Do you have to be crazy to be disruptive?

Not long after Steve Jobs returned to Apple, the iconic “The Crazy Ones” commercial aired as part of the larger Think Different campaign. This is a variation of that commercial that never aired, with Steve Jobs himself narrating.

 Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

But, do you have to be crazy to be disruptive?  Can disruption be systematic and planned, strategized and organized?  Are the elements of disruptive innovation well enough known to be written down and followed, like a recipe for an omelet?

Where is the middle ground between planned innovation and crazy innovation that can lead to disruptive innovation at a frequency greater than chance?  Does disruptive innovation require the type of person described by Steve Jobs in the above quote, or can a person with the ability to understand and define technology trends have the insight that recognizes when some of those trends, when integrated, provides an opportunity to do something no one has done before and create a disruptive innovation?

I would like to think the latter is true and not everyone who creates disruptive innovations has to be crazy.  What do you think?

What YOU can do to be disruptive

No, I don't mean be disruptive in behavior, but in creating disruptive innovation in your work environment.  Mike Brown blogs about taking the NO out of inNOvation. He posits that there are ten things that block innovation irrespective of business culture.  In each of these areas he suggests change management steps and actions that an individual can take to mitigate those hindrances.  Many of those steps reference further details in past blogs he has written that address those issues.

As he says, not all ten challenges to innovation are present in any business, but just a few of them are effective in reducing innovation.  Here are the ten challenges he lists:

1. NO Knack for Disruptive Innovation 
2. NO Direction 
3. NO Rocking the Boat 
4. NO Talent Pool
5.There’s NO Tomorrow 
6. NO Resources 
7. NO Motivation to Innovate 
8. NO Process 
9. NO Implementation Success 
10. NO Measures

Disruptive innovation can be disruptive to an organizational culture and many businesses do not handle disruption well, putting in place processes and procedures to minimize disruption.  Many perceive disruptive innovation as a threat to their position and authority and actively work to minimize disruption. 

But, every organization needs someone to work against these forces until it is recognized that disruptive innovation is necessary for survival in today's dynamic environment.

Tell me what you do to encourage innovation in your environment. 

Disruptive Process Improvement and Innovation

So, in my last blog I ask the question: Can process improvement be disruptive? I have found several blogs and articles that suggest a positive answer. Craig Reid suggests innovation is the forgotten man of process improvement. By adopting systematic process improvement methods and starting from a clean sheet of paper one can create innovative processes, products, and services. Ben Nneji wrote

" Everett Rogers, in his book, "Diffusion of Innovations," defines innovation as "an idea, practice or object that is perceived as new by an individual" or whoever else would use, consume or adopt the innovation. While process improvement focuses on improving an existing idea, practice or object, innovation focuses on "newness." But they both focus on bringing desirable change."

 To implement both process improvement and innovation you must be disruptive and grow a culture of disruption.  Process improvement helps reduce inefficiencies (Lean), reduce defects (Six Sigma) and ensures that you do the right thing - Customer Experience Management (CEM).  Innovation helps you look beyond your current customer base and technology focus to be award of what is happening around you.