Emergent Innovation: A New Strategic Paradigm

In perilous economic times, fresh ideas and innovation are the lifeblood of every corporation. Emergent innovation is a strategic innovation methodology. Emergent innovation does not impose new and foreign innovation techniques on company employees, but instead seeks out, recognizes and helps promote useful innovation methodologies already at work in the organization. To overcome historical corporate constraints to innovation and promote emergent innovation, leadership must intentionally clarify corporate ideals, draw ever closer to customers, seek and uncover existing invisible corporate innovators, share successful innovation methodologies with other employees and welcome productive internal friction. Progress is often quick, results are usually sustainable and emergent innovation may be broadly applied.