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Antipattern #36 · curiosity · p. 291
Pretending to Innovate
Ideas of any size, from anyone, anywhere create real value.
The Tin Man Behavior
Treating innovation as a bolt-on, separate, and structured activity in part due to a desire to be seen to have "innovative" capabilities.
The Results
- ·Flashy ideas fail to meet real customer needs and don't survive contact with the real world.
- ·Stifled curiosity, untapped innovation potential, and disengagement of those not nominated as "innovators"
- ·Innovation becomes theater rather than customer value.
How Octopus Organizations Behave Instead
- ↳They encourage innovation in everyone's work and enable frontline staff to act on their ideas.
- ↳They prioritize innovation that solves real customer needs, whether big or small.
- ↳They reward practical solutions that create measurable value over impressive innovation theater.