Let us start with perceptions. Say the word “process”, and what comes to your mind? Is it an image of repeatability, predictability, norms, quality and standards, or an image of bureaucracy, rules, paperwork, documentation and so forth? Likewise, with the word “innovation”, what comes to mind? Is it an image of creativity, new ideas, experiments and breakthrough results, or of big proportions, disruptive change, constant creationism and maybe even confusion?
The topics of innovation and process have been studied extensively both in academia and through industry research and writing. I do not seek to emulate such studies through correlation or causal analysis of the two topics, activities that would require an expansive empirical engagement. Instead, I seek to invite you on a journey where we can explore and examine ways of framing mental models in these two domains. In doing so, I hope that we each come away with a wider perspective and deeper appreciation of these. If we can explore these at a level beyond perception, we could potentially harness innovation and process as a personal competency within project teams.
A lot of industry and research press on innovation addresses fundamental breakthroughs at the industry level, and not innovation at an individual level. By suggesting certain intervention techniques that project managers can