to the “right setup” or “state of mind”) and methodologies like Random Stimulus that are designed to overcome cognitive barriers.
One of the things I like most about SIT is the fact that it addresses both the cognitive and the social/psychological barriers to innovation. Moreover, the fact that both these different dimensions are addressed is synergistic. Simply put, the fact that there is a systematic approach to innovation that actually works helps many participants overcome their inhibitions.
And when that happens you usually get much more than extensions, complementation or additional angles - you get magic…

]]> By: Tamar http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-222 Tamar Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:19:08 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-222 Amit, reading your last line made me smile and that's I think can also be part of the definition of innovation - it should somehow somewhere in the process create a smile. When you talk about magic, I think attributes and values. Magic is part of the innovation process(attribute), or magic is the thing that comes out of the innovation process? Maybe both? I think it is part of what makes the discussion about the definition complex, is it the process of creating something new, or is it the definition of an innovative result? going back to the dictionaries, is it the introduction of something? the process before the introduction? or the newness of the something itself Amit, reading your last line made me smile and that’s I think can also be part of the definition of innovation - it should somehow somewhere in the process create a smile.
When you talk about magic, I think attributes and values. Magic is part of the innovation process(attribute), or magic is the thing that comes out of the innovation process? Maybe both?
I think it is part of what makes the discussion about the definition complex, is it the process of creating something new, or is it the definition of an innovative result?
going back to the dictionaries, is it the introduction of something? the process before the introduction? or the newness of the something itself

]]> By: Razi Sharir http://www.sitsite.com/blog/2008/11/harry-potter-and-the-definition-of-innovation/#comment-220 Razi Sharir Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:23:53 +0000 http://www.sitsite.com/blog/?p=110#comment-220 Innovation is a state of mind and given the right setup, will automagically happen. While this does not align with your theory by which using your tools and methodologies will lead to innovation, I’d stress, it’ll lead to extensions, complementation and additional angles not thought of in an ordinary manner. True innovation like the light bulb, microwave and alike happened just like indicated: the right setup, state of mind and magically or some would argue accidently... Innovation is a state of mind and given the right setup, will automagically happen.
While this does not align with your theory by which using your tools and methodologies will lead to innovation, I’d stress, it’ll lead to extensions, complementation and additional angles not thought of in an ordinary manner.
True innovation like the light bulb, microwave and alike happened just like indicated: the right setup, state of mind and magically or some would argue accidently…

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