Innovation Blockers

Companies invest much money in innovation but are still looking for results. Frequently, innovation blockers stand in the way. The most frequent five innovation blockers are:

1. Siloes stifle innovation by creating barriers to communication, collaboration, and the free flow of information. When teams work in isolation, they miss valuable insights and ideas from other parts of the organization. They cannot access the diverse perspectives and expertise necessary to generate novel solutions or breakthrough ideas. Silos often lead to duplicated efforts and inefficient processes, as teams may unknowingly work on similar projects without coordination. Also, departments operating independently may pursue conflicting goals, leading to disjointed efforts and a lack of cohesive strategy.
2. No faith in the objectives. When employees or stakeholders do not believe in the goals of an innovation initiative, they are more likely to resist change. Distrust of the objectives can lead to low morale among employees. A lack of faith in the objectives can cause breakdowns in communication and collaboration. If team members are skeptical about the goals, they may be less inclined to share ideas or work together effectively. Also, distrust in the objectives can lead to low morale among employees.
3. No higher purpose. Organizations focusing on short-term results may need to invest adequately in long-term innovation projects. This can lead to rushed processes and inadequate research, ultimately resulting in failed initiatives. Without a higher purpose, employees lack the intrinsic motivation to engage deeply with innovative projects, leading to lower levels of creativity and commitment, and struggle to foster collaboration across silos, limiting the cross-pollination of ideas that is essential for innovation
4. Fear of failure. Many organizations and individuals are hesitant to take risks or experiment because they fear failure. This fear can stifle creativity and discourage innovative thinking. The fear of failure frequently results from a blaming culture and negatively impacts the organization's learning ability.
5. Cannot deal with uncertainty. Organizations or individuals uncomfortable with uncertainty may avoid taking the necessary risks and delaying decisions, leading to missed opportunities for breakthrough innovations.

Other innovation blockers may be at play, such as political turf wars, a lack of resources, including time, money, and skilled personnel, a lack of diversity and inclusion, and a focus on short-term results only.

Recognizing innovation blockers can help the company improve its innovation culture and achieve strategic goals. The company could:

• Foster a culture of open communication and collaboration, implement cross-functional team initiatives, and leverage technology to facilitate seamless knowledge sharing and integration.
• Build trust by clearly communicating the vision and value of the innovation objectives, involving employees in the process, and demonstrating commitment to the goals through consistent actions and support.
• Define and communicate a compelling purpose that resonates with employees and aligns with the organization’s strategic goals.
• Develop strategies for managing uncertainty. This includes creating an environment that encourages risk-taking, supports rapid experimentation, and remains flexible to adapt to new information and changing circumstances.

A company’s sustainable growth depends on successfully managing its innovation pipeline. If your company has innovation blockers, it may be time to remove them.

Kasia Hein-Peters, MD, founded Abante Scientific in Las Vegas, NV (www.abantescientific.com). Every business has different challenges, and the approach to the company growth strategy and innovation management may differ. Dr. Hein-Peters has a Green Belt in Innovation Management and can work with you to improve your company's performance and meet strategic goals. Please feel free to schedule a meeting.

Sources:

1. Innovation 360 Group (https://innovation360.com/)
2. ISO 56000:2020(en) Innovation management — Fundamentals and vocabulary (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:56000:ed-1:v1:en)