What's killing innovation at most companies?

What's killing innovation at most companies?

Last week, a group of corporate innovators gathered in hot, summery Zürich to discuss something cold and scary : Why do most innovation initiatives fail?

Stefan F. Dieffenbacher shared something that stopped us all in our tracks.

Here's the thing: We talk about "innovation," "digital transformation," and "continuous improvement" like they're interchangeable (guilty ☝️)

They're not.

Innovation isn't making your existing business 10% better. It's about creating something radically new-with triple-digit growth potential.

We dicussed  exactly where companies go wrong:

They apply the thinking needed to improve what exists when the want to create radically new business. Like you want to innovate but have only improvement tools.

↳ Improvement demands efficiency, low risk, error prevention 

↳ Innovation requires risk-taking, speed, experimentation

When you mix these rules, you get innovation theater-not innovation.

So what then? Give radical ideas their own space. Different metrics. Different governance. Completely separate from your core business.

This isn't about choosing between stability and innovation. It's about building a dual system where your core business hums along efficiently while bold bets shape tomorrow's growth.

Are you improving or innovating?

Dr. Gitanjali Ponnappa Andreea Stanescu Magalie Heraud Anna Gumenna 

#change  #innovation #transformation #improvement  #leadership

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