How Developed is your Capacity for Innovaiton

a constant flow of challenging ideas...

In evaluating your innovative ability you can consider the following questions:

• Do I have links with a wide range of outside sources of knowledge--universities, research centers, and specialized agencies?
• Do I practice "open innovation" by using rich and widespread networks of contacts from whom I get a constant flow of challenging ideas?
• Does my approach to supply management permit "strategic alliances"?
• Do I have contacts within the research and technology community?
• Do I recognize users as a source of new ideas and try to co-evolve new products and services with them?

ACTION POINT:  Once you and your innovators have been exposed to new ideas and concepts form other areas of your industry, or even other industries altogether, you can experiment to generate new concepts.