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Fostering innovation to achieve mission critical goalsApril 12, 2017Deanna Grady, Sr. Manager, Government Sales - LinkedIn Robin E Hunt, CoFounder and Partner - ThinkData Solutions, Inc.
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Deanna GradySr. Manager, Government SalesLynda.com from LinkedIn
Fostering innovation to achieve mission critical goals
Agenda
• Introduction: Robin Hunt• Innovation in the context of
government• How to foster innovation as a team
leader• How to innovate as a team member• How to use technology to drive
innovation• Takeaways• Resources• Q&A
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Robin E. HuntCo-Founder and Partner, ThinkData Solutions, Inc.Lynda.com author, developer and educator
Fostering innovation to achieve mission critical goals
inəˈvāSH(ə)n/
1: the introduction of something new2: a new idea, method, or device
Innovation can happen anywhere
5https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innovation
Why is innovation important?“By putting innovation at the center of the organization, from top to bottom, you can improve the numbers; at the same time, you will discover a much better way of doing things — more productive, more responsive, more inclusive, even more fun.” - Fast Company
6https://www.fastcompany.com/874798/why-innovation-matters&sa=D&ust=1490389486253000&usg=AFQjCNHhEcYmAGrDrz2ZqWeDITz60vMy3A
Achieving mission critical goals ● Requires alignment across the team and
agency● Works best when goals are clear● Benefits from advance planning● Succeeds with disciplined project
management
“Customers are wrestling with mission-critical decisions, evaluating
solutions that all sound the same, and struggling to achieve the value they expect, when experience has shown them that far too many solutions come
packaged with a high degree of risk and a low probability of success.”
- Jeff ThullPrime Resource Group7
8https://www.wired.com/insights/2015/01/innovation-vs-invention/
“Invention is about creating something new, while
innovation introduces the concept of “use” of an idea
or method.”- Bill Walker
IT guy and globalization driver
“I think innovation also is the ability to re-imagine things that already are.”
- Eric SchmidtCEO, Alphabet
Impactful inventions
Light bulb
1879
Global positioning
1957
Toilet
1596
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Innovation arises from invention
Light bulb
Energy efficient
GPS navigationDedicated
devices
Toilet
Water saving
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1.How do governments innovate?
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“Incremental innovations occur everywhere, but breakthrough innovations—the kind that leverage new technologies and business models to drive down costs, increase accessibility, and improve services—have tended to remain the province of the private sector.
“Fortunately, that type of innovation is beginning to trickle into government as well. Leaders inside the public sector are learning to pursue these major breakthroughs without the benefit of the profit motives that drive entrepreneurs elsewhere.” - Stanford Social Innovation Review
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/unleashing_breakthrough_innovation_in_government
Innovate when:● There’s a better solution
● You’re required to work differently
● The timing is right for change
● Task is done the same way for many years
● You need a better way to measure outcomes
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Working through obstacles● Controlled processes ● Legal requirements● Common objections
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Controlled processes
Often entail:●More paperwork and
documentation●An act of Congress (literally)●Typical risks of change
However, a framework and documentation can provide guidance that makes projects easier. 14
Legal requirements include:● Document archiving policies and laws● Information and privacy policies● Review board for contracts etc.● Compliance standards and policies
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How to move past objections
●“We already have a way to do this.”○ How is your idea better?
●“It’s too hard to change.”○ How can you make it easier?
●“There’s too much of a learning curve.”○ What training is needed?
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Lynda.com Learning Path
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2. How to foster innovation as a team leader.
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”- John F. Kennedy
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Do an innovation assessment
● What are you doing to foster innovation within your team?
● When your team comes up with an idea, how often does it come to fruition?
● What is your reaction when the same person suggests new ideas frequently?
