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IBC:FosteringanInnovativeWorkplaceCreativeProblemSolvingInstituteConference
Adam’sMarkHotel,Buffalo,NYJune21‐25,2010
PresentersM.J.D’Elia([email protected])LearningandCurriculumSupportLibrarianUniversityofGuelphRobinBergart([email protected])UserExperienceLibrarianUniversityofGuelphObjectivesforthispresentation
1. Understandtheimportanceofinnovativepracticewithinlearningorganizations
2. Learnsimplestrategiestofostermoreinnovativethinkinginyourorganization
3. Recognizethevalueofplaytoproductivity4. Learnhowmakingthefamiliarunfamiliarcanleadtoinnovative
breakthroughs5. Transferourideasforstafftrainingincreativityandinnovationtoyour
particularorganizationorcontext
FreeAssociationGame(Instructions)
• Insmallgroups,answerthefollowingquestion:Howisalibrarylike_______?• Fillintheblankswithoneofthefollowingwords:Airport,submarine,gas
stationandgarage,spaorsalon,hotel,hospital,tattooparlour,orchestra,researchlaboratory,skiresort,farmers’market,amusementpark,hockeyarena,cargovan,policestation,farm
• In2minutes,brainstormasmanysimilaritiesbetweenlibrariesandtheseobjects/placesaspossible
FreeAssociationGame(Purpose)
• Simpleactivitytogetparticipantstopracticetheirlateralthinking–forcesparticipantstolookforconnectionsorfreeassociationsbetweenseeminglyunrelatedobjects
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• Shiftsthemoodandsignifiestotheparticipantsthattheyareinforsomethingdifferent(andthat’sokay)
• Canrevealamoreinterestingpictureoftheobjectsthatarebeingfreeassociated
• Highlightstheimportanceoflookingoutsideourindustry(libraries)forsolutionstotheproblem(toooftenwefocusonwhatotherlibrariesaredoingandwemissbroadertrendsinotherindustries)
• Sincetheparticipantsarenotlibrarians,thisactivityalsohighlights(inalight‐heartedmanner)thestereotypesthatexistaboutlibrariesandlibrarians.
UniversityofGuelph(http://www.uoguelph.ca/)
• Mid‐sizedteachingandresearchinstitution• Undergraduate,graduateandprofessionalprograms• Over22,000students
UniversityCulture
• Placewherethelonewolfthrives• Conservative,bureaucratic,competitive,hierarchical,• Focused(obsessedwith)thewrittenwordoverimagesortactile,kinesthetic,
etc.(allcharacteristicsanathematocreativity)andyetalsoplacesassociatedwithfreedomofthoughtandexpression,generatingideas,collaborationsinscience,etc.
• Tenureisthemainpursuit–butsuchsecurityactuallyleadstoalotofcomplacency
McLaughlinLibrary(http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/)
• Primarylibraryoncampus• Sciences,socialsciences,humanitiesandarts• Busyhuboncampus–11,000+visitorseachdayduringtheacademicyear• 120+staffmembers,approximately23librarians
LibraryCulture
• Notviewedasacuttingedgeprofessionoraparticularlyinnovativeplacetowork.
o TheInternethasbecomethego‐toplaceforinformation
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o Isconserving,maintaining,organizing,controllingroleoflibrariesincompatiblewithriskandinnovation?Wherecaninnovationhappeninalibrary?Intheheadsoftheusers?
• Byandlargewearen’taboutproducingnewproductsandservicesbutaboutfacilitatingotherpeople’swork,soinnovationlooksdifferentwherewework
• Whileweareaccountabletoourusers,wedon’thavethesamepressurestobecuttingedgeandtoinnovateasabusinessmightneedtosurvive
o Wehaveacaptiveaudienceandnorealcompetitiono Wealsohaveincrediblejobsecurity
Libraries,InnovationandthedevelopmentofIBC
• Budgetsaregettingtighter,soweneedamorestrategicwaytouseourresources
• Ifwe’regoingtodomorewithless,thenwe’regoingtoneedtobecomebetterinnovatorsandcreativeproblemsolvers.
• Fortunately,oneofourcorevaluesisinnovation• Givenourparticularcultural,weusedthelanguageofpedagogy.We
designedacurriculum,weused‘activelearning’,weusedreflectivepractice,wedelivereda‘course’whichwecalledInnovationBootCamp.
• Webroughtourstrengthsaslibrarians—wehelppeoplewiththeresearchprocessandarenotexpertsinanyonesubject.Weusethereferenceinterviewtoelicitfrompeoplewhattheyneedandwantandworktohelppeoplearticulatetheirinformationneedsandfacilitatetheirwork.
• Wefocusedonquestionsaroundprocess:Canwemakecreativitymoreofahabit?Canweforgeastrongteamwiththetrustittakestostimulatecreativity?
