Harnessing Innovation

Most companies already have plenty of creativity and technology. What they don’t have is the managerial skill to convert that creativity and technology into earth-shattering innovation. So how do they harness innovation? The first step is to understand what they need—the managerial skills, abilities, and traits that enable digital innovation. We need to not only acknowledge digital innovators, but promote their role as creators of economic and social value. In this article, S. Somasegar, a former senior executive at Microsoft, and Michael Volpe, former chief marketing officer at HubSpot, discuss the ideal digital innovator’s profile. Key excerpts, arranged under six major themes, deal with what an industry expert looks for in a potential digital innovator: 1) a playful attitude toward technology; 2) agile experimentation (including the use of minimum viable products); 3) mastery of the digital domain; 4) technological innovativeness; 5) a strong online identity; and 6) reliance on an extensive social network for expertise and advice. Entrepreneurs have historically taken one of two approaches to defining IT: it’s either a necessary evil or the product itself. Today there is a third approach, one that will become the dominant path for most innovators and entrepreneurs, especially those building information products.

• innovation
• change management
• digital transformation
• digital innovator