In our experience, managers tend to focus their innovation efforts on processes that are either large in scale (new products and business models ) or swift in development (hackathons, rapid prototyping, or emerging platforms). There’s nothing wrong with this, per se, as both approaches can pay huge dividends. But there’s also another type of innovation that is more gradual and smaller in scale.
The Benefits of Taking a Slower Approach to Innovation
Managers tend to focus innovation efforts on processes that are either large in scale (new products and business models ) or swift in development (hackathons, rapid prototyping, or emerging platforms). There’s nothing wrong with this, per se, as both approaches can pay huge dividends. But there’s also another type of innovation that is more gradual and smaller in scale. It’s called slow innovation.
Slow innovation projects can be just as impactful in the long-term. However, they are difficult for organizations to propose, prioritize, and fund. Their scope and pace often run counter to the rhythms of company goals. But there are tremendous benefits. If you’re patient and committed, slow-innovation projects could alert you to an idea, trend, or gap in the market that would have otherwise appeared to “happen overnight.”
Tips for making slow-innovation projects a success:
- Claim your wins
- Invest in relationship building internally
- know that the best “slow innovation” work will happen outside your walls
- Keep budgets lean
- Don’t forget that seeing isn’t observing, and hearing isn’t listening
- Be rigorous about fostering serendipity