Innovation Management ? Diversity Can Make All The Difference

Companies are welcoming a diverse range of employees (The Sunday Times, April 10 2005). Doh!

It is incredible that this concept is getting coverage in 2005. I mean, how many new ideas, novel ideas and divergent thinking is going to come from an all male, white board!

Employees tell us that when you bring together a team that represents different perspectives and different experiences, the outcome is richer than if you had a group of people with the same background (The Sunday Times, April 10 2005). Doh!

Reducing the above to the basics of creativity (problem identification and idea generation) and innovation (idea selection, development and commercialisation), it is beyond obvious that diversity and intellectual cross-pollination produces better results:

a) Creativity can be defined as the production of a number of ideas, the production of a number of diverse ideas and the production of a number of novel ideas. Increasing the number, diversity and novelty of participants increases all three (further, manipulating group structures maximises output).

b) Similar individuals have a greater tendency for groupthink, path dependency and parochialism.

c) Diverse and novel participants increase frame breaking.

d) Radical change requires the introduction of new knowledge - less likely without sets of divergent individuals.

e) Radical shifts are more often the result of cumulative incremental changes; degrees of incremental change increase with diversity.

f) Good ideas result from increased tacit knowledge. A diverse group increases the tacit knowledge pool.

g) Good ideas benefit from collaboration - the introduction of a wide knowledge base into the equation.

h) Good ideas benefit from the utilisation of networks - the introduction of a wide knowledge base into the equation.

In conclusion, increased diversity is good. Doh!

This topic is covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com. You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.

Latest News


PAR Technology Corporation Releases Next Version of SpaSoft(R) Spa ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
With a unique booking engine, advanced resource inventory, scheduling, yield management and reporting tools, SpaSoft is the system of choice for today's ...

Founders & Former Executive Management Team of LCA-Vision Seek ...
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
The three of them worked together as the executive management team of LCAV to grow the market capitalization of the Company in excess of 1000% from ...
LCA-Vision Names Michael J. Celebrezze CFO MarketWatch
all 28 news articles

MassMutual Announces Promotions for Two Co-Chief Operating Officers
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Bill has also proven his exceptional capabilities as a leader in the asset management business and in building strong financial services organizations," Mr. ...
OppenheimerFunds Names CEO Markets Media (press release)
Mass Mutual promotes COOs InvestmentNews
Babson Capital Names Finke as Chairman & CEO, Noreen as President MarketWatch
all 35 news articles

Angiotech Terminates Note Repurchase Agreement With Ares ...
RTT News, NY - 6 hours ago
TO) said it terminated the note purchase agreement with Ares Management and New Leaf Venture Partners. Earlier, Angiotech said it had notified Ares and New ...
Private equity firms pull out of Angiotech financing agreement The Canadian Press
Firms pull out of Angiotech agreement Toronto Star
Angiotech announces termination of note purchase agreement with ... Trading Markets (press release)
all 39 news articles

AFP

Treasury to Buy Reserve Government Fund's Holdings (Update3)
Bloomberg - 10 hours ago
3, according to statements today by the department and New York- based Reserve Management Corp., the fund's owner. Shareholders can expect their money by ...
Treasury Will Help Liquidate Reserve Fund Wall Street Journal
Treasury to Support a Frozen Money Fund New York Times
Treasury to backstop mutual fund The Associated Press
MarketWatch - U.S. News & World Report
all 100 news articles

NTN Buzztime, Inc. Announces Management and Board Changes
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
... will be comprised of Terry Bateman, Kendra Berger, the company's chief financial officer and other members of the management team. ...
Wi-LAN Appoints New Chairman of the Board MarketWatch
all 38 news articles

Innerscope Research Strengthens Management Team With Three ...
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
... healthcare and service sectors, brings to Innerscope significant experience in marketing, customer relationship management and operations. ...

Miami Daily Business Review

US Sugar Corp. Statement Regarding The Lawrence Group
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
As would be the case with any such proposal, our Board of Directors will carefully review it with its professional advisors and the Company's management ...
Florida's Everglades Deal With US Sugar Faces Challenge From New Bid Wall Street Journal
Nashville firm wants to purchase US Sugar land Bizjournals.com
Florida Gets a Rival in Effort to Buy Everglades Land (Update2) Bloomberg
WBBH - Sun-Sentinel.com
all 148 news articles

Davidson Kempner Capital Management LLC Files Preliminary Consent ...
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
NEW YORK, Nov 20, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Davidson Kempner Capital Management LLC today reported that it has filed with the Securities and Exchange ...
Davidson Kempner Capital Management LLC Files Preliminary Consent ... istockAnalyst.com (press release)
all 10 news articles

The Associated Press

Citigroup's options dwindle as shares under $4
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
... an equity analyst at Optique Capital Management Inc. And raising more cash from outside investors or the government would be "a Band-aid. ...
Citigroup board could consider selling off units as stock plunges GulfNews
Citigroup's cost cuts may not bring 2009 profit Reuters UK
all 172 news articles

Resources