we’ve all had those experiences on projects at work or school or in the
projects at work or school or in the
projects at work or school or in the community or we’ve come together with
community or we’ve come together with
community or we’ve come together with others to do something new something
others to do something new something
others to do something new something different something innovative
different something innovative
different something innovative sometimes those experiences can be
sometimes those experiences can be
sometimes those experiences can be exhilarating we’ve come together as a
exhilarating we’ve come together as a
exhilarating we’ve come together as a group we’re excited and energetic we’re
group we’re excited and energetic we’re
group we’re excited and energetic we’re proud of what we develop and we leave
proud of what we develop and we leave
proud of what we develop and we leave wishing we could work like this more
wishing we could work like this more
wishing we could work like this more often
often
often other times those experiences can be
other times those experiences can be
other times those experiences can be soul-crushing we’re disappointed in the
soul-crushing we’re disappointed in the
soul-crushing we’re disappointed in the results the team doesn’t communicate
results the team doesn’t communicate
results the team doesn’t communicate there’s frustration conflict and we
there’s frustration conflict and we
there’s frustration conflict and we leave with thinking that it’s a waste of
leave with thinking that it’s a waste of
leave with thinking that it’s a waste of time and resources what makes these so
time and resources what makes these so
time and resources what makes these so different why is one so positive while
different why is one so positive while
different why is one so positive while the other can be so negative I think it
the other can be so negative I think it
the other can be so negative I think it has to do with the building blocks of
has to do with the building blocks of
has to do with the building blocks of innovation and that’s what I’m going to
innovation and that’s what I’m going to
innovation and that’s what I’m going to talk with you about today what are these
talk with you about today what are these
talk with you about today what are these building blocks process innovation
building blocks process innovation
building blocks process innovation involves a deliberate process while that
involves a deliberate process while that
involves a deliberate process while that may seem serendipitous there’s almost
may seem serendipitous there’s almost
may seem serendipitous there’s almost always an underlying approach by which
always an underlying approach by which
always an underlying approach by which ideas are shared and integrated and
ideas are shared and integrated and
ideas are shared and integrated and improved upon that may be as simple as
improved upon that may be as simple as
improved upon that may be as simple as an agenda for a meeting or it may be a
an agenda for a meeting or it may be a
an agenda for a meeting or it may be a very complicated series of steps to
very complicated series of steps to
very complicated series of steps to achieve a very specific outcome process
achieve a very specific outcome process
achieve a very specific outcome process is important to innovation people
is important to innovation people
is important to innovation people particularly teams of people are
particularly teams of people are
particularly teams of people are important to innovation people that have
important to innovation people that have
important to innovation people that have different backgrounds different
different backgrounds different
different backgrounds different experiences different ways of looking at
experiences different ways of looking at
experiences different ways of looking at the world people that come together to
the world people that come together to
the world people that come together to leverage their strengths and build a new
leverage their strengths and build a new
leverage their strengths and build a new collective vision that’s greater than
collective vision that’s greater than
collective vision that’s greater than the sum of each of them as individuals
the sum of each of them as individuals
the sum of each of them as individuals when you bring new people together that
when you bring new people together that
when you bring new people together that don’t know each other that speak
don’t know each other that speak
don’t know each other that speak different languages or use the same
different languages or use the same
different languages or use the same words in different ways that means that
words in different ways that means that
words in different ways that means that you need a process to build trust and to
you need a process to build trust and to
you need a process to build trust and to foster communication so people and
foster communication so people and
foster communication so people and process are important to innovation
process are important to innovation
process are important to innovation place
place
place innovation is nurtured in a place where
innovation is nurtured in a place where
innovation is nurtured in a place where you have the space and tools to be
you have the space and tools to be
you have the space and tools to be creative I think of it as a playground
creative I think of it as a playground
creative I think of it as a playground where ideas can play and interact evolve
where ideas can play and interact evolve
where ideas can play and interact evolve and build this is both a physical
and build this is both a physical
and build this is both a physical playground or you need tools sticky
playground or you need tools sticky
playground or you need tools sticky notes or markers snacks and coffee but
notes or markers snacks and coffee but
notes or markers snacks and coffee but it’s also a mental playground a place
it’s also a mental playground a place
it’s also a mental playground a place where you can make the other areas of
where you can make the other areas of
where you can make the other areas of your life go away where you can focus
your life go away where you can focus
