Comments on: Generating Disruptive Innovation

By: Wendy Waters

Wendy Waters — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:00:02 +0000

Good comments. Certainly picking the right activity given the audience can be crucial as you wouldn’t want to have to leave anyone out. Presumably the Whitewater rafting Kim described was a good fit for his team.

The “Day of Caring” with United Way, or a day volunteering for Habitat for Humanity are both good options too, as everyone can do something at these projects, typically. But one would need to follow it up with some good meetings or focus groups or a working dinner. I’ve done these projects with employers, and we had a blast, but I don’t think anything major along the lines of disruptive innovation happened as a result.

By: Zoe B

Zoe B — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:24:07 +0000

Our local United Way sponsors an annual Day of Caring, in which groups of people (from workplaces, congregations, sports teams, etc.) perform volunteer work for United Way client agencies. Typical activities include: painting, landscaping, cleaning, moving, filing, and so on. A workplace could organize its efforts to act as a day-long disruptive innovation – for example if an underling organizes the event and gets to tell the boss what to do.

By: Wil

Wil — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:00:49 +0000

I have been thinking about making changes to my business. and the way I have run my office for some time now. A disruptive activity that I would consider would have to have some meaning, not just be a challenging recreational occasion. I am thinking along the lines of a project that would do something to help a school, homelessness, or children, or somebody that really needs help. I think Alice Water’s school organic garden is brilliant project – imagine having people from a restaurant like Chez Panisse helping children grow food, it’s both disruptive for staff and educational for the youngsters.

By: Mike L

Mike L — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:21:43 +0000

The challenge is also to have the disruptive activity be independent of the office hierarchy. White-water-rafting is great, but golf would not be. It would embarrass the male 50-year-old CEO to score worse than the female 25-year-old. The CEO would probably make up an excuse and disappear.

Also, if the activity is white-water-rafting or such like, give everyone at least two weeks notice to adjust their medication, practice swimming, get sun-blocker and suitable clothing, etc.

By: David J. Miller

David J. Miller — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:04:13 +0000

I hate the expression ‘out of the box’ and try to avoid it, but the idea of taking the ‘talent’ out of the box (the office) for a disrupting activity makes sense.

The key appears also to be offering a challenging/interactive activity or environment versus a passive/consuming activity such as going to a bar/sports event/’nite time’ bowling etc.

This is important b/c it will level the hierarchy of the office, if the 25 year old project manager is more facile in the raft than the 50 year old CEO, the team will look to the project manager for guidance, leadership and solutions as they navigate the rapids.

Moreover, this investment in disruption can be done by firms/organizations of any size or budget. From highly organized whitewater rafting with a big corporation to a treasure hunt in a municipal park or large metro by a small insurance broker — there are creative options out there for all.