Effective Innovation

Innovation... It's like watching the pure joy and limitless creativity of children at play, isn't it? They invent games, bending rules and imagining worlds, thriving in the simplicity of their playtime.

Enterprises, much like these imaginative playgrounds, need innovation to not just survive but to flourish, especially amid the tempestuous seas of a stormy economy. They're constantly on the lookout for emerging markets, striving to lay a robust foundation for their existing customers. It's about fostering trust and ease-of-use, encouraging them to embrace more services. But innovating as a heavyweight in the industry is no child's play. True innovation often springs from constraints, from an insatiable hunger, and a laser-focused approach to solving a singular problem.

At Provallo, our journey of innovation began with observing cyber-flagged-traffic-wrecking-systems. Initially fixated on security risks, we soon uncovered a more pervasive issue lurking in the shadows - the computational and storage costs. It's all too easy to conjure up nightmarish scenarios of data loss due to cyberattacks. Yet, the stark reality often lies in the gradual drain, the slow bleed from unchecked inefficiencies. Reducing costs, will also reduce risk. But that's for another talk.

Look at 三星电子 , a giant in its field, cultivating a culture that both champions innovation and encourages the taking of calculated risks. Innovation can spring from the direst of needs, much like in my early days, where it was all about ensuring a nation's security. Or it might emerge in the quest to achieve the seemingly impossible, as in the case of a business unit at Verint . Similarly, in a then-young startup like Zimperium, where we were in search of the perfect product-market fit.

But what really makes innovation valuable? My narrative spotlights a few critical ingredients: a culture that embraces learning, a team of remarkable individuals who dare to question the established norms, a profound, undeniable need.

This “need” everyone discusses is pivotal yet enigmatic. In the consumer realm, a need might be non-existent until, say, Apple introduces a groundbreaking product. In contrast, the B2B sector tends to tread more cautiously, aligning more small increments with the concept of "need-fit."

Deciphering this need, then distilling it into a focused problem, is the foundation of innovation – its very essence. Engineers sometimes get caught in a "hammer-nail" loop, attempting to tailor problems to fit their skills or preferences.

As a leader in innovation, it's your role to ensure every voice is acknowledged, steering the collective creativity. What's the end benefit for the user? What are the costs involved to achieve it?

In the labyrinth of complex processes and varied stakeholders typical of a large corporation, it's easy to lose sight of the innate creativity that flourished in us as children. Yet, at its heart, bringing forth innovation is about rekindling that creative spirit, inviting our inner child out to play once again.

So, I ask you, are you ready to play? Share your experience with innovation.