Fully agree with the statements made.
Unorthodox thinking and using knowledge already existing in
"foreign" worlds may trigger innovation ( combining en re combining)
Problem is implementation since this way of thinking is frequently considered chaotic ( some state that this pattern is the way of "eastern" thinking)
Regards Joan (Just One Anomalous Nerd). Joan=Dutch dialect for a male person named after John the Baptist
Looking Outside Our Borders for Inspiration
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What does a kimono have to do with food innovation? How could a gas station in Tokyo trigger inspiration for supermarket merchandising displays? Looking outside your own borders for inspiration and the experiences you find there can be exhilarating and tremendously insightful for innovation in your business.
Innovating Across Cultures
Ever since I can remember, I have looked across cultures to pick out what I like and do not like about the food, the customs, the mannerisms, the language nuances, the rituals — even their jokes! Having grown up Taipei, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Buenos Aires and Beijing, the observations were far and wide.
Now as an innovator and researcher, my passion to look abroad for innovation opportunities continues. For many clients, we’ve gone abroad for inspiration and the experiences were nothing short of exhilarating and tremendously insightful. Recently, on behalf of a food manufacturer, we took a weeklong immersion trip to Japan to look for inspiration. What did we do there? We met with senior management of local companies and conducted “street sweeps” across industries. Here are some examples:
- Oldest kimono makers in Japan – inspired us to look into “themed” food based on cherry blossom patterns for kimono
- Lingerie house – looked at different textures for food triggered by the different textures in fabric
- Gourmet food store – discovered new types of packaging and wrapping to make the food stand out on shelves unlike anything we’ve seen in the US
- Electronics – investigated packages that made noise and were animated when opened
- DIY housewares / decorating house – imagined opportunities to decorate your own food, or even make your own flavor
- Gasoline stations – observed gasoline pumps hanging from the ceiling which led to innovation in suspending food displays and racks
Notice the variety of locales, businesses and experiences we took in. Had we stuck to “traditional” channels (food manufacturers and supermarkets), we would have severely narrowed our thinking.
Now, given the current economic environment, many of you may be thinking, as much as you’d like to, “There’s no way I can get the budget approved for me and my team to go to Japan (or Brazil or Dubai) for a week!” So here’s a thought: Look within our borders for inspiration. What city or suburban area can you visit near you that has different cultures, groups or demographics? What industries are worth visiting? Which companies can you get tours of that can inspire your business? What stores have recently opened, and what makes them unique? What places haven’t you walked into before, but should? Trust us, these “forced” experiences to look beyond your walls will serve as inspiration and innovation opportunities for your organization for years to come. And you’ll be looked at as innovative for pulling this together.
So, remember: Look beyond your traditional “markets” (ideally internationally) for inspiration and don’t limit yourself to your industry.
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January 19, 2010 1:41 AM
updated: January 19, 2010 1:50 AM
Maddock Douglas
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January 19, 2010 4:22 PM
Joan Majoor said: Fully agree with the statements made. Unorthodox thinking and using knowledge already existing in "foreign" worlds may trigger innovation ( combining en re combining) Problem is implementation since this way of thinking is frequently considered chaotic ( some state that this pattern is the way of "eastern" thinking) Regards Joan (Just One Anomalous Nerd). Joan=Dutch dialect for a male person named after John the BaptistRight on Joan - I personally believe that one should be comfortable being uncomfortable in order to learn and grow from our international partners.
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February 24, 2010 12:09 PM
With our increasingly diverse work force you don't have to look far to find and INCLUDE foreign-born employees in the ideation process. Many of those expats are already "...comfortable being uncomfortable.." in their adopted culture.
The research by Prof. Galisnky from Kellogg's School of Management shows that "...multicultural individuals are particularly willing to consider conflicting alternatives, and make remote associations
between ideas..."
Full disclosure: I am a Eastern European expat.
Maddock Douglas
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February 24, 2010 3:54 PM
Madison,
We'd love to see the Prof's research - can you provide a link?
In regards to your comment about expats, Luisa also reinforced the very same point you made (without using the term expat) knowing that for practical reasons you can't/don't have to literally go outside our borders to find the diverse thinkers...she wrote above:
"So here's a thought: Look WITHIN our borders for inspiration."
As a former expat myself for many years, it seems we are aligned in our diversity of thought :-)
Raff
February 24, 2010 4:35 PM
Raff,
here are some links:
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/News_Articles/2009/galinskyresearch.aspx
http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp9651047.pdf
http://faculty.insead.edu/maddux/personal/documents/APCreativityReply.pdf
Maddock Douglas
- member since: 12/29/2009
- rank: 3 of 7372
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February 24, 2010 5:10 PM
Awesome & thank you Madison.
I will share with our VP that runs our Global Expert Network for supporting info as she's recruiting experts for innovation challenges. Great stuff - I'm sending you a virtual gold star and smiley face for your generous community contribution today ;-)
Saludos,
Raff
March 12, 2010 2:00 AM
updated: March 12, 2010 2:02 AM
The article's spot on. It's not about going literally abroad, it's about exposing yourself to different cultures, or at least different schools of thought that sparks innovation. In Harvard Business Review DEC 2009 issue, there was a focus on innovation, and a very insightful article discussing "Innovator's DNA" - based on a study of entrepreneurial CEOs (Jobs, Bezos and others), and it was clearly stated that talking to people with different perspectives (not to mention having served abroad) is one of the four pillars of being a good innovator. It is clear that companies with diverse workforce (and in a perfect situation: international exposure) have better chances of implementing solutions and best practices from around the world. A good example is Wal-Mart - the New York two-storey grocery shops were copied from Korea, etc.
Subscribing fully to this point of view, I'm currently in Malaysia (delegated from UK, myself being Polish). Would you mind if I asked where you're from, Madison?
Greetings Maciek Kokot
March 12, 2010 12:50 PM
Maciej,
I am Polish - something that my point of view or accent might indicate more than the adopted first name ;)
March 12, 2010 11:25 PM
Glad to see compatriots on the high seas :) And furthermore, glad to see compatriots on IEC :D Greetings.
Greetings Maciek Kokot
View unverified member's comment - posted by katharine
April 13, 2011 9:43 AM
Great article with wonderfully simple yet powerful insights. Having lived and worked abroad(Europe, Asia and Latin America) a great deal, allows one to notice things at home in a new way. I am amazed by the minute and enormous things one can observe, learn and potentially adapt and adopt whether wandering down a side street in the Ukranian village, a new boutique or hike a in the Northwoods. From a business persepctive, I am reminded of this daily by a an expression I have posted in my office and as part of my screen saver: i3 = av ( information X intelligence X ideas = added value.)
Thanks
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