InnovationBootCamp
• Operateda12‐weeksocialexperimentcalledInnovationBootCamp• Adoptedamilitarymetaphor(includingcamouflage)because:
o Wewantedtobedisciplinedinourtraining(likemilitarybootcamp)o Inherenttensionbetweenthechaosthatoftencomeswithcreativity
andtheregimentedorderthatcomeswiththemilitary• Deliveredanopencalltothelibraryandrecruitedsixindividuals• Spent2hourseveryFridayafternoonforanentiresemestersomecreativity
experimentsandlearningtogethero Reflection(chancetoreflectonthepreviousweek’sactivitiesasa
group)o Mindstretch(warm‐upactivitydesignedtoloosenthemoodandget
thegroupthinking)o Mainchallenge(primarytaskforthesession–e.g.rapidprototyping)o Debrief(opportunitytodiscussthesolutionstothemainchallenge)o Reflectionhomework(questionsforpersonaljournaling)
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• UsedTomKelley’sbook,TheTenFacesofInnovation,tostructuretheprogram
o KelleyworksatIDEO(http://www.ideo.com/),afairlywell‐knowninternationaldesignconsultingfirm
o Dividesthetenfacesintothreecategories: Learningpersonas Organizingpersonas Buildingpersonas
o Presentsabroadperspectiveofthetypesofpersonasrequiredforinnovativethinking(enabledustoseewhatwe’regoodat,butalsowherewe’relacking)
o Thegoalofthebookisnottoidentifywithasingleface,itistobecomeawareofthefacesneededtogenerateandexecutegoodideas
o Attimesyoumayplaymultiplerolesonagiventeam,oryoumayplayoneroleononeteamandadifferentoneontheother
o Whileyoumayinherentlyleantowardone“face”,youcandevelopskillsandabilitiesintheotherfaces
The10FacesofInnovation:LearningPersonas
• Description:Informationgatherers• Purpose:Tohelptheorganizationavoidbecomingtoointernallyfocused• Responsibilities:
o Gathernewsourcesofinformationo Openlyquestionassumptionso Remainopentonewinsights(regardlessofthesource)
• Credo:EnemyofcomplacencyTheAnthropologist
• Developsadeepunderstandingofhowpeopleinteract• Observeshumanbehaviourwithproducts,servicesandspaces• Watchessubjectsintheirnaturalenvironment• Keyphrase:
o “fresheyes”–it’saboutseeingthingsforthefirsttimelikeatouristinaforeignplace
TheExperimenter
• Learnsbytrialanderror;takescalculatedrisks• Continuallyprototypingandproduct‐testingnewideas• Expecttofailoften,butfailingearlyleadstofasterandbettersolutions• Keyphrases:
o “experimentationasimplementation”o “thinkingbydoing”;“thinkingwithyourhands”
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TheCrossPollinator• Exploresotherindustriesandcultures• Translatesfindingsfromotherenvironmentsintothecurrentcontext• Effortsarefocusedexternally• Nurturescuriosity;exploresadjacencies• Keyphrases:
o “connectcultures”;“workthemetaphor”–everyobjecthasthecapacitytostandforsomethingelse
o “connectcultures”GadgetGame(Instructions)
• Distributeonerandomobjecttoeachpairorgroup• Comeupwithadozenalternativeusesforthisitem(i.e.notforthepurpose
forwhichitwasdesigned)• Havegroupssharesomeoftheirideas
GadgetGame(Purpose)
• Getspeoplethinkingdifferentlyaboutaverycommonobject• Participantsbegintoconsiderotherqualitiesoftheobject(e.g.colour,
weight,shape,etc.)• Getpeopletostrivefornovelideas• ConnectiontoIBC:wehadourrecruitshavetoseekoutideasfromother
people(whoweren’tintheprogram)tospreadsomeoftheenergyandinnovation“fever”tothebroaderorganization
The10FacesofInnovation:OrganizingPersonas
• Description:Ideasorters• Purpose:Tohelpgoodideasmoveforwardintheorganization• Responsibilities:
o Movepastorganizationalchallengestoaccomplishtaskso Allocateresourceseffectively
• Credo:SurvivalofthefittestTheHurdler
• Hasaknackforovercomingobstaclesandroadblocks• Intricateknowledgeoftheorganizationalprocessesandhierarchy• Politicallyawareandunafraidofbureaucraticprocess• Willingnesstobendtherulestoaccomplishtasks• Thrivesonconstraints–doesn’tliketohearthatsomething“can’tbedone”• Keyphrases:
o “seekforgivenessnotpermission”
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o “seethroughconstraints”TheCollaborator
• Bringseclecticpersonalitiesanddiverseindividualstogether• Encouragesandenablescooperationamongtheteammembers• Helpsgeneratemulti‐disciplinarysolutions• Co‐optstheDevil’sAdvocates• Getspeoplelearninganddoingtogether• Thrivesinthemessyspacesofpeopleworkingtogether(conflict,friction,
strife,delight,creativepotential)• Keyphrases:
o “Leadfromthemiddle”o “breakdownsilos”
TheDirector
• Gatherstalentedcrewandinspiresthemtoperform• Intimateknowledgeofteammembers’strengths• Abilitytoharnessthecreativityofothers• Allocatesresources,keepspeopleontasks,showcasestheteam• Drawspeopleout–motivatesandencourages• Lessdictation,morefacilitation• Putsothersonthecentrestage• Keyphrase:
o “showcasetheteam”
ImprovGame(Instructions)
• Dividetheaudienceintobiggergroups• Runimprovactivities
o Clapandpointgameo JumpinandBuild(Iamtheteabag.Iamtheteapot.IamtheBritish
lady.Theteapotstays.)