your life go away where you can focus and dream and be inspired you need a
and dream and be inspired you need a
and dream and be inspired you need a place that’s different than where you
place that’s different than where you
place that’s different than where you typically operate a place where you can
typically operate a place where you can
typically operate a place where you can come together with people and have a
come together with people and have a
come together with people and have a process around innovation products
process around innovation products
process around innovation products innovation develops new products and
innovation develops new products and
innovation develops new products and when I say products I mean that in the
when I say products I mean that in the
when I say products I mean that in the very broadest sense a product may be
very broadest sense a product may be
very broadest sense a product may be something physical a prototype or
something physical a prototype or
something physical a prototype or presentation or a paper but it can also
presentation or a paper but it can also
presentation or a paper but it can also be something much less tangible an idea
be something much less tangible an idea
be something much less tangible an idea a strategy a relationship or a feeling
a strategy a relationship or a feeling
a strategy a relationship or a feeling innovation products are the result of
innovation products are the result of
innovation products are the result of innovation and are an outcome of the
innovation and are an outcome of the
innovation and are an outcome of the people the processes and place that you
people the processes and place that you
people the processes and place that you put together perspectives innovation
put together perspectives innovation
put together perspectives innovation enables new perspectives innovation
enables new perspectives innovation
enables new perspectives innovation should change people innovation is about
should change people innovation is about
should change people innovation is about sharing ideas and what ideas are shared
sharing ideas and what ideas are shared
sharing ideas and what ideas are shared there implicitly received and when you
there implicitly received and when you
there implicitly received and when you receive something you are forever
receive something you are forever
receive something you are forever changed sometimes in ways that are
changed sometimes in ways that are
changed sometimes in ways that are imperceptible but sometimes in ways that
imperceptible but sometimes in ways that
imperceptible but sometimes in ways that are profound perspectives like products
are profound perspectives like products
are profound perspectives like products are outcomes of innovation they result
are outcomes of innovation they result
are outcomes of innovation they result from the people the places and the
from the people the places and the
from the people the places and the processes that were used to get there
processes that were used to get there
processes that were used to get there and finally progress innovation
and finally progress innovation
and finally progress innovation accelerates progress
accelerates progress
accelerates progress it makes things better cheaper faster
it makes things better cheaper faster
it makes things better cheaper faster but it’s important to understand what is
but it’s important to understand what is
but it’s important to understand what is it you’re trying to achieve
it you’re trying to achieve
it you’re trying to achieve how will you know that you’ve been
how will you know that you’ve been
how will you know that you’ve been successful what are the measures that by
successful what are the measures that by
successful what are the measures that by which you can demonstrate improvement
which you can demonstrate improvement
which you can demonstrate improvement progress perspectives products people
progress perspectives products people
progress perspectives products people places and process these are the
places and process these are the
places and process these are the building blocks of innovation it’s not
building blocks of innovation it’s not
building blocks of innovation it’s not about one of these items it’s about how
about one of these items it’s about how
about one of these items it’s about how they work in supporting each other and
they work in supporting each other and
they work in supporting each other and the way that they are supported by each
the way that they are supported by each
the way that they are supported by each other going forward they form a greater
other going forward they form a greater
other going forward they form a greater whole like facets that come together to
whole like facets that come together to
whole like facets that come together to form a cube an innovation cube
form a cube an innovation cube
form a cube an innovation cube innovation is about a deliberate process
innovation is about a deliberate process
innovation is about a deliberate process to bring together people from different
to bring together people from different
to bring together people from different backgrounds and experiences in a place
backgrounds and experiences in a place
backgrounds and experiences in a place where they have the tools and space to
where they have the tools and space to
where they have the tools and space to be creative when you do that you can
be creative when you do that you can
be creative when you do that you can enable new products enable new
enable new products enable new
enable new products enable new perspectives and you can accelerate
perspectives and you can accelerate
perspectives and you can accelerate progress too often when we try to
progress too often when we try to
progress too often when we try to innovate we don’t consider all of these
innovate we don’t consider all of these
innovate we don’t consider all of these elements and the delicate balance and
elements and the delicate balance and
elements and the delicate balance and connections between them take for
connections between them take for
connections between them take for example an organization that wants to
example an organization that wants to
example an organization that wants to move in a new and different direction
