Perhaps the first question should be whether “standard” and “innovation” should even be in the same sentence. However, I feel very strongly that there are certain systematic approaches to managing innovation that might not guarantee you’ll end up with a string of guaranteed innovations, but you’ll stand a much better chance of success if you apply some best practice.

Every day we hear calls to innovate our way out of the current crisis, but there is little practical, step-by-step how-to for organisations to apply. It was with great enthusiasm that I participated within a group to help the NSAI draft a National Workshop Agreement on a Guide to Good Practice in Innovation and Product Development Processes. It’s not a perfect document. How could it be after two day-long meetings? It is a start and highlights the need for a practical approach and more practical tools.

The document was launched last week at a seminar that featured a diverse line-up of speakers. For those of you that weren’t able to attend, all the presentations are available below. The most thought provoking and entertaining had to be Finbarr Bradley’s presentation which was based on his book, Capitalising on Culture, Competing on Difference: Innovation, Learning and Sense of Place in a Globalising Ireland. He urges us to recognise the natural resources that are unique to Ireland as a differentiated core to our innovation efforts. The book is on my nightstand.

1. How Standardisation Helped IONA Become a World Leader, Dr. Chris Horn, IONA Technologies
2. Innovation, Learning and Ireland’s Smart Economy: Why Culture Matters!, Dr. Finbarr Bradley
3. National and International Developments in Innovation Standards, Linda Hendy, NSAI
4. Innovation from the Point of View of a Development Agency, Dr. Eddie Commins, Enterprise Ireland
5. Innovation and Standards in Medical Device Approvals, Dr. John O’Dea, Crospon Ltd.
6. Managing Innovation, Jim Rice, Schneider Electric

Posted by: Justin Knecht

This entry was posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 8:04 am and is filed under Book, Business Issues, Design Management, Policy, Product design, Report, Skills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.