realignment of this blog storeroom

due to the change of job scope and the constant busying with work n family, i have not been able to keep to my original aim of “converging the blogosphere from a singaporean teacher’s perspective”. a realignment of this blog’s content is necessary. looking at the bulk of the content, and my treatment of this blog as a ‘storeroom’, i’ll call it ‘a singaporean teacher’s storeroom’ until i find a more appropriate name for it 😛

20 statements of innovation

replace ~ with “innovation”

  1. ~ requires a rationale
  2. to become real, ~ needs a vocabulary and conceptual framework
  3. ~ is intimately linked to other organisational agendas
  4. ~ requires an organisational system for its expression
  5. ~ and strategy must be closely linked
  6. ~ is an expression of organisational culture
  7. ~ efforts are made visible by appropriate communications
  8. ~ is connected to how you treat your people
  9. ~ can build on pre-existing processes
  10. ~ requires appropriate transformation processes
  11. ~ is enabled by pluralism
  12. ~ is the result of a vibrant ecosystem
  13. ideation instigates ~
  14. ~ thrives on design
  15. ~ needs a place of its own
  16. ~technology enables ~
  17. experience design motivates ~
  18. the practice of ~ involves a disciplined and pragmatic application of new tools
  19. leadership is a decisive factor
  20. ~ requires a comprehensive approach

— adapted from john kao’s innovation manifesto

Reasons an innovation drive might fail

  • failure to distinguish between “getting it” and “getting it done”
  • paying lip service
  • lack of ownership or responsibility
  • lack of relevant metrics
  • fear of failure/risk/ambiguity
  • success (you think you know what your’re doing)
  • perception of innovation as cost vs. investment
  • not being ambitious enough
  • ineffective or incomplete transformation process
  • lack of true support from the top
  • lack of true engagement from rank and file
  • lack of perceived urgency
  • failure to appreciate the time and resources required
  • bureaucracy
  • denial: “we like it the way we have it … let’s just wait and watch … I can understand this without experiencing it … it’s just a Silicon Valley thing, it doesn’t apply here … I’m going to retire soon, don’t have to worry about this stuff…”

— adapted from john kao’s innovation manifesto / perspectives