Innovation is the introduction of new ideas. In our social media era, it is the confrontation with a sudden, new set of circumstances. It is the ability to find a solution to this new situation in real time. Innovation is a critical issue in the social media era, because so much material is now available. In social media, things happen very fast. New problems, new solutions, and new products are constantly developing. In this era, the ability to create new products and new solutions is critical to existence.
To many people, innovation is like the song from the '80's group, Air Supply---"creating something out of nothing at all". Many people feel that innovation skills are something that is in a person's genes. Many people feel that innovation is a natural skill for a lucky select few. Because it is so important, much more attention is being paid to innovation. Studies and practical experience in the modern workplace are showing that innovation is a skill that can be developed.
There is also another issue that we must confront. In addition to innovation, social media has also created an emphasis on analytics, numerical probabilities, to create policy. Analytics teaches you that there is a numerical road map to any problem. Innovation teaches you that you must come up with new solutions on the fly. Both are correct and both have their place.
In our modern era, new problems are developing which have no precedent. If there is no historical data, there is no way that analytics can create a roadmap for you. Solutions must be developed through coming up with new, innovative solutions that have no precedent. Experience is a critical factor in developing innovation skills. Steven Jobs is a benchmark.
Innovation and innovative solutions are what Steven Jobs is known for. Steven Jobs has created the most innovative products in the technological era. The I Phone, I Pad, I Pod, and the Apple Computer are products that have revolutionized how the world processes information. They are simple, easy to use products that are elegant. How was Stephen able to do this?
If you read a biography of Steven Jobs, you realize that Steven had many, varied social experiences that gave him a vast store of information that he drew on in creating his innovative products. Apple products did not just happen. They are result of a young man who backpacked all over Europe, and India. Steven Jobs has studied many world religions; he has interacted with many groups of people. As a mature adult, he was able to use this experience and to create products that connected people. A famous quote from Steven is that innovation is just simply "putting two things together".
Steven Jobs is a benchmark. If we read widely, study many different issues, we store a wealth of knowledge that we draw on in times of crisis. It is just amazing what the human mind can conceive of when circumstances dictate that quick, fresh thinking is demanded in a critical situation. What happened in the tower stairwells on 9/11 is inspirational. Office workers with no experience as first responders seemed to know just what to do save themselves and their fellow office dwellers. This is wisdom in crowds. Analytics teaches us that groups of people thinking together come up with much better solutions than geniuses thinking separately.
Dean Hambleton dnhambleton@gmail.com
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