move in a new and different direction
move in a new and different direction all too often they go about doing it by
all too often they go about doing it by
all too often they go about doing it by taking their usual a performer’s
taking their usual a performer’s
taking their usual a performer’s bringing them together in the usual
bringing them together in the usual
bringing them together in the usual conference room where they always meet
conference room where they always meet
conference room where they always meet and beginning by asking the usual
and beginning by asking the usual
and beginning by asking the usual questions is it any wonder that such a
questions is it any wonder that such a
questions is it any wonder that such a situation rarely results in a new
situation rarely results in a new
situation rarely results in a new product or perspective or progress if
product or perspective or progress if
product or perspective or progress if you want something different with your
you want something different with your
you want something different with your elements you have to put them together
elements you have to put them together
elements you have to put them together in a different way you have to change
in a different way you have to change
in a different way you have to change things up add new people to the team
things up add new people to the team
things up add new people to the team meet in a different location change your
meet in a different location change your
meet in a different location change your process in your agenda the way you
process in your agenda the way you
process in your agenda the way you approach things here’s another example
approach things here’s another example
approach things here’s another example we have a stove-piped organization that
we have a stove-piped organization that
we have a stove-piped organization that wants to facilitate communication
wants to facilitate communication
wants to facilitate communication between two separate teams and entities
between two separate teams and entities
between two separate teams and entities they might do that by taking groups
they might do that by taking groups
they might do that by taking groups together and bringing together in a
together and bringing together in a
together and bringing together in a conference room over lunch perhaps how
conference room over lunch perhaps how
conference room over lunch perhaps how often in that conference room
often in that conference room
often in that conference room instead of having conversations people
instead of having conversations people
instead of having conversations people sit through an hour of PowerPoint
sit through an hour of PowerPoint
sit through an hour of PowerPoint at which point they get up and they go
at which point they get up and they go
at which point they get up and they go back to their lives the product we
back to their lives the product we
back to their lives the product we wanted to get was relationships and
wanted to get was relationships and
wanted to get was relationships and communication we may have gotten
communication we may have gotten
communication we may have gotten information exchanged but we had the
information exchanged but we had the
information exchanged but we had the wrong process to achieve the outcome
wrong process to achieve the outcome
wrong process to achieve the outcome that we wanted so when we think about
that we wanted so when we think about
that we wanted so when we think about innovation we have to think of how all
innovation we have to think of how all
innovation we have to think of how all of these elements work together when we
of these elements work together when we
of these elements work together when we don’t think about them in concert and
don’t think about them in concert and
don’t think about them in concert and imbalance with one another our cubes can
imbalance with one another our cubes can
imbalance with one another our cubes can become distorted they no longer work
become distorted they no longer work
become distorted they no longer work you can’t build them they’re not
you can’t build them they’re not
you can’t build them they’re not foundational so what does a balanced
foundational so what does a balanced
foundational so what does a balanced cube actually look like well I’ll give
cube actually look like well I’ll give
cube actually look like well I’ll give you an example from my world and my
you an example from my world and my
you an example from my world and my experiences I work at Pacific Northwest
experiences I work at Pacific Northwest
experiences I work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with over 4,000
National Laboratory with over 4,000
National Laboratory with over 4,000 colleagues who bring our technical and
colleagues who bring our technical and
colleagues who bring our technical and scientific expertise to bear on some of
scientific expertise to bear on some of
scientific expertise to bear on some of the nation’s most challenging problems
the nation’s most challenging problems
the nation’s most challenging problems in energy environment and security we’re
in energy environment and security we’re
in energy environment and security we’re a pretty innovative organization and
a pretty innovative organization and
a pretty innovative organization and we’ve done some amazing things and had
we’ve done some amazing things and had
we’ve done some amazing things and had impact at the national level but we are
impact at the national level but we are
impact at the national level but we are an organization of humans and humans are
an organization of humans and humans are
an organization of humans and humans are creatures of habit we to fall in our
creatures of habit we to fall in our
creatures of habit we to fall in our comfort zones finding ourselves meeting
comfort zones finding ourselves meeting
comfort zones finding ourselves meeting with the same people thinking about
with the same people thinking about
with the same people thinking about problems in the same way getting in our
problems in the same way getting in our
problems in the same way getting in our comfort zones we’ve realized is hard to
comfort zones we’ve realized is hard to
comfort zones we’ve realized is hard to break out of it takes resources and time
