INNOVATION – INSIGHT 8 No, I do not believe we do! Short term thinking and the quest for immediate results has lead business to being so risk averse that management will do anything to avoid making mistakes. Most organisations in 2014 will go to extraordinary lengths to about mistakes. Mistakes are seen as costly and […]

INNOVATION – INSIGHT 8 No, I do not believe we do! Short term thinking and the quest for immediate results has lead business to being so risk averse that management will do anything to avoid making mistakes. Most organisations in 2014 will go to extraordinary lengths to about mistakes. Mistakes are seen as costly and a threat to individual reputation. The fact is however mistakes are an essential part of innovation and accepting mistakes is an essential part of creating a culture in which innovation can flourish. This is emphasised in many of the thoughts of Thomas Edison: “ I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” – “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration” – “When you have exhausted all the possibilities, remember this – you haven’t” Inhibiting mistakes at all costs inhibits innovation. Inhibiting mistakes encourages mediocrity. Inhibiting mistakes might…