One root cause, according to Scott Anthony, is that too many companies use point solutions to address a systematic challenge: Let’s run an idea challenge! Have an ideation session! Form a growth group! Open a corporate venturing arm! Create incentives for innovation!

None of these is bad, but point solutions don’t solve system-level problems. Anthony suggests working on four systems — a growth blueprint, production systems, governance and controls, and leadership, talent, and culture. It isn’t easy to do all of that, but it is what is required to really make innovation work at scale. Leaders can’t just set the context and hope that innovation happens, he warns. Innovation is enough of an unnatural act in most companies that it requires the day-by-day attention of the company’s top leadership team or it simply won’t stick.

Read full article » blogs.hbr.org/anthony…

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