Rick Ross on Business, Technology and Life

Innovation: Three Concepts You Can Apply Now

What follows is an example of how to apply three concepts to drive innovation. It is not intended to comprehensively address the stated objective.

Objective

Reduce fuel consumption

Concepts

1. Consider the system in which the target of your innovation operates
2. Look for ways to use or combine existing technologies, preferably ones that are inexpensive and easy to implement.
3. Address issues as problems to be solved, not dead ends

Applying Concept #1

Attempts to reduce fuel consumption commonly focus on efficiency. While this approach will continue to be important, its application requires decades to achieve meaningful impact. What measures can be applied to complement it?

Applying the first concept, consider the "system" in which cars operate. This includes roads and traffic lights. How can these be optimized so that cars use less fuel?

The Right Time for Change

Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final - Roger Babson

 

The company president's unwaveringly optimistic disposition seemed to be failing. He looked worried. "Sales have slowed to a trickle. I can only meet payroll for about 18 months." The technology on which the company's main product was based, and the associated business model, were hopelessly outdated. A major redevelopment effort was required at the precise moment when the company could least afford it. The demoralized staff made a comeback seem even more unlikely.

Troublingly, the problems weren't a surprise. No expensive consultants required, the inevitability of the needed changes had been obvious for years. But until recently, brisk sales made it too easy to put off the expense and effort.

A Radical Approach to Certain Improvement

A friend and user experience expert inadvertently lost an entire day's work. It had to be redone from scratch. I asked how the second result compared with the first. He conveyed that the second try was much better, a big improvement.

Innovation - One Key Catalyst

 

No combination has such volatile innovative potential as that which occurs when expertise from disparate disciplines collide.

As an example, what do the lakes of northern Wisconsin and mammography have to do with one another? The former influenced improvements in the latter.

Here's the story. A company set out to build image analysis software that would help interpret aerial cartography. However, its first commercial use may be an enhancement to mammography analysis.

How did this happen? As reported on the website MedGadget, it turns out that to a NASA scientist the lakes of northern Wisconsin look very much like dense breast tissue. You can see the similarity for yourself by following the link.

Have you participated in projects that were so tightly controlled that unexpected collateral innovations were overlooked? Do your project teams practice the inclusion of diverse expertise to catalyze innovation?

Related

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How The Mayo Clinic Invests in its Next Century of Innovation

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The Creative Person’s Guide to Focus, Part 1: A Little Distraction is a Good Thing

 A Game Plan for Game Changers

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Ten Ways to Diversify an Inbred Network

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Augmented Structures v1.1: Acoustic Formations

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Designing the office

The Neuroscience of Imagination

Technologies Poised to Transform your Business and Life

Author's note: I have no affiliation or business relationship with any of the companies mentioned in this article.

Several technologies are poised to transform your business and your life. Some have been around for years, languishing in the background as awkward youngsters waiting to grow up. Others will likely sell out the day they become available. Below you'll find a sampling of a few that are having or will soon have a major impact.