transformation

Innovation plays a key role in government transformations at all levels. Over the past several years, governments have increasingly established chief technology officers, chief innovation officers, chief data officers, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and simi­lar roles to promote new approaches to innovation.

These are important and age-old questions.

not an impediment.

Business writers Jon Katzenbach, Ilona Steffen, and Caroline Kronley wrote an insightful article in the July-August issue of Harvard Business Review summing up their observations of how leaders of large companies, such as 150-year-old Aetna Insurance, turned around a failing organization by reshaping the culture.  They say that too often leaders see culture initiatives as icing on the cake.  But it should be seen as “an accelerator and an energizer,” not a distraction.

NOTE: Today I've invited a colleague, John Bordeaux, to be a guest blogger.  Hope you enjoy his insights as much as I do!

Recently, President Obama spoke at the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW).  “We are at a moment in history where technology, globalization, and our economy is changing so fast,” he said. “Those changes offer us enormous opportunities but also are very disruptive and unsettling. They empower individuals to do things that they could have never dreamed of before, but they also empower folks who are very dangerous to spread dangerous messages.” Then he gave his pitch.  “So the reason I’m here really is to recruit all of you.”  Why is disruptive innovation on the president’s agenda?

That insight led to the creation of both Hammer Awards and Reinvention Labs as ways to both convey reinvention principles and engage people in their day-to-day workplace.