In a previous posting I commented on enablers for radical innovation. Dave Pollard picked up on the same BusinessWeek article and explored the concept of an Innovation Incubator a bit further. According to Dave, most innovation gurus agree that a separate organizational structure is required for an existing company to be successful with radical innovation. Armed with quotes from Clay Christensen, the reasons are twofold: incubators have different organizational needs, and separation minimizes the distraction on the existing business.

The United States Postal Service took a twist on the separate-business-unit approach that also falls in line with many gurus' suggestions. They outsourced an innovation incubator initiative "The purpose of the Mailing Industry Task Force (MITF) Innovation Incubator Initiative (I3) is to:

• Reach out beyond the mailing industry to other successful and innovative companies to identify potential synergies leading to new initiatives that will grow revenue, improve the use and effectiveness of mail, and help shape the future of mail, such that the entire mailing industry and its customers benefit.
• Execute a process by which new innovations can be identified, incubated, and implemented. "

6:31:37 PM    
comment []  trackback []