Genesis

Together with a few like-minded folks, I’ve started an innovation consulting firm to help companies answer some questions; questions like: How can an organization be more innovative? Can innovation be systematic? Are there methods or processes to encourage innovation? What kind of culture promotes innovation? What kind of mindset is needed for innovation to strive? Are there organizational elements that promote or hinder innovation?

So, part of this blog will focus on the topic of innovation from an Asian perspective and will also include anecdotes of us setting up an innovation consulting firm, which will prove to be rather interesting given the ever-present mythical creature known as the “Chinese businessman”. I for one have not been able to nail down the exact definition of what makes up the “Chinese Businessman” but as far as I’ve been told, these beings are backward in thinking, resistant to change, and unwilling to try anything new - basically any characteristic that goes against the spirit of innovation. For the time being, since I’m unable to nail down the exact nature of the “Chinese Businessman”, they are as mythical as Bigfoot to me. I will update my findings on these mythical creatures as I encounter them and their responses to innovation.

The other topics that I’m interested in and will write about in this blog will be on design and environmental topics. Everything around us, from the chair we sit on to the software I’m using to write this, is designed by someone. The only thing that is not designed by us Homo Sapiens is nature. As for the environmental topics, I’m really keen on environmental efforts because we really need to take care of the environment better. Even if I’m a money-minded mongrel, the effects are going to be devastating to me because if the environment goes to oblivion so goes any of my businesses or money-making schemes. To sidetrack on the topic of money,  I do foresee a lot of people making a ton of it on things related to the environment in the near future, since environmental protection is fast becoming a hot issue.

So……
What if we make innovation part of the strategy of our organization?
What if we pay as much attention to quality and cost as to innovation?
What if Chinese businessmen took innovative steps?
What if we include design thinking in our organization?
What if we design for sustainability?
What if we design things not only with more functionality but also with better user experience?
What if we care for the environment as much as we care for the bottom line? ...
… would our business, social and environmental conditions be better off?

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” -Wayne Gretzky