Innovation

Since writing about innovation, I have received a number of questions about what I consider to be innovative, some examples of what I thought was innovative and some sources for exploring the topic.

Following are a few definitions of innovation:

Webster:  A new idea, method, device; a novelty.
Kuczmarski:  A mindset, a pervasive attitude, or a way of thinking focused beyond the present into the future.
Grossman, Rodgers & Moore:  The ability to find solutions to problems by changing your point of view.
Stevens:  The ability to use common knowledge for uncommon solutions.

I remember the development of a paint color blending formulation that led to our modern day detergents.  I was a little involved in the development of disposable diapers, which I consider to have been an innovative product.

When thinking back about some early ideation sessions, I remember the ones in the early 1970s that dealt with the next generation of household laundry.  One of the opportunities cited was the creation of a cleaning process for "dry clean only" fabrics in the home.  One of the approaches was what we called the Buck Rogers approach.  in this method, the fabrics would be hung in a special closet.  For cleaning, a switch would be thrown and a magnetic charge would be sent through the fabrics causing the soil particles to be repelled.  another approach was a hand held sprayer that delivered a fine mist of cleaning detergent.  The mist would loosen the soil, the fabrics would be shaken and the soil would fall off.  Two really dumb ideas, right?  About seven years later, P&G obtained a patent on a new type of washer that cleaned clothes in one gallon of water.  The gallon of cleaning solution was delivered via a fine mist spray in a heated environment.  Could the idea for that washer have come from the ideation session?  Advance a few years further into the future and we find that P&G introduced a home cleaning process for "dry clean only" fabrics.  The process uses a special bag, spot cleaning mist solution, and the dryer.  and let's not forget we have a P&G product today that is delivered through a mist to take the wrinkles out of fabrics.  One must wonder how these ideas are developed over time.

Creativity and innovation require a mind set that is open to challenge, that has no fear of failure, that has a desire to make a difference, sometimes at the possibility of personal risk.  I remember Vic Mills, the creator of Pampers.  On numerous occasions, Mr. Mills was threatened with termination if he kept up his work on that "silly" idea of a disposable diaper.  Today, P&G has an annual award called, "the Vic Mills Award," that goes to the most distinguished research in P&G.

I also remember working on a washer that cleaned clothes in one gallon of water.  My director at the time was Mr. Doug Cowan.  He was told on numerous occasions that P&G was not in the appliance business and we should stop working on this "crazy" washer.  Our thinking was that if these "crazy" washers really had a benefit, we should be working on them and on products designed specifically for their process.  Mr. Cowan was right, we should have continued working on the washers of the future.  Unfortunately, after the work was completed and management found out about our work (when our patent was made public), Mr. Cowan moved on to make a name for himself as the president of another company.

The following is a group of books I have found very helpful in practicing and understanding innovation and creativity.

The Magic of Your Mind by Sidney Parnes
Teaching Creative Behavior by Doris Shallcross ( A book for teaching children creativity)
Innovation, Inc. - Unlocking Creativity in the Workplace by Grossman, Rodgers & Moore
Visioning by Sidney Parnes
A Kick in the Seat of the Pants by Roger von Oech
A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech

I also recommend a week at the "Creative Problem Solving Institute" at the University of Buffalo.  Dr. sidney Parnes, mentioned above, is one of the founders of the institute.  Also at least three of the above authors are graduates of the institute.

CPSI puts on a weekly conference in Buffalo, N.Y.  In the late 1970s and early 1980s I attended these conferences along with about 900 business professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, inventors and consultants from around the world.  What an experience!  What a group of people!

If you decide to attend, I would recommend that you defer judgment about the sessions until they are over.  On my first visit, I took some of the people in my group.  Those who have worked with me know that at times I will prematurely jump to conclusions.  On my first visit to CPSI, I almost left after the first day but the people with me convinced me to stick it out.  Thank goodness I did.  At the end of the fourth day, I began to realize the value of the CPSI Concept.  Upon completion, I felt so strongly about the program that after I returned to work, I convinced my division to sponsor a P&G session of CPSI's introductory program, "Springboard."  We held the three-day session in a local motel.  It proved to be so well accepted that the Company decided to conduct the sessions at our facilities around the world.

For information about the annual session, call 800.447.2774.