Posted on

Innovation in times of crisis…

“These are strange times. Also for me in my role as innovationmanager at Health Valley. In our mission there are words like connection, matchmaking, business support for entrepeneurs and care professionals. Normally we will do this in real life, but needless to say; everything is different nowadays. I guess it took me a week or two where things felt really strange. After which reality became quickly the new normal.

It took another week for everybody to get used to videoconferencing to make it seem like now we have never done differently before.  

Suddenly everything is different and we try desperately to give meaning to it all, this new reality. Digitalization, transformation are now concepts popping up in industries which for years seemed to have better excuses and reasons not to use technological possibilities, were unable to implement new products or ways of working. Adhering to the adagium; ‘it just works different at our place; this is not how we do things around here….’

And now it is possible. It is a must. A way of survival. And it is really a shame that it took such a profound crisis to have changes like video calling in healthcare now seemingly a new reality. Because I can not imagine that we are trying to close the lid on this box we have opened up. I take it that the phrase; “Videocall, unless… or maybe even ‘Digital, unless’ will be the new way of working. OR at least a reasonable alternative to the existing analogue defunct way of working we keep clinging onto today.  

And not only in care I see this phenomenon. Also in education, universities. It is possible and now it is on us to keep this momentum going. To remember that transformation, using new technologies for the better, workforms, innovation should not be dependent on the pressures of a crisis, a pandemic or some other shock to the system.

It is really true that the only constant is change. 

Better to embrace this knowledge and steer our own destiny then to be overwhelmed by the next destructive impact of a crisis. It is not a negative doom scenario but shows a sense of reality when we say; it is not a question of whether but of when a new disruptive wave will hit…

Now is the time to use these new experiences, not to let down and set course for a truly new paradigm shift. It is within reach now. “

#newnormal #transformation #buildingtransformationalcompanies #btc #strategytools

Posted on

Stranger Days…

Birthday and graduation in one. What a strange day this will be forever in memory. Exams cancelled. Therefore based on earlier results Evie passed her exam today. Best present ever of course. But that’s beside the point. How things can take on a different perspective very quickly.

Posted on

Working on a Sunday Afternoon…

I can recommend the Explorer book to anyone looking for a different point of view. 😉

Yesterday I was sitting at my desk, just doodling around. Typically time well spent to get some new insights. Re-read some old books. Rainy weather outside. Training done. What else is there to do on such a day. 😉

Working on a new to-do list. Have some reading to do. Why is it that this is always the first activity to fall of the list? I can maintain the work outs, the cycling. Watching the diet etc etc…(yeah really…)

But keeping up with the reading lists, the newsfeeds, the constant live ticker of flowing messages…that is a different challenge. As I am moving into some more consistent combinations of Design Thinking and Strategy I really will need to focus on spending my time well.

Part of the upcoming challenge for the next month(s) . Possible I can keep you posted on the progress and keep you up to speed on the new insights. This will particularly work on the combination of strategy tools and SDT.

I read a nice quote I totally agree with:

Innovation= fresh ideas+ Strategy + Change Management.

I have used this insight so many times. Because I totally experienced how innovation runs into the ground within an organization if the mindset and the processes around the innovative ideas are not embedded in the structural change management culture. Without one of these components you will have a hard time implementing anything I am afraid.

If you want to learn more on new tools to work on your strategy; keep this channel in sight as I am waiting on some new material from Norway to start working on these coming months.

#strategytools #innovation #strategydesign #workingonadream