break out of it takes resources and time
break out of it takes resources and time and energy to do something different and
and energy to do something different and
and energy to do something different and so we’ve been experimenting with
so we’ve been experimenting with
so we’ve been experimenting with different ways to create that energy of
different ways to create that energy of
different ways to create that energy of creativity and collaboration and foster
creativity and collaboration and foster
creativity and collaboration and foster a culture of innovation one example is a
a culture of innovation one example is a
a culture of innovation one example is a program that I led last year called Q
program that I led last year called Q
program that I led last year called Q camp Q camp was designed to bring
camp Q camp was designed to bring
camp Q camp was designed to bring together people from across our
together people from across our
together people from across our organization to work in ways that they
organization to work in ways that they
organization to work in ways that they had not done before to leverage our
had not done before to leverage our
had not done before to leverage our individual capabilities and working
individual capabilities and working
individual capabilities and working across them in a way that we could
across them in a way that we could
across them in a way that we could develop new products new ideas and new
develop new products new ideas and new
develop new products new ideas and new perspectives but
perspectives but
perspectives but between them so we started with the
between them so we started with the
between them so we started with the people we I went through a process to
people we I went through a process to
people we I went through a process to select and identify 17 staff from across
select and identify 17 staff from across
select and identify 17 staff from across our organization we had nuclear
our organization we had nuclear
our organization we had nuclear engineers and physicists data scientists
engineers and physicists data scientists
engineers and physicists data scientists graphic design artists even a
graphic design artists even a
graphic design artists even a veterinarian we brought them together so
veterinarian we brought them together so
veterinarian we brought them together so that they could think about new problems
that they could think about new problems
that they could think about new problems in new and different ways because they
in new and different ways because they
in new and different ways because they didn’t know each other we needed a
didn’t know each other we needed a
didn’t know each other we needed a deliberate process to foster
deliberate process to foster
deliberate process to foster communication and Trust to give them
communication and Trust to give them
communication and Trust to give them skills that they could actually work
skills that they could actually work
skills that they could actually work with going forward this process involved
with going forward this process involved
with going forward this process involved a meeting every afternoon for a number
a meeting every afternoon for a number
a meeting every afternoon for a number of weeks in a place where they could
of weeks in a place where they could
of weeks in a place where they could have the tools and space to be creative
have the tools and space to be creative
have the tools and space to be creative it was both a physical place that was
it was both a physical place that was
it was both a physical place that was very different than where they started
very different than where they started
very different than where they started from where they would normally spend
from where they would normally spend
from where they would normally spend their time as researchers or scientists
their time as researchers or scientists
their time as researchers or scientists it was a place where they had sticky
it was a place where they had sticky
it was a place where they had sticky notes and markers toys electronics
notes and markers toys electronics
notes and markers toys electronics robots and lots and lots of coffee it
robots and lots and lots of coffee it
robots and lots and lots of coffee it was also a mental place because we
was also a mental place because we
was also a mental place because we brought them together every afternoon
brought them together every afternoon
brought them together every afternoon for a number of weeks they could get
for a number of weeks they could get
for a number of weeks they could get into a different mentals place they had
into a different mentals place they had
into a different mentals place they had the space and the time to dream and be
the space and the time to dream and be
the space and the time to dream and be inspired to build their ideas and come
inspired to build their ideas and come
inspired to build their ideas and come up with something new that none of them
up with something new that none of them
up with something new that none of them could do on their own so what did they
could do on their own so what did they
could do on their own so what did they actually develop well they developed
actually develop well they developed
actually develop well they developed products they developed prototypes which
products they developed prototypes which
products they developed prototypes which you can see next door they were driving
you can see next door they were driving
you can see next door they were driving robots with brain computer interfaces
robots with brain computer interfaces
robots with brain computer interfaces they were looking at illegal fishing in
they were looking at illegal fishing in
they were looking at illegal fishing in the Bering Sea
the Bering Sea
the Bering Sea they developed many exciting things that
they developed many exciting things that
they developed many exciting things that our organization had not seen before and
our organization had not seen before and
our organization had not seen before and leveraged the strengths of all of them
leveraged the strengths of all of them
leveraged the strengths of all of them in the group we also got ideas dozens
in the group we also got ideas dozens
