Why Research and a Chief Innovation Officer or Interim Innovation Manager matters to your company, business or startup
Epistemologies or systems of knowledge are changing
One problem is how to keep up with the avalanche of articles, ideas and bilge flushed into the system every day. Yet we are always sucked into the pipe. Then struggle to remain informed and find our way to strategies. Really, what’s needed is a Chief Innovation Officer but we’ll get to that later.
You cannot ignore the need for innovation and creativity
You might throw your hands up in horror and say: [bctt tweet=”‘If it matters I’ll get to hear about it.’ That’s true. But it might well be too late.”] Perfection is no longer the Golden Fleece we chase. But research is now a massive part of our lives and our businesses. Well, if it isn’t it certainly should be!
Just think about how you shop, how you search
The minute you put a search into an engine you get pages of information. We are used to, and are now demanding, endless choice. That’s the problem. Now we do have choice how on earth are you going to sell your product, brand and service? How do we do it when there are so many others operating in our niche? How do you go about getting heard in all the extraneous noise? The only way is to offer just what’s wanted at the exact time. That’s where a Chief Innovation Officer could add value to your company.
We go back to research and innovation for answers and paths to follow
Except it’s not just about number crunching or believing all the data placed in front of us. [bctt tweet=”Collating the data but not having the appropriate questions in the first place can be a waste of time and effort.”]
What is required is a mature research framework
This needs to be bought into by any organisation large or small. What we are all looking for is independent insight that actually adds value. It should form a reliable perspective and be ultimately actionable. This can come from an interim chief innovation officer.
How much time and money is lost every day by not knowing where you are headed and where your customers might be headed?
You may well say that time and money is of the essence and fancy research is not cost effective. Oh really? Think again. [bctt tweet=”How much money and time is lost chasing strategy that is not honed,”] pin point sharp yet agile and flexible enough to be useful, always. Unbiased research is essential. You only have to reread the Emperor’s New Clothes. It shows how new fashion (or tech) can be sold on the promise of style rather than real material (or substance)
What does your business need in terms of innovation in 2016?
- embark on innovative business programs;
- make considerable investments to support innovation;
- search for innovation in procurement services;
- improve and enhancing service delivery processes and asset management;
- building strategic partnerships that work, develop and innovate;
- educate, inspire and develop corporate innovation processes and teams;
- utilise advanced management methodologies, tools and strategies.
There has been some criticism recently of the role of Chief Innovation Officer
Opinion suggests that a CIO should not work in a silo and no one person should be in charge of innovation in a company. That as may be, but there needs to be someone in charge of innovation and creativity Of course it’s not to produce it but to oversee a rigorous policy where product, tech, solutions, creativity and forward thinking are promoted, collated and communicated. It can’t just be left to an organisation or left on the back burner. Even the Ancient Greeks understood this.
Socrates spent the whole of his life questioning everything
Regardless of significance, sacred cows, importance, or the gods themselves. He was searching for truth and that needed to be gathered with reason and knowledge In essence, nothing has changed. Socrates used questioning in his teaching, the Socratic method. He began asking very simple questions. he then moved on to deeper and far more complex questions. When reason and logic were applied greater understanding was developed. This is something every company, regardless of size should implement as part and parcel of their modus operandi.
Lacking innovation and creativity will always put a company on the back foot
[bctt tweet=”Failure to invest in innovation + failure to anticipate change, need/ current trends can spell disaster for any business “]regardless of size. If you want to deliver the business outcomes you expect then a CIO or equivalent Interim Manager can help you research. They can help you plan for updates in enterprise architecture, on-going creativity, business intelligence and information management. Or maybe they are just in possession of knowledge that will accelerate the growth or profits of your company. Why wouldn’t you employ a CIO or the equivalent interim strategist? Beats me, but then I am deliciously biased.
Vivienne Neale is a creative thinker, left field communicator and innovation specialist. She currently holds the position of Marketing Director for the disruptive proptech business No Agent and is embarking on a PhD in Management Administration
