On Innovation, Loons, Structure Eating Culture for Breakfast and Gardeners

First circulated on 13 Sepember 2019

Hi fellow Ruminants

It has been 3 weeks since my last ruminations. I have also not received any worthy submissions. This Ruminant Pink ™ Friday  I am going to return to the very topical topic of innovation. The source is once again the book by Safi Bahcall entitled Loonshots. https://www.amazon.com/Loonshots-Nurture-Diseases-Transform-Industries/dp/1250185963.  I am also referencing an FT article about this book for a better summary than I am capable of. https://www.ft.com/content/907256a8-40d2-11e9-9bee-efab61506f44.

Bahcall distinguishes between product type (p-type) and strategy type (s-type) innovation. Typically at innovation conferences talk of new products overwhelms analysis of innovative business models. P-type innovations also crowd the lobby. Many analogue imaging companies, saw digital as a low margin P-type innovation, missing its longer term potential to fuel a whole series of S-type services (e.g. Instagram).

Bahcall suggests companies should set up “a department of loonshots run by loons (artists) , free to explore the bizarre” separately from the parent. The key, though, is to ensure chief executives and their managers encourage the transfer of ideas between the mad creatives in the lab and the people in the field, and (the culture part) ensure both groups feel equally loved. It is then argued that it is the careful nurturing of this structure that is one of the keys to commercially successful innovation.

Success requires a special type of leader – not a visionary innovator but a “careful gardener”.

Please keep the submission ideas flowing!

Regards

Bruce