Management Innovations - Essay Example

JOURNAL OF ACTIVITIES The group activities focused on management innovation concepts. The activities included quote discussions. The activities included group discussions. The group learned several management innovation concepts. Day 5: The group scrutinized chapter of the required reference entitled The Miracle of the Third World. The group used the brainstorming style of discussion. Under the brainstorming process, everyone was free to give their inputs. The inputs consist of comments, suggestions, recommendations, and other criticisms on the topic. Brainstorming was an effective way of maximizing the inputs of each group member. The Linus Pauling quote “the best way to have good ideas is to have lots of ideas – and then throw away the bad ones” magnetized the attention of the group members. In addition, the group was mesmerized by another quote. The quote shows that everyone should never doubt that any group of truly committed members can instill significant and meaningful changes in our complex world. The group focused the wonders of the internet’s role in the complex world. The historical discussion of the internet showed that the borders among the different nations of the world were removed. The group accepted the fact that the mediocre person cannot live without accessing the internet. Initially seen as a ridiculous idea, the internet tinkering blossomed into its current metamorphosed necessity status, one of the greatest events of global history. Bettina Stamm (Stamm 1) insists that management innovation fuels success and profits, specifically product and process innovation. Creativity and implementation are the two necessary components of management innovation. Further, the group members focused on the topic How to wisely use my time? Consequently, the 11 step process was crafted. The process started with the first step, organize you. The process included other procedures like planning activities, avoiding distractions, being prepared for unexpected situations, and letting others help you. The other procedures included setting timers, learning from your mistakes and trying to follow a daily routine. In terms of results, the researcher visited a local sushi place. The sushi place only had a handful of clients. Literally the researcher saw only one customer in the place. The customer was taking his time enjoying his sushi meal. The customer only conversed when he ordered a drink and when he paid the check. The researcher opines that the customer regularly patronizes the sushi place. Next, the group watched an attention-grabbing video. The video was entitled Ten Ideas Worth Talking. After watching the video, the group had a lively discussion. The group studied how innovators normally think and act. On the other hand, other people are not able to successfully imitate the activities of the innovators. The group drew a layered circle. Each of the layers was filled with a group discussion question. The group discussion also ventured into catching the attention of the other individuals to accept what one group members perceives or professes. Day 6. The discussion focused on Jerry Hirschberg’s quote “Creativity is not an escape from disciplined thinking. It is an escape with disciplined thinking”. The group discussed the six success keys. The keys included simplicity (find the core, unexpectedness (get attention – surprise), credibility (get people to believe I your idea), emotional (get people to care about your idea), and stories getting people to act on your idea (simply called simulation). Further, the group members discussed productive thinking. The group differentiated productive thinking from creative thinking. The group delved on both divergence as well as convergence thinking topics. The group included a discussion on the difficulty of individuals to break old habits. The group stated that the all individuals should strive to be creative, a major attitude reversal. Change can significantly be successful if the change is initiated by the person seeking the change, not from being forcefully bothered or pushed by other individuals or groups. The group discussed the essence of creativity. Creativity included crafting new settings. Creativity includes optimizing available scarce resources to ensure viable innovation results. Creativity also includes establishing entities that instill the use of the scientific process of experimental research. Creativity crops up when the group searches for unexpected results. Furthermore, the group discussion included both mind issues. The issues included mental maps and models. The group pondered on the intricacies of how the brain functions. Consequently, the group also discussed how the mind’s function can be altered. The group discussed the possibilities that each person has some unique image assumptions and culture-based perceptions. The discussion leaned towards how each individual’s mental models influence how one sees and interprets a scene or situation. Next, the group focused on two educational videos. The first video included discussing the rationale why some of the best ideas are never implemented. The discussion looked deeper into the different stumbling blocks to the implementation of the best ideas. Consequently, the group saw another video. The video focuses on Tim Brown, Chief Operating Officer of IDEO Innovation Consultancy. The video included discussions on experimental research. The video included challenging creativity-based exercises. The exercises required each group member to literally maximize the group members’ management innovation theories. The exercises were both educational and entertaining, eliminating mundane laziness. Finally, the day’s group discussion ended with the professor discussing the intricacies of a website, eyewire.com. Day 8, week 3. The group discussion centered on the 1938 Steward Brand quote “We can see the past but not influence it. We can influence the future not see it”. In addition, the group also discussed the E.M. Forster quote “Speak before your think, creations”. The group started by performing some exercises. The exercises made the group members more relaxed and ready for the day’s management innovation activities. The group discussion veered towards what the future holds for each group member. The futuristic discussion includes transporting the group members to the distant future. The future trip includes an adventurous visit to a coffee shop in France. In the futuristic environment, the group members closed their eyes and imagined they were conversing with an older person. The researcher recalled the professor’s discussion. The discussion included what will transfer in the distant unpredictable future, a daydreaming activity. The purpose of the exercise is to persuade each group member to muster all their resources and abilities to achieve their future dreams, goals, or objectives in life. The futuristic activity included resolving current and future obstacles to the successful achievement of each group member’s dreams, goals, and objectives. Next, the group discussed the D.R.I.V.E chart and the Dan Pink Video. The chart included discussions on restrictions, investment, values, and essential outcomes topics. The group viewed another captivating video. The Dan Pink video focused on the beneficial topics of rewards and incentives as a necessary component of the management innovation process. Dan Pink is an author and journalist. Pink wrote speeches for both Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. After the video discussion, the group joined in the trigger exercise activities. The activities included fishing, painting, soccer, and plumbing. The group related the exercises to resolving common problems. The researcher chose one activity, managing time by managing emotions. During the nutrition exercise, the researcher noted that one must eat three square meals a day to stay fit and healthy. Being fit and healthy contributes to a successful and profitable management innovation activities. Day 9. The group discussed Peter Drucker’s quote “The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.” The group discussed asking the right questions to get the relevant and reliable facts needed for successful management innovation. Often individuals fear to ask the correct questions because they fear they may not get the expected answers, a discouraging situation. The group discussed that one must experience failures as part of maturing. The group discussions centered on the positive effects of rejection. The group discussions included seeking 10 possible resources to resolve each group member’s problems. Week 5. The group members discussed the Elbert Hubbard Quote “The greatest mistake in life is to continually fear you will make one.” The group discussed the chapter 11 topic. The topic veered towards finding solutions to management innovation situations. The group worked on the “Drive Tool Chart”. The chart activity includes finding solutions to a given management innovation problem. Consequently, the group worked on the P.O.W.E.R chart activities. The chart included answering questions. The questions included making decisions on what to do after graduation and whether to take up a post-graduate Masters course. The power words are positives, objections, what else? enhancements, and remedies. Based on the above research, the group activities focused on management innovation concepts. The quotes aided the innovation topics. The group discussion focused on several many innovation topics. Evidently, the group learned several beneficial management innovation concepts. Work Cited: Stamm, B. Managing Innovation, Design and Creativity. New York: J Wiley & Sons Press, 2008. Print. Read More