Submitted by Bob Larrivee, AIIM Director/Industry Advisor
According to American Entrepreneur Dean Kamen, “An innovation is one of those things that society looks at and says, if we make this part of the way we live and work, it will change the way we live and work.” Note this statement does not indicate the size or type of innovation as much as it implies acceptance of the innovation by society. So, with that in mind, you do not have to be the inventor of a new mode of transportation or miracle fastener to be an innovator. You simply have to look at something differently and offer suggestions on how to improve upon it in a way society or your organization will accept it. In short, we all are capable of innovation and coming up with the next big idea.
As an example of this position, let’s use process improvement for our discussion. We go through our workday filled with activities to accomplish our goals. We take in information or product parts, process it, mold it into its next shape and move it on through until it reaches its final state and destination. Whether the final product is a toaster or marketing brochure, the basic premise is there, we enlist a process to transform something from raw materials into a finished product. It is the process where innovation can sometimes make a big impact. Let’s say for some reason, there is a bottle neck in the process that slows things down. Everyone knows it is there, it always has been, but an innovator will look at it and find options to open the bottleneck. Someone with an idea that would change the process in such a way the bottleneck disappears and the flow is now more steady and consistent.
In my view, we are all innovators. We all have the capability to assess a situation and present alternatives to the current methods and processes in place. The difference is not one of coming up with the alternative but one of taking action to present the alternative and gain acceptance to incorporate the change. When Ford built and presented the first car, people scoffed. When the Wright Brothers flew for the first time, many thought they were insane. Look where we are today. When the first document scanners appeared on the market many balked. When an assembly line worker suggested materials remain at the assembly station during shift transition rather than return to the supply room only to be brought back, it made a difference and saved his company tens of thousands of dollars in the first year. They are all different yet they have one thing in common, the courage to act and present their ideas. You do not have to be a Ford or Wright or Kamen to be an innovator. You simply have to have the courage to make the suggestion.
What say you? Have you had some innovative ideas for your organization? Do you have a story to tell? I want to hear from you.
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Bob Larrivee – AIIM blarrivee@aiim.org
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