Rethinking Business Models:Creativity Inspired Innovation

Dr Peter KellySchool of Science, Aalto University

Innovation is the

act of introducingsomething new

Creativity is an ability to think up

and design new inventions, produce works of

art, or solve problems in new ways,or develop an idea based on an original, novel or

unconventional approach

Innovation Force Index 2010

Country (Aggregate Index Score)Sweden

441Denmark

438Norway

410Finland

311INDIVIDUAL: degree of job satisfaction & influence on job

29% 34% 31% 18%

ORGANIZATION: culture supports innovation, learning & adaptability

16% 12% 13% 11%

INITIATIVE: innovative intent, innovation competencies & idea production

35% 29% 20% 15%

MANAGEMENT: how well new ideas are received & handled

27% 27% 30% 25%

PROCESSES: level of internal cooperation, external involvement, tools

14% 19% 19% 15%

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CREATIVE & INNOVATIVE AT WORK

59% 49% 32% 26%

Source: The Rise of the Creative Masses (Innovation Inside)

To get to a more innovative place

we need to creatively explore

Contrasting Thinking Styles

Dominant Thinking Style?

Analytical Thinkers

• Show me the proof

• What do I tell the press?

• NDAWhy?

NO

Embracing Intuitive Thinking

Chief Creative Officer (publishing)Chief Experience Officer (banking & Starbucks)Chief Imagination Officer (Fast Company)Chief Exploration Officer (oil & gas and …)

Or Better Yet Design Thinking

Universities Have Algorithms

Companies Like Profitable Routines

13 week reporting cycles

The natural bias is towards

incremental innovation of

new & improved routines

Applevs

Nokia

Don’t discard routines

challenge them and

Creatively explore new ones

creativity is

contextinspired

Is Creativity Likely to Happen Here?

Or Here @ Stanford D School

Is Creativity Likely to Happen Here?

Or Here @ Ideo

Aalto Creative Hotbed: Design Factory

Welcome To Our Idea Studio

Plenty of PostIt Space

Creatively Practice Effectual Entrepreneurship

What Can We Do With Our Means?

Risk Little, Fail Cheap

Create Solutions With Partners

World’s First Jumbo Hostel

New Co-Creation Possibilities

Embrace Surprise

Inspiring Creativity in Companies

• CEO as Chief Exploration Officer• Free up exploration time• Get out of the routine arena (the office)• Outsiders bring fresh perspectives– Entrepreneurs as allies not antagonists– Work with students on multidisciplinary

challenged based projects (new products, new concepts)

Inspiring Creativity in Catalysts

• Encourage proponent lead due diligence• Support co-creation efforts that create

innovation between research, new venture and established business communities

• Failure as a success criteria• “Stuff we don’t know” compartment

Inspiring Creativity in HEIs

• Idea studios in addition to lecture theatres• Develop multidisciplinary applied initiatives

and problem or challenge focused programs• Encourage surprise (and sustained)

encounters between companies, catalysts, researchers, alumni and students

Creativity is the road less traveled but one we need to explore to get toa better and more innovative place

Thank you !

peter.kelly@aalto.fi