CREATE! Creativity and innovation are the center piece of our work all the time. But, their existence is not self-evident or come up by just snaping our fingers. We know from our own experience: creativity and innovation are the result of many factors. And we would like to share some of these factors with you. Happy reading and don't stop being creative.
When it comes to creativity there is no such thing as coincidence. That’s Bernd Buck’s opinion, he is the author of a new book, which deals with new thought processes and tools intended to promote innovation-friendly environments.
Buck draws on his experience as CEO, management consultant and innovations coach. "Creativity doesn’t just happen. It is not a coincidence and it is not something producible. Creativity can only occur within a framework designed to promote innovation."
This book describes how innovation processes and cornerstones that function based on systemic theory can foster a good culture of innovation. The book contains concise descriptions and several graphic visualisations. It includes an introduction to the basic systemic approach and explanations for practical application in innovative projects.
With her many years of professional experience, Ulrike Buck contributed considerably to the practical aspects of the book. In close cooperation with her brother, the creative front-runner found answers to the innovative challenges that agencies face every day. Following the INNERINNOVATION principle, she tested the creative process in ten steps again and again in practice and documented her observations in the book. As a skilled designer, whose diploma thesis received a Red Dot award, she took the lead in drafting the book and developed the layout, illustration style, and look and feel together with her agency here/to/now. Before going freelance, Ulrike Buck cemented her expertise in brand management, design and branding at various well-known international communications agencies.
Bernd Buck studied physics in Constance, and then worked in the family business (ifm electronic GmbH) as developer, head of development and then technical director. Here, he happened upon an outstanding culture of innovation, which he observed and scrutinised. He realised that systemic thinking lends itself perfectly innovative working methods and studied again to become a systemic coach and consultant. His training and practical experience led him to develop a model for systemic innovation: INNERINNOVATION. Accordingly, he contributed the structural organisation and the texts for the book. He works with the consulting company TeamThink as a systemic organisation consultant specialising in innovation processes and innovation culture.
1. Who is the target audience for this book?
1. Who is the target audience for this book?
The book is for everyone who wants to promote innovation. This would primarily be those responsible for innovation in organisations, and company owners. It is designed to help build up and maintain a good culture of innovation. This makes it particularly important for start-ups and family companies handing over to the next generation.
2. What are the main points of the book?
2. What are the main points of the book?
The most important point is this: circularity beats linearity. What I mean is that innovation cannot be produced. There must be a framework in place that is conducive to innovation, and allows innovation to blossom, this is the only practical solution. In other words: innovation won’t blossom by force, but rather by fertilisation. You cannot create innovation, but you can create this framework.
3. What motivated you to write this book?
3. What motivated you to write this book?
I wanted to support this change in people’s consciousness, which has already begun in many places, with my own experiences. The widespread linear “Stage Gate” process for generating innovation is no longer sufficient. A new approach is necessary, one that involves alternative concepts such as design thinking, pretotyping, scrum and effectuation.
4. Is the book designed to focus on theory or practice?
4. Is the book designed to focus on theory or practice?
The book is based on practice and is therefore designed for practical use. It is however also founded on a sound theory, which does find equal footing in the book. In cooperation with the agency here/to/now, innovation processes were tested and continually developed further. The aim of the book is to deliver fundamental new thought process and tools for systematic innovation-promoting management, that are simple to implement and easily understandable.
You are lurking for further information on the consulting and coaching solutions of InnerInnovation, another view into the book and more about the authors? Check out the website of InnerInnovation.
When you think of a workshop, do you think of a bleak collection of conference tables, chairs and a flipchart? Our workshops have a different look, and are designed to unlock the creative potential of all participants – we have devised some entertaining and creative workshops for our customer Berlin Convention Office for a national roadshow. The basic idea: The workshop participants are encouraged to come up with spontaneous and unique ideas for activities in Berlin. Artists create a visual image and then record these graphics on large-scale scenes of Berlin. Thoughts become ideas, which are turned into successes using creative concepts and concrete measures. Want to see what we’re talking about? Here’s a video of the roadshow.
Talent profiles
Do you know OctoPiGo, ConPreManSu and PapaHotSwot? They are three creative talents at here/to/now and those are the names of their personal talent profiles.
Apart from the creative name, talent profiles are also an added bonus for a corporate culture open to innovation. This is because you have to know what an employee’s talent is to make the most of it.
You’ll be surprised at the talents that turn up in your department when you create talent profiles. And you’ll also be amazed at the hidden talents you may find within yourself.
Creativity is important, so do some brainstorming in your department: Ideas, words, numbers – everything that comes out at the brainstorming session should be written on post-its, flipcharts and whiteboards. The content may be good, but will it be a visual success?!
Use visual thinking to place some highlights. With just a few strokes of the pen you can draw an expressive picture that complements a written word. This will make your ideas all the more convincing – because everybody knows that a picture speaks more than a thousand words…
We’re here to help!
Are you a bit rusty when it comes to creativity? Sometimes all it takes is a drop or two of oil to get your creative juices flowing. What challenges are you facing that we can help with? How can we use our creative potential for your benefit? We’re here to help – speak to our project manager, Marion Radszuweit.
heretonow GmbH | Köthener Straße 38 | 10963 Berlin | +49 30 325 999 71 42 | m.radszuweit@heretonow.de
