Ken Robinson On The Principles Of Creative Leadership | Fast Company

Sir Ken Robinson is among the world's elite thinkers when it comes to creativity and innovation. The author of Out of Minds: Learning to be Creative, a 10th anniversary edition of which was published in March, and The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, Robinson has dedicated much of his professional life to helping governments, educational systems and businesses understand that creativity is not a fanciful luxury. "Creativity is not some exotic, optional extra. It's a strategic issue," said Robinson while in Cannes where he was invited to speak about the necessity for creativity in innovation. "So what people are faced with is having to think very different about how to run organizations."

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Cultivating organizational creativity in an age of complexity - the IBM Institute of Business Value Report 2011

"Why are some organizations consistently good at innovating and adapting while others seem to be blindsided by change? Is it because of their disciplined innovation process or the knowledge and skills of their people? Or is it their determination to build a culture where challenging assumptions is not only encouraged, but expected? Our IBM Creative Leadership Study found that leaders who embrace the dynamic tension between creative disruption and operational efficiency can create new models of extraordinary value."

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Another View of Idea Management - Gregg Fraley

If you are a corporate innovation manager, no matter your level or official title, I have one question for you: Are you doing Idea Management? It’s not a trick question. If you are, you’re doing your job. If you aren’t, then I would say your job is in danger. Maybe not today in winter 2008 as I write this, you may be safe for a time, but someday someone will ask why an idea management system was not put in place. Your excuse will need to be a better answer than “they were unproven” or “it wasn’t cost effective.” My wish for you on that fateful day is a good severance package -- because both of those concerns are frightfully lame. Really you deserve the corporate equivalent of a tar and feathering because you’ve let down your organization. Sorry for being a bit harsh there.

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What is Idea Management? – A Very Simple Outline from Nos.co

Idea management is new to many and I am often asked ‘what is idea management anyway?’ So I thought I would give my shot at it. Some of my good friends run a very cool music magazine with about 20 very creative employees. So I was curious of how they go about capitalising on these bright people’s ideas. What my friend Martin told me was that, being a small team, anybody with a good idea just presents it to the CEO or one of the other managers. If they like it and it fits their strategy they go for it. If they need ideas for a special problem they run brainstorming sessions. This ad hoc process works great for them, and why shouldn’t it? Good ideas are usually recognised right away and decisions are made fast.

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The Missing Link in Innovative Research - Booz & Company

Despite continuous growth in R&D spending, many senior leaders remain deeply concerned about their organization’s ability to innovate. For example, the pharmaceutical industry has more than doubled its spending on research and development during the last 10 years, but its success rate in finding new drugs has been disappointing. Yet new research by Booz & Company points to an unexpected and unheralded source of potential productivity: midlevel managers in the R&D function. Companies can significantly raise their R&D productivity by recognizing and activating the unique impact of leaders in the middle of the organization’s hierarchy.

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