Polymathic

Digital transformation, higher education, innovation, technology, professional skills, management, and strategy


Defensive innovation: stop de-innovating

It’s commonly thought that innovation depends on some sort of creative bursting forth. There certainly seems to be this sort of generative innovation where something new is deliberately made.

I wonder whether this kind of innovation is really so special and unique. I’m suspicious of explanations where “something magical happens”. So, I wonder if “creation” isn’t all around us all the time.

If it is, then why do we focus on this special, magical kind of innovation? If innovation is all around us, why don’t we see it more often?

I think this is because we see a lot of de-innovation. By that, I mean that the average project/effort spins off all kinds of new ideas. Mostly, these ideas are suppressed, diverted, or cancelled.

This means that “doing innovation” should focus at least as much on preventing de-innovation as on encouraging innovation.



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About Me

Digital transformation, including agile and devops, across many industries, most recently in higher education. Designed and built the Emory faculty information system. Working in continuing education to improve and expand career-focused learning, esp. in workforce development. Expanding the role of innovation and entrepreneurship. Designed, built, and launched the Emory Center for Innovation.

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