Comments on: the roots of innovation http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/ Designed in Brisbane by Tim Kastelle & John Steen Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:15:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: what happened to Argentina? « Innovation « Innovation Leadership Network http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1653 what happened to Argentina? « Innovation « Innovation Leadership Network Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:46:03 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1653 [...] first is that it offers more evidence that the roots of innovation are deep. The work of David Landes and Nathan Rosenberg among many others shows that differences in [...] [...] first is that it offers more evidence that the roots of innovation are deep. The work of David Landes and Nathan Rosenberg among many others shows that differences in [...]

]]> By: the three stages of innovation strategy « Innovation « Innovation Leadership Network http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1605 the three stages of innovation strategy « Innovation « Innovation Leadership Network Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:40:42 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1605 [...] yet). It takes time for firms to go through this evolutionary process, and that is a big reason for the time it takes to actually embed innovation within a [...] [...] yet). It takes time for firms to go through this evolutionary process, and that is a big reason for the time it takes to actually embed innovation within a [...]

]]> By: Tim http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1551 Tim Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:38:48 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1551 I suppose you could put it that way. I'm not sure that the two things have to map onto each directly. The main thing is that if you want a tree someplace, it's pretty close to impossible to get one quickly (something I have to keep reminding Nancy of when we're working in our yard!). The same with innovation. That's all I am really trying to get at here. I suppose you could put it that way. I’m not sure that the two things have to map onto each directly. The main thing is that if you want a tree someplace, it’s pretty close to impossible to get one quickly (something I have to keep reminding Nancy of when we’re working in our yard!). The same with innovation. That’s all I am really trying to get at here.

]]> By: Marco http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1550 Marco Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:17:35 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1550 OK, I take your point. So let me spell out the essential aspects here (if I understood them correctly): 1) an innovation system has no straightforward cause-effect relationships 2) an innovation system imposes certain delays. These delays are "built-in" and cannot be eliminated Thus, we are advised to do some planning ahead. Unfortunately, because the innovation system is complex, we cannot guarantee how successful our actions will be. The same is true for tree. Tree planting works but not because we know everything about how roots end up being large ferns. We know it works because we experimented over (thousands of?) years. Planning, in this case, is predicated on collecting a large sample of planted trees and analysing their success via "proxy measures" of how early to plant seeds, how often to water, etc. The argument is that innovation systems are amenable to a similar analysis with similar outcomes (i.e. a more reliable set of proxy measures of success). Is this right? OK, I take your point. So let me spell out the essential aspects here (if I understood them correctly):
1) an innovation system has no straightforward cause-effect relationships
2) an innovation system imposes certain delays. These delays are “built-in” and cannot be eliminated
Thus, we are advised to do some planning ahead.
Unfortunately, because the innovation system is complex, we cannot guarantee how successful our actions will be.

The same is true for tree. Tree planting works but not because we know everything about how roots end up being large ferns. We know it works because we experimented over (thousands of?) years. Planning, in this case, is predicated on collecting a large sample of planted trees and analysing their success via “proxy measures” of how early to plant seeds, how often to water, etc.

The argument is that innovation systems are amenable to a similar analysis with similar outcomes (i.e. a more reliable set of proxy measures of success). Is this right?

]]> By: Tim http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1549 Tim Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:50:38 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1549 I know we've talked about this before Marco, and I agree that usually these types of analogies are utterly useless. However, in this case there are two points that I think are correct. The firstr is that there is no obvious direct connection between one particular root and one particular flower - it all makes up a complex system. The second is that it takes time to grow a tree, which is the issue that I was trying to get at here. And it is very true for innovation programs - you can't just suddenly decide to instantly become innovative, it takes some work. So in those respect, I think it's not a bad analogy... I know we’ve talked about this before Marco, and I agree that usually these types of analogies are utterly useless. However, in this case there are two points that I think are correct. The firstr is that there is no obvious direct connection between one particular root and one particular flower – it all makes up a complex system. The second is that it takes time to grow a tree, which is the issue that I was trying to get at here. And it is very true for innovation programs – you can’t just suddenly decide to instantly become innovative, it takes some work.

So in those respect, I think it’s not a bad analogy…

]]> By: Marco http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/10/the-roots-of-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-1548 Marco Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:43:22 +0000 http://timkastelle.org/blog/?p=586#comment-1548 Innovation is like a tree? ...But EVERYTHING is like a tree, Tim: "The problem, as I see it, lies in the practice. Some analogies or borrowing are [spurious] and/or fallacious. My favourite example: an organisation is like a plant; it needs to be constantly 'watered' and 'pruned' by an experienced 'gardener.' Now, with sufficient lateral thinking, this analogy might be deemed correct, but it is also totally useless. (This, I suspect, is what you mean by facile analogies)." http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/05/meandering-through-an-idea-or-two/#comment-51 Innovation is like a tree? …But EVERYTHING is like a tree, Tim:
“The problem, as I see it, lies in the practice. Some analogies or borrowing are [spurious] and/or fallacious. My favourite example: an organisation is like a plant; it needs to be constantly ‘watered’ and ‘pruned’ by an experienced ‘gardener.’ Now, with sufficient lateral thinking, this analogy might be deemed correct, but it is also totally useless. (This, I suspect, is what you mean by facile analogies).”
http://timkastelle.org/blog/2009/05/meandering-through-an-idea-or-two/#comment-51

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