Lifecycle of the Innovating Organisation

 

We have all heard that story before – a brilliant idea, led to the creation and growth of a market leader. Then, something went wrong, and within a century, or less, the pathbreaking organisation was on its way out.

Usually, the meteor that hits the organisation is , ironically, flab and lack of innovation.

 

We all know, also, about the innovation life cycle.

 

Image Courtesy: http://www.jplcreative.com/blog/index.php/2010/01/26/marketing-strategies-for-innovation/

 

But here, I am talking about the Lifecycle of the Innovative Organisation.

 

An innovative organisation is an organisation that continues to innovate – not for business success, not to get more territory, not to do things better, but just as a matter of course. As a way of BEING. Its in their DNA. All of the business benefits – quality improvement, newer products, better markets, are side effects of that way of BEING. As are product failures, millions of lost dollars, some lawsuits et al.  

 

This distinction is important – In an innovating organisation, innovation is not a means to an end – nor an end in itself. It is, quite simply, be who they are.

 

3M is the obvious example that pops up when we talk about innovative organisations. There are, of course, others. General Electric. I will not put Apple in the list. Because honestly, we have no idea what the culture is INSIDE Apple.

 

What makes these organisations Innovative Organisations? What can other organisations do to remain (or become) innovative?

 

This article here has some very sound models for organisations asking “What can we do to become innovative?” (Blackberry and Nokia come to mind) . My post is about what MAKES these organisations innovative? What keeps innovation in their DNA?

 

And the hypothesis is this: Leadership does.