Responses

Lucas Discussion:

There are many different definitions for innovation and as I was going through this week’s readings and researching other sources, I came across a definition I was drawn to and I feel its applicable to higher education as well. Digital Intent defines innovation as, “Innovation is the process of creating value by applying novel solutions to meaningful problems” (Dwyer, n.d.). What separates innovation from just a good idea is the ability to facilitate that idea into a tangible item or service that creates a benefit for others. Leaders need to embrace innovation as it pertains to change, but data shows this doesn’t happen very often among corporate leaders. According to a study highlighted by the Harvard Business Review, only 15% of senior executives don’t delegate creative work to others (Dyer, Gregersen, & Christensen, 2009). Innovation really refers to the disruption of the status quo which encourages change inherently.

 

From the readings, I’d say two of the most impactful characteristics of innovative leaders are actively seeking new ideas and opportunities and surround themselves with a diverse group of people to hear different viewpoints/opinions and experiment innovations with. This lends itself to the successful adoption of change as those who are more involved in the change will likely be more accepting of it. Part of that is building toward a culture that prioritizes innovation. As for communication strategies, the Institute for Public Relations recommends providing communication tools, facilitating conversations about mistakes, and motivating those who want to be innovative (Formanchuk, 2020).

 

This week’s reading from the University of Washington’s faculty illustrates the affects internal and external factors have on conformity regarding change. One such example was Arnold Berger, Associate Professor, Science and Technology, UW Bothell and his integration of online learning tools for his students. He took an external factor being new technological capabilities that could foster remote-learning and how non-traditional students of the program often had difficulties getting to class after work during rush hour traffic, an internal factor (University of Washington, 2013). I think Berger used the capabilities of technology as some component of a solution to address the need for flexibility for the program’s students. I believe internal forces are better initiating change as they often evoke the need for it or it at least leads to the pursuit of finding ways to make improvements. It also incorporates motivation which can be encouraged by external forces, but ultimately is an internal decision. Leaders who can influence others and get them on-board with the change can facilitate a quicker adoption to it.

 

References:

 

Dwyer, J. (n.d.). What is innovation: why almost everyone defines it wrong. Retrieved from https://digintent.com/what-is-innovation/

 

Dyer, J., Gregersen, H. & Christensen, C. (2009, December). The Innovator’s DNA. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2009/12/the-innovators-dna

 

Formanchuk, A. (2020, January 6). SIX WAYS TO ENHANCE INNOVATION THROUGH INTERNAL COMMUNICATION. Retrieved from https://instituteforpr.org/six-ways-to-enhance-innovation-through-internal-communication/#:~:text=To%20enhance%20innovation%2C%20we%20have,generating%20communication%20with%20external%20stakeholders.

 

University of Washington. (2013, March). Innovators Among Us:

How UW Faculty are Enhancing Teaching with Technology. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20190713042938/https://www.washington.edu/provost/files/2013/02/edtrends_InnovatorsAmongUs.pdf

 

Rachel Discussion:

Hello,

Innovation is more than just an idea or creatively thinking about what needs to change. Innovation is was takes place during the creative idea all the way through to executing a well thought out change plan. In the workplace, just a good idea isn't going to make the cut when it comes to change. People have ideas about issues in the workplace all time but they don't go the extra distance to analyze the issue and solve how it can be fixed. That's where being innovative comes in. Thinking big and doing the extra work to make change happen is key to success in an field. 

The University of Washington's article “Innovators Among Us: How UW Faculty Are Enhancing Teaching With Technology” shows how the idea of reaching more students through technology with innovative ideas, planning, and execution successful.  The article talks about freeing up class time to focus on harder material rather than just going through the learning material in order. With more online learning materials that students could go through at their leisure it allowed students and professors to have more time to focus on material the students were questioning more. Giving students access to multiple learning platforms allowed students to focus more on what they needed help with instead of material they easily picked up on their own. Revision of how students were being taught and how they should now be taught in our changing world so students get the most out of their lesson plans was the idea, but how they executed that idea was a huge process that took innovative thinking. 

University of Washington. (2013, March). Innovators Among Us: How UW Faculty are Enhancing Teaching with Technology. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713042938/https://www.washington.edu/provost/files/2013/02/edtrends_InnovatorsAmongUs.pdf