Innovation and Organization Can Go Together in the Modern Corporation

Many folks in business think that innovation is stifled by organization and that simply is not so. Too much status quo and organization simply for the sake or organizing could slow innovation, but too much of anything is not good for anyone, anyway.The other day, I was filling up some boxes of books from my personal library to donate and I noticed two books that caught my eye. I pulled them out of the pile and sat down for an hour with each and considered the implications of how these books should be read by both sides of the debate between structured organizations and loosely run innovative companies. Rather than one or the other, both these authors from their own perfective consider a balance between the two.So, perhaps it is not either or, but a little of both, as necessary. So, let us discuss these two books briefly and consider the merging of minds in the modern organization to get the best results in innovation and profit:"The Organized Executive - New Ways to Manage Ti
me, Paper, and People" by Stephanie Winston - 1983. Many of the most innovative, best and/or brightest are also the most disorganized, but this does not mean they cannot organize or gain efficiencies in doing so, as there are ways that are carefully described in this book to do just that.First, she suggests doing an organizing audit and reprogramming to fit your needs, this is necessary because you do not wish to change the way you do things that are currently working for you, more doing it better your way. The first order of business is the paperwork flow or mess, depending on how you see it, and the art of filing - today all this is done on computer, but the theory is the same.Next, the book suggest ways to combat time wasting methods and the time wasters that create them. There are chapters on project management workflow, managing staff, working with secretaries and business tools of the trade."If it ain't broke - BREAK IT! - and other unconventional wisdom for a changing
business world" by Rober K Kriegel and Louse Patler - 1991. This book sold 2 million copies and was highly touted in it's time. He talks about Sacred Cows, Innovation, and why failure is a good place to start - Why companies must continually change incrementally, sometimes drastically, rather than running redline and thinking they will get exponential gains each quarter.He talks about why playing it safe is dangerous in a competitive world and why it is important to take risks and not chances. Additionally he suggests that you need to plan to change your plans, that is what planning, real planning is all about.Now then can you begin to see how a happy medium is drawn and when and why organization is important to innovation and more importantly why innovation must be an integral part of your organization?

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