Basadur Applied Innovation

Finding Problems Sparks Innovation

Edwin Land, inventor of the Polaroid camera, had the ability to discover a problem others would not be able to come up with. In our Simplexity process this is called problem finding. Most people are able to come up with solutions when someone else provides them with the problem, fewer can discover important problems to be solved. We call this generating. Land was very much a generator. Some years ago, a Life Magazine cover story elaborated on his process.

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https://www.basadur.com/finding-problems-sparks-innovation/

From the Basadur Team...

In my job as a professor at McMaster University, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan and find out more about how Japanese companies manage innovation. Among other things, I discovered they all had great expertise in engaging their employees in problem solving. They taught their employees to think differently about organizational problems. A mind shift was created for employees to see problems as golden eggs, as opportunities to innovate. This would start by being discontented with the company’s products, services, and processes and wanting to make them better.

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https://www.basadur.com/problems-as-golden-eggs/

Deferral of judgment is the gateway to innovative thinking and building trust. Research shows that the following thinking skills can be learned:
Avoid making premature negative judgments (both when working alone
and with others)
Do not jump prematurely to a conclusion as to what the “real problem” is
Demonstrably value and welcome other points of view as opportunities to
strengthen a solution, rather than as an ego threat
React positively to new ideas
Pause to deliberately try an unusual approach rather than automatically
relying on traditional, established approaches
When approached by someone, with a new thought, always give credit for thinking first and then discuss the idea afterward.

These behaviors trigger a safe space for innovative thinking and a new culture for faster, better problem solving and genuine trust.

To read the full story CLICK BELOW and find out this week's valuable MinSight!

https://www.basadur.com/defer-judgment-and-build-trust/