CONFERENCE LEARNINGS 07
INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY 07 explored how innovation happens when different bodies of knowledge are being connected; when existing habits and assumptions are challenged.
The conference was set up to explore the role of diversity in the context of innovation. Because innovation happens when different bodies of knowledge are being connected, when existing habits and
assumptions are challenged - not when everyone has the same background and mindset.
We also learned how diversity is a lot more than just culture, gender, age and education Some of the themes that came through strongly throughout the day are briefly addressed below - if you would like to explore these themes in more depth, please feel free to download the full conference report at the bottom.
Innovation as exchange and combination
Great innovation is more often than not the result of recombining and reconfiguring existing knowledge. It happens when different knowledge domains are being connected. That's why diversity plays such a crucial role in innovation. So if you are setting up an innovation team make sure you case the net as wide as possible. Bringing different industries together is particularly powerful. But most importantly, make sure that the diversity is not only there, but also challenged and used in the innovation process
The role of management
One of the things that were mentioned not only in several presentations but also in many of the discussions during the day was the important role of management. Management should be facilitating rather than controlling innovation. Rather than being obstacles to innovation and posing constraints, management should instead be seen as a strong promoter and facilitator of innovation.
Working with different people
Working with people who are 'not like us' is not an easy task. Diverse teams that are not used to diversity derail quite quickly unless support and facilitation is offered. So some of the key components of successful collaboration across diverse participants are awareness of what each person brings to the table, respect for different competences and styles and mutual understanding. It is important to be able to work with people that you really do not like.
But only mentioning these three topics is really reducing the complexity of INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY 07, so we hope you will draw your own conclusions, and hopefully you will chose to download the full Conference Insights & Learnings report (2MB) below, which was offered to conference participants after the conference, as a help in identifying the most important take-aways from INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY 07!
Download the full INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY '07 Report
We also learned how diversity is a lot more than just culture, gender, age and education Some of the themes that came through strongly throughout the day are briefly addressed below - if you would like to explore these themes in more depth, please feel free to download the full conference report at the bottom.
Innovation as exchange and combination
Great innovation is more often than not the result of recombining and reconfiguring existing knowledge. It happens when different knowledge domains are being connected. That's why diversity plays such a crucial role in innovation. So if you are setting up an innovation team make sure you case the net as wide as possible. Bringing different industries together is particularly powerful. But most importantly, make sure that the diversity is not only there, but also challenged and used in the innovation process
The role of management
One of the things that were mentioned not only in several presentations but also in many of the discussions during the day was the important role of management. Management should be facilitating rather than controlling innovation. Rather than being obstacles to innovation and posing constraints, management should instead be seen as a strong promoter and facilitator of innovation.
Working with different people
Working with people who are 'not like us' is not an easy task. Diverse teams that are not used to diversity derail quite quickly unless support and facilitation is offered. So some of the key components of successful collaboration across diverse participants are awareness of what each person brings to the table, respect for different competences and styles and mutual understanding. It is important to be able to work with people that you really do not like.
But only mentioning these three topics is really reducing the complexity of INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY 07, so we hope you will draw your own conclusions, and hopefully you will chose to download the full Conference Insights & Learnings report (2MB) below, which was offered to conference participants after the conference, as a help in identifying the most important take-aways from INNOVATING WITH DIVERSITY 07!