4.4 Innovation

Innovation is more than simply having a good idea. Innovation is about turning new ideas and concepts into something that will create value. Value can be commercial, social or organisational.

Why do library and information services need to innovate? This isn't a rhetorical question! Is it because:

• Users want new things?
• Users want things to be accessed/delivered in different ways?
• Users numbers are dwindling?
• Some social groups never or seldom use the service?
• Services need to be delivered at lower cost?
• Competition from alternative information and book suppliers is increasing?

You could take out anything you think isn't true and add things that are specific to your own service.

Everyone today seems to accept that innovation is a good thing and that it is necessary for survival in an increasingly challenging environment. But what do we mean by innovation in the context of libraries and information services? What does it look like?

It is easier to spot innovation when it is RADICAL. Radical innovation could be described as a leap (often technical) that breaks with the past. It tends to involve high risk and some deep changes in the organisation, including staff skills and expertise.

INCREMENTAL innovations, smaller changes to the service offer or business processes and systems that deliver improvements, tend to get less attention or praise than radical innovations - yet they are the most common types of innovation and can, over time, create the conditions where more radical steps are possible.

Reflection

Before going further please think about and write down:

Three RADICAL innovations
And
Six INCREMENTAL innovations

You know about in the context of library and information services

You can use the Stepping Into Leadership Course Workbook to record your thoughts.

Innovation - key characteristics

Alan McSweeney’s presentation The I Word: Moving Innovation from Research and Development is a great summary of the important characteristics of innovation.

The following slides are an edited version of a presentation by Ben Rennie of 6.2|an innovation lab. There are 9 points and all of them matter.

Reflection

Thinking about your own organisation or service:

What innovations have you made that have led to improvements for your users?

What aspects of your service would benefit from more innovation?

What could you do to encourage innovation in your service/team?

You can use the Stepping Into Leadership Course Workbook to record your thoughts.

Continue the course with: 4.5 Innovation with others