Innovations no longer come out of a single business or business unit in a single-line.

Innovation has a new and still emerging topology (which can be observed by the existence of this Squidoo lens).

Innovation comes from a network of agents, exchanging value, developing accumulated bits of knowledge into mash-up products. According to some, "there is in fact no innovation, just diffusion" (Cowan and Jonard, p. 19, 1999).

While I don't agree with this conclusion, I do agree that a particular problem you are having might be solved by an agent connected several degrees away from you.

This begs the question on how this diffusion can be leveraged to achieve local innovation?

The first key to answering this question, corresponds (strangely enough) to the necessity of data labeling. In other words, there has to be a way for you to decide at what level of confidentiality your work is at.

This is important, because when one creates a problem definition and floats it into the network of agents, one has to make sure that important intellectual property is not leaked (Sutton, 2007).

Obviously, the second step is creating a problem definition, and the final step is sending it out to your first degree agents.

The key takeaway from this discussion is that one has to be aware of innovation networks, and one has to have a plan to expand and leverage the network.

References:
Cowan, R, Joward, N. (1999). Network Structure and the Diffusion of Knowledge. (Electronic Version).http://edocs.ub.unimaas.nl/loader/file.asp?id=128

Sutton, R. (2007). Stimulating Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace. Stanford University. Stanford Technology Ventures Program Lectures. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Business/Entrepreneurship/Stanford-Technology-Ventures-Program-Lectures/23916#3

TRIZ will break you out of "idea block" and get you moving towards a solution.

Have you ever had one of those meetings where everyone sits around and brainstorms, but the ideas just aren't catching?

Or maybe too few ideas were created, so there was not a lot of flexibility in determining alternative approaches.

TRIZ can really help with this.

According to The TRIZ Journal website, "TRIZ is a problem solving method based on logic and data, not intuition, which accelerates the project team's ability to solve these problems creatively."

Don't ask me what the acronym is for, because its something in Russian...

In any case, its one approach to creativity and problem solving.

For an example tool to play with, check out this site.

Mind maps are an alternative way of generating and organizing ideas.

In order to write this article, I used a mind map to organize my thoughts, generating the list of topics I want to cover, such as:
1. Techniques of mind mapping
2. Mind mapping software
3. Influential people in the mind mapping world
4. Case studies of mind mapping in action
5. Mind mapping resources and tutorials

The mind map for this article took about 10 minutes to make, yet provides great coverage of the major topics of mind mapping.

Mind mapping can be done with pen-and-paper, or with software.

Mind mapping does not have many rules; the goal of mind mapping is to engage as many of the senses in the learning or ideation process as possible.

Tony Buzan, the inventor of mind mapping, suggests the following 10 guidelines when making a pen-and-paper mind map:
* Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors.
* Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your Mind Map.
* Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.
* Each word/image must be alone and sitting on its own line.
* The lines must be connected, starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the centre.
* Make the lines the same length as the word/image.
Use colors - your own code - throughout the Mind Map.
* Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.
Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.
* Keep the Mind Map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace your branches.

Buzan, T. (1991). The Mind Map Book. New York: Penguin. Chapter "Mind Mapping Guidelines"

Another book by Tony Buzan, Use Both Sides of Your Brain, presents slightly different guidelines, but provides guidance on using the techniques for learning, brainstorming and meeting preparation (Plume/Penguin printing, 1991).

Mind mapping, of course, has an important role as an innovation tool. In my opinion, it is one of the fastest ways to generate possibilities and separate the "must haves" from the "nice to haves".

Consequently, as the popularity of mind mapping has grown, so has the number of available software programs, some of which are free(or open source) and some of which are commercial.

I have elected to highlight only three here:
Freemind (GNU License)

MindJet Mindmanager Pro/Lite (Commercial)

iMindmap (Commercial)

Freemind is in the list because it is a robustly featured "free" alternative.

Mindjet is featured because it is probably the market leader for software mind mapping tools.

iMindmap is a new comer, but is promoted as Buzan's own brand.

Also coming up on the radar screen is http://www.mindomo.com/, a web-based tool preferred by some in a new class of extremely mobile entrepreneurs.

Personally, I learn best by looking at examples, so one way to learn mind mapping is to study other people's mind maps. Fortunately, there are several directories containing hundreds of examples.

Here are some directories to get you started:
http://www.topicscape.com/mindmaps/


http://mappio.com/


There is plent of material about mind mapping, but I believe it is a fruitful technique that has gotten me out of "writer's block" and "analysis paralysis" on many occasions.

The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) has a certification available for both members and non-members, called the New Product Development Professional(NPDP)certification.

The basic prerequisites to take the exam for the NPDP are a 2 years of product development work with a B.S. or 5 years for high school diploma holders.

The exam fee is $450 for non members, and $250 for members.

More information about the exam can be found at http://www.pdma.org/certification/

Tunnel vision is a problem when creating new products, or improving old ones.

Brainstorming with a group can be solution, but even groups can get stuck in a rut. It is difficult to prevent the filtering of ideas, or locking in too early on a particular approach.

One solution is to use a tool such as Roger von Oech's Innovative Whack Pack.

The Innovative Whack Pack is deck of 60 cards, each with a possible creativity strategy.

On one side of each card is an aphorism from Heraclitus, the ancient Greek, pre-Socratic philosopher, while on the other side is a more in depth explanation of a technique.

Each aphorism from Heraclitus has two cards, so it is even difficult to get stuck on a single one of his ideas.

The most important aspect of the cards is that even a "stupid" or impractical idea can stimulate a chain of thought that can lead to radical innovation.