Most managers are good at asking questions, but not as good at specifying what would constitute a feasible answer to those questions. They run tests and learn from the results, but rarely do the results promote ongoing dialogue and organizational change.
How Managers Can Build a Culture of Experimentation
Innovation is often more art than science.
February 15, 2022
Summary.
Companies tend to allocate testing time and money to big initiatives while ignoring small ideas that, in the aggregate, can have a bigger impact with less risk. The hardest challenges in testing are internal processes, especially the need to work collaboratively to define a problem. Most managers are good at asking questions, but not as good (or, for various reasons, reluctant) at specifying what would constitute a feasible answer to those questions.
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New!
HBR Learning
Innovation Implementation Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation Implementation. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Help your team hatch and harness the best new ideas.