Innovation with Impact

Make sure people understand the "big picture"

India's Aravind Eye Clinics revolutionized treatment of eye problems like cataracts, which caused preventable blindness for around 45 million people. The operation to treat it is relatively simple but costs around $300 -- well out of the reach of the rural poor.

But through a systematic series of process innovations targeted at reducing cost without compromising quality, the average cost came down to $25. This sustained pattern of innovation continues, and with around 250,000 operations performed every year, these clinics have become "best practice" centers for surgery, with doctors coming from around the world to learn from them.

ACTION POINT: Make sure people understand the "big picture" -- what you are trying to achieve with innovation. Once it's clear what the challenge is they can contribute their creativity and energy to help make it happen.