ANCIENT&
not so ancient
WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective
July
28, 2005
"Market
Leadership, Conviction #2: "Innovation
is much easier when it is seen as an outcome of truth."
-
Jeffrey K Hansler (1957 - )
Innovation
comes from recognizing truth and designing solutions that
make that truth more comfortable.
Here's
a truth that many of us can relate to: We didn't like to
fall down while learning to ride a bike (OK, some of us did)
and neither did our parents. Training wheels caused me more
accidents than the first day I rode without them. Truth is
we wanted to get to the result of riding a bike with less
pain.
The
SHIFT bike was designed by a team at Purdue University led
by Scott Shim, an assistant professor of industrial design.
"In
the brainstorming phase we talked about what it was like as
kids to learn (to ride a bike)," said Shim. "We'd
aim for bushes when we knew we were going to fall ... and
we'd rely on our parents to hold us up."
Allowing
kids to shed training wheels was the goal that Shim and two
of his students, Ryan Lightbody (an industrial designer in
Seattle) and Matt Grossman (a Purdue student), had in mind
when they began the project.
 In
SCUBA, the truth is there is alot of gear to carry. We don't
like to look clumsy or awkward with the gear and we don't
like it banging on the rocks or getting caught in the kelp.
Solution: a new type of clip.
So
what are the truths that you observe? In your personal life?
Business life? In acknowledging the truth of your desires,
frustrations, and how other perceive the experiences, you
take a big step toward successful innovation.
What
are the truths in what your co-workers tell you? your
customers? your supervisors? your associates? In
acknowledging these truths, you open the door to innovation
in product design and in relationships.
Too
often organizations miss innovation opportunities because
they focus on the expense and the risk of profits. If they
would focus on the truths (perceptions of reality if you
prefer), then innovation would become a cost effective
outcome of the solution process.
Wishing
you eyes and ears that focus on truth - hard as it may be
sometimes.
Sincerely,
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