Well before I started seeing tons of AI-generated content,

I found this, an article called ‘The Adoption of Innovation.’

I’ll share the highlight at the end.

Before I do, note that at that time of posting, I wasn’t aware that the ‘writing’ pattern that is so very much a tell that it was written by AI. (Was it? Who knows, anymore). What I am writing now, I assure you, is 100% my own voice. Which matters, since I’m all about brand messaging around here. I oughtn’t sound computerlike.

 

What even is innovation?

Speaking of AI, I found one I ‘talk’ to now sometimes when I need practical stuff or ideas to contemplate, or just another ‘take’ on what I’m curious about. According to Julius, an AI:

• ‘Innovation is the process of creating new ideas, products, or methods. that bring about positive change or improvement in a field or industry.
• ‘It involves thinking creatively, taking risks, and using new solutions to address challenges.

 

 

 

What gets in the way?

Blocks to innovation include resistance to change, the famous status quo. It’s not easy for people to try new things especially when there’s a fear of failure or, where I am, in Southeast Asia, ‘losing face.’ (Due to not being from here, I’m not relaly worried about what happens to me if I fail, which I do, many times, and it’s more important to me to learn something and re-design to make something even better, or at least attempt to, rather than stay complacent or keep stakes low.) Sure, I understand that most people may be resistant to trying new ideas or methods, preferring to stick with what is familiar and comfortable.

Besides that, there are practical costs. As it is, innovation takes investment: in research, development, and experimentation. Yes, it’s costly and yes, it is time-consuming. So, if you see people thwart things with this reality check, they’d be right if they said: ‘We can’t afford that.’

But it’s not a luxury item, if you’re serious about long-term viability. I think that the hard part is to be courageous and give opening up to try new things a whirl.

Julius says complex organizational structures and processes can stifle creativity and slow down decision-making, making it difficult to implement innovative ideas.

Anyone who has ever worked with other people in any way, at all, knows that it’s not simple to work in teams. Especially in synch. But innovation thrives when people from different backgrounds and disciplines come together to share ideas and perspectives (That’s why I make Atelier S P A C E, to be honest, to find ‘differently minded’ people and put us together in a conversation salon.) A lack of collaboration can limit the flow of new ideas, and so can short-term focus.

Organizations just looking at short-term profits or goals may prioritize efficiency over innovation, curbing investment in ideas and technologies. On a wider scale, regulations and policies can create barriers to innovation by imposing restrictions on certain practices or technologies, making it difficult for put new ideas into practice.

 

Adoptions of innovations? When it happens (and when it doesn’t)

Back to the article that started this post, when I shared it in August 2023. They say there that characteristics of the innovation include:

• ‘Relevance: Confidence that an innovation can help address a relevant problem.
• ‘Observability: Ability to demonstrate and evidence a positive impact from this innovation (compared to how things are done currently).
• ‘Adaptability: Capacity of the organization to adapt and build institutional capabilities. This includes aligned core processes and systems, and coherence between old and new ways of working.
• ‘Sustainability: Resources to enable staff and potentially partners to leverage a specific method, approach, or technology.

‘Once confident that the innovation meets these basic characteristics, it’s important to articulate and tap into a vision for how to adopt the innovation. What will our organization look like in five years, once we have adopted this innovation? Aligning around this vision will build commitment and momentum, and create the space to “think backward”: to articulate what needs to happen to reach this vision of the future.’ -By Benjamin Kumpf & Emma Proud.

 

What makes it innovative is that it changes something for the better, and you can see that, and it lasts.

Reading through the list above and interpreting it in plain English, here is what I got. If you call something ‘innovative,’ there’s a technical definition for that. It means that the thing or process is useful, something you can see apparently as an improvement, something that is flexible to adapt as circumstances do, and something that won’t peter out and fade because it can’t keep momentum.

I like this list.

It’s a good baseline for what you can point to and say, ‘Yup. That. That was innovative.’

Let’s start a conversation if you’re up for exploring more.

I host online Zoom voice calls regularly on varying topics.