● How often do you think about innovation? 19
Building Creative Organizations
Motivate others to innovateCreate a culture that supports innovation and ideas● Brainstorm solutions as a team● Encourage the team to embrace new ideas● Use training to help reduce skill gaps
“You've got to think about big things
while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.”- Alvin Toffler,
Futurist20
Use an innovation framework● Provides a safe process for the ongoing
elimination and creation of ideas ● Ensures your team knows how to handle
each step of the process● Keeps the process of innovation moving
forward
“Having an innovation
framework to support the
development of new ideas provides companies with a strategic approach to innovation from
the inside out.”- Heidi Hattendorf
Dir. Business Strategy, Motorola
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Walk ideas through the process
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“Just because something doesn’t
do what you planned it to do
doesn’t mean it’s useless.”
-Thomas Edison, Inventor
Learn to spot innovators
●Always discussing a new way●Seeing problems and suggesting solutions●Learning something new●Trying to do things differently
Innovators often don’t realize it. Leaders often miss the signs. They are:
Innovative Characteristics
Strategic Thinker...Curious...
Passionate ...Problem solver ...
Flexible...Handles objections...
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3. How to innovate as a team member
"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." -Henry Ford, Inventor
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3 Steps to innovate
● Find a real problem to solve● Identify potential solutions● Gain buy-in from leadership
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“Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improves teamwork, productivity and where appropriate profits.”- Edward deBono, Brain Training And Lateral Thinking Pioneer
Breaking Out of a Rut
Find a real problem to solve ● One problem can be a byproduct of
another ○ Break it down to isolate the real issue
● List problems and create a hierarchy○ Main problem → underlying problems
● Agree on which problem you’ll be solving
● Make a plan
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Identify potential solutions●Research how others may have
solved it● Evaluate data●Whiteboard ideas ●Leverage existing technology ●Discuss proposed solution with
others to preempt obstacles
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Gain buy-in from leadership
1.Present the real issue and objective2.Communicate your vision3.Evaluate the risks and rewards4.Estimate pre and post time and effort5.Develop an implementation plan and
projected timeline “You can’t inspire people if you are
going to be uninspiring.” - Robert Reich,
Commentator and Professor
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5. How to use technology to drive innovation
“The great myth of our times is that technology is communication.” - Libby Larsen, Composer
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Technology supports innovation
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“What you get by achieving your goals is not as
important as what you become by achieving your
goals.” - Zig Ziglar, Author
● Capture and enhance ideas● Reduce inefficiencies ● Access information faster● Facilitate iteration● Gain buy-in and approvals
Technology enables project success
● Target a completion date
● Manage timelines and milestones
● Identify dependencies●Keep stakeholders informed
● Provide high-level overview
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Project Management Fundamentals
Online collaborationCreate documents and easily share them online. Share within a project file rather than email attachments.● OneDrive
● SharePoint
● Dropbox
● Confluence
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SharePoint Online Essential Training
Project managementStay on track, improve time management, and facilitate team communication.● Microsoft Project
● Trello
● Basecamp
● Visual Studio Team Services
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Microsoft® Project 2016: Essential Training
Diagram tools and workflowIdentify detailed flows and tasks within each phase of the project and across functional areas.● Microsoft Visio
● Microsoft SharePoint Approval Workflows
● Windows Problem Steps Recorder
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The Basics of Data for Analytics
Takeaways
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● Innovation doesn’t mean a new invention● Create a shared understanding of
innovation● Encourage a culture, leadership approach,
hiring processes, incentives, role expectations and training that facilitates and breeds innovation
● Develop processes to generate ideas● Ensure you have the technology tools to
turn ideas into completed projects● Share best practices and successes
Resources
● Fostering Innovation - Learning Path ● Building Creative Organizations - unlocked
course● Breaking Out of a Rut● The Basics of Data for Analytics● SharePoint Online Essential Training● Microsoft® Project 2016: Essential Training
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Connect with us
Robin E. Hunt https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinehunt/
Deanna Grady https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannagrady/
For more learning on innovation, visit https://www.lynda.com/
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Q&A
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