Management by Design By Clive Shearer

May 13, 2009

Management by Design: Want to be innovative? Here's how to start

There is very little in life that is really new. Improvements are often based upon the inspirations of others, or are a refinement of something that already exists. For example, most new products are creative improvements of past models, and while some are indeed innovative, few are the result of inspired, out-of-the-box thinking. Even many “innovations” in science would be more accurately called “advances.”

Innovation in human behavior is even more rare. For example, the concept of empowerment is based upon an ancient Greek concept, radical in its day, today dressed up to look new. Even nations build upon the ideas of others. For example, the famed Swiss Constitution was developed using the U.S. Constitution as a model.

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Previous columns:

• Management By Design: Try looking at this downturn differently, 04-08-2009
• Management by Design: Six ways we can become more wise, 03-11-2009
• Management by Design: Inefficient processes cost you time, money, 02-11-2009
• Management by Design: 6% unemployed but 94% are still working, 01-14-2009
• Management By Design: What you can gain from shared rosters, 12-10-2008
• Management By Design: Five workplace cultures, 10-15-2008
• Management By Design: Communication key for project managers, 09-10-2008
• Management by Design: Catching the big one may not be the best marketing strategy, 08-13-2008