ImprovGame(Purpose)
• Keyprinciplesofimprovo accepttheoffer—supportyourteammateo listeno don’tsetsomeoneelseupforfailureo servethescene—it’snotaboutyoubeingfunnyorthestaro committothesceneo movementandplayfosterslearning,innovation,flexibility,
adaptability
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• Theoppositeofplayisnotwork;itisdepression.Whenplayandworkareintegratedithelpsusmakesenseofourworldandourselves;playhelpsusseethingsdifferently,makesuscuriousandalert.Playatworkisessential.
The10FacesofInnovation:BuildingPersonas
• Description:Ideaexecutors• Purpose:Toturngreatideasintorealprojects• Responsibilities:
o Applyinsightsfromlearningpersonaso Recognizesuccessesfromorganizingroles
• Credo:BuilditandtheywillcomeTheExperienceArchitect
• Designcompellingexperiences• Connectwithcustomersandusersatadeeperlevelthanmerefunctionality• Surprisesanddelightsinunforgettableexperiences• Authentic• Attentiontodetails• Keyphrase:
o “maketheordinaryextraordinary”TheSetDesigner
• Createastageonwhichmemberscandotheirbestwork• Considerthephysicalenvironmentasatool• Findhiddenperformanceimprovementsbyreshapingspace• Buildsspacesforcreativeplay• Providesthematerialstobecreative• Keyphrase:
o “shapethespaces”TheCaregiver
• Anticipatecustomerneedsandarereadytolookafterthem• Willingtomovebeyondsimpleservice• Demonstratesempathytowardtheplightofthecustomer• Goesfor“intimacynotscale”• Treatpeopleasindividualsnotasanaggregatedgroup• Providesvaluableexpertise• Makespeoplefeelgoodaboutthemselves• Keyphrases:
o “showmore,tellless”o “smile”
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TheStoryteller• Buildinternalmoralethroughstories• Reinforceorganizationalculturethroughfirsthandaccounts• Createexternalawarenessthroughstories(marketingangle)• Importanceofauthenticity• Useavarietyoftoolstocommunicate• Keyphrase:
o “collectcompellingnarratives”
MadLibsGame(Instructions)
• Insmallgroups(grandparentsandchildren),havethegrandparentreadoutpartsofspeechneededtocompletethestory
• Partsofspeecharesuppliedbythe“children”
MadLibsGame(Purpose)
• Usedthisactivitytoprovokeahumorousresponse–especiallywhenitisafamiliarcoredocument
• InIBCweusedthisactivitytomakeourveryfamiliarlibraryorientationtourlessfamiliar
ConcludingThoughts:BuildyourownBootcamp
• Withbuy‐infrommanagement,thiscanbedoneinexpensively(asidefromthecostofstafftime,wedidourentire12‐weekprogramforunder$500)
• Don’tneedtodoa12‐weekprogram–tryamorning,adaylongretreat,onceamonth,atthebeginningofyourstaffmeetings,etc.–figureoutwhatwillworkinyourcontextandgowiththat
FindYourMetaphor
• Buildyourownbootcamp.Weusedcurriculumdesign.Whatapproachormetaphorwouldworkwhereyouwork?
BuildonyourStrengths
• Whatwebringtothetableas‘insiders’andaslibrarians—wearetrainedtoaddresspeople‘wheretheyareat’andtobecreativeintailoringtotheirneeds,tokeepingthepossibilitiesopenandapplyingsolutionsfromwhereverinspirationmightcome
• Whatstrengthsdoyoubring?
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ChallengesandResistance
• Listentothechallengessoyoucanbetterunderstandtheissues,butdon’tgivein–bepersistent
• Usetheconcernsthatpeoplehavewithyourideatorefineyourideaorprogram
• Whatkindofresistancedoyoufaceinyourworkplace?
Assessment
• Runaseriesoffollow‐up“innovation”activities• Askyourselfwhatsuccesslookslike–Howwillyouknowyousucceeded?• Planassessmentmechanismsearly• Libraryhasestablishedafundforinnovationandaprocessbywhichpeople
cansubmitideas(andapplicantswillbeselectedbyemployeesnotmanagement)
Sharewhatyoulearn(includingfailures)
• Foranorganizationtotrulybenefityouneedtofindawaytosharewhatyou’velearnedabouttheprocess
• Sharingfailuresisjustasimportantassharingsuccesses(don’tsweepitundertherug)
• Findanappropriatewaytoreachyourorganization
InnovationBootCamp(StealTheseIdeas!)
• MoreinformationonInnovationBootCampcanbefoundatourblog:o http://innovationbootcamp.wordpress.com/
• Feelfreetoborrowandadapttheseideasforyourorganization!
