{"id":8174,"date":"2020-02-11T09:13:39","date_gmt":"2020-02-11T17:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-prod.qad.com\/blog\/?p=8174"},"modified":"2020-02-21T13:27:42","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T21:27:42","slug":"innovation-workplace-experts-and-newcomers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/innovation-workplace-experts-and-newcomers","title":{"rendered":"Innovation in the Workplace: Experts and Newcomers"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8175″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\u201cA true innovator does best, what he doesn’t know best.\u201d\u00a0\u2015\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Haresh Sippy<\/span><\/i><\/a>, Indian visionary, leader and industrialist<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Companies know they need to innovate, so they often task process or product experts with the responsibility for developing next-generation ideas. The rationale behind this is that product experts know the area best, so they must be the ones who can more easily extend the boundaries. That may be true, but it may not be considered as innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extending the Boundaries vs Innovating<\/span><\/h2>\n

Coming up with a \u201cnew and improved\u201d version of an existing product is a good thing. It can provide a quick uptick in sales as customers try the new version, and it can extend the lifecycle of aging or more established products. But extending boundaries rarely breaks new ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it. New, improved versions are a lot like the old versions they replace. Even \u201cNew Coke\u201d was still a cola drink, and \u201cNew Tide\u201d and \u201cOld Tide\u201d detergents are both pretty good at cleaning dirty laundry.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), laundry was a big topic of discussion. But new washers and dryers that automatically sync their cycles are still washers and dryers. True innovation would be something like clothes that never need cleaning because they repel dirt or that have micro-layers that peel off after each wearing so the dirt peels away with the layer. A far cry from what exists today, but still an innovative idea nonetheless.<\/span><\/p>\n

Appliance engineers\u2014experts in their field\u2014think in terms of what they know, not what\u2019s new. And that happens in every industry, with almost every product.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Subject Matter Experts Approach Innovation<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>The National Academies Press<\/span><\/a>, product experts have a general process they adhere to:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. They notice features and patterns of information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. They have organized knowledge reflective of their deep understanding of the topic.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Their knowledge is made conditional on a set of circumstances.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    They look to stretch the boundaries. Which is exactly the issue with expecting them to innovate.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The article goes on to explain that experts\u2019 flexibility in approaching a problem varies, so some experts may be amazing <\/span>innovators<\/span><\/a>. Others, not so much.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How Newcomers Approach a Problem<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Inexperienced newcomers\u2014whether new to the workforce or new to the industry\u2014tend to approach a problem or task by looking for a solution. They aren\u2019t constrained by what they know or what already exists. They just want to get the existing problem off their backs with the least amount of effort. So, instead of looking for ways to create a \u201cbetter\u201d laundry appliance, they come up with ideas for the next version. Some may not be practical, but some will be. And therein lies your innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bringing Experts and Newcomers Together to Drive Workplace Innovation<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Most companies can\u2019t throw away years of product development and marketing efforts on a totally new idea, but that doesn\u2019t mean they can only move forward with incremental improvements. The best way is to set up teams focused on the problem and ensure that the team has an equal number of experts and non-experts. It\u2019s also crucial to make sure the team establishes ground rules. Some examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n