in the group we also got ideas dozens and dozens of ideas that again would not
and dozens of ideas that again would not
and dozens of ideas that again would not have come from them as individuals but
have come from them as individuals but
have come from them as individuals but together collectively they could do
together collectively they could do
together collectively they could do something different we have new
something different we have new
something different we have new perspectives so those perspectives and
perspectives so those perspectives and
perspectives so those perspectives and new viewpoints on the world some of them
new viewpoints on the world some of them
new viewpoints on the world some of them have been changed in ways that may seem
have been changed in ways that may seem
have been changed in ways that may seem imperceptible but several of them have
imperceptible but several of them have
imperceptible but several of them have been changed
been changed
been changed in ways that are profound one of our cue
in ways that are profound one of our cue
in ways that are profound one of our cue campers in particular came out of the
campers in particular came out of the
campers in particular came out of the cue camp experience and went back to his
cue camp experience and went back to his
cue camp experience and went back to his projects and did a complete restart he
projects and did a complete restart he
projects and did a complete restart he approached his team in a new and
approached his team in a new and
approached his team in a new and different way he asked for their help in
different way he asked for their help in
different way he asked for their help in identifying what was the right problem
identifying what was the right problem
identifying what was the right problem and what was the solution and realizing
and what was the solution and realizing
and what was the solution and realizing they could do many things that he had
they could do many things that he had
they could do many things that he had never thought possible he has a new
never thought possible he has a new
never thought possible he has a new perspective on research and he’s
perspective on research and he’s
perspective on research and he’s applying it in what he does and finally
applying it in what he does and finally
applying it in what he does and finally progress we’re making progress through Q
progress we’re making progress through Q
progress we’re making progress through Q camp and through other innovation
camp and through other innovation
camp and through other innovation efforts we’re moving things forward
efforts we’re moving things forward
efforts we’re moving things forward we’re accelerating the ways that were
we’re accelerating the ways that were
we’re accelerating the ways that were responding to our technical needs we’re
responding to our technical needs we’re
responding to our technical needs we’re doing things on the matter of weeks and
doing things on the matter of weeks and
doing things on the matter of weeks and months as opposed to years we’re making
months as opposed to years we’re making
months as opposed to years we’re making progress by watching the teams and the
progress by watching the teams and the
progress by watching the teams and the relationships that were formed people
relationships that were formed people
relationships that were formed people that didn’t know each other and but are
that didn’t know each other and but are
that didn’t know each other and but are now working as teams on a day to day
now working as teams on a day to day
now working as teams on a day to day basis on their projects we’re looking at
basis on their projects we’re looking at
basis on their projects we’re looking at progress by opportunities to talk to
progress by opportunities to talk to
progress by opportunities to talk to others and to share our experiences to
others and to share our experiences to
others and to share our experiences to share what we’re learning about
share what we’re learning about
share what we’re learning about innovation through venues like this and
innovation through venues like this and
innovation through venues like this and others and to find like-minded people
others and to find like-minded people
others and to find like-minded people that want to explore these creative
that want to explore these creative
that want to explore these creative ideas themselves these are the elements
ideas themselves these are the elements
ideas themselves these are the elements and building blocks of innovation
and building blocks of innovation
and building blocks of innovation innovation involves a deliberate process
innovation involves a deliberate process
innovation involves a deliberate process to bring together people from different
to bring together people from different
to bring together people from different backgrounds and experiences in a place
backgrounds and experiences in a place
backgrounds and experiences in a place where they have the tools and space to
where they have the tools and space to
where they have the tools and space to be creative when we do that we can
be creative when we do that we can
be creative when we do that we can develop new ideas enable new
develop new ideas enable new
develop new ideas enable new perspectives and accelerate progress so
perspectives and accelerate progress so
perspectives and accelerate progress so the next time you’re thinking about
the next time you’re thinking about
the next time you’re thinking about innovation thinking about something new
innovation thinking about something new
innovation thinking about something new or different think about the Q have you
or different think about the Q have you
or different think about the Q have you thought about all of the elements the
thought about all of the elements the
thought about all of the elements the process the people the place
the products the perspectives or the
the products the perspectives or the progress I invite you to stop by next
progress I invite you to stop by next
progress I invite you to stop by next door and pick up your own innovation
door and pick up your own innovation
door and pick up your own innovation cube and keep it as a tangible reminder
cube and keep it as a tangible reminder
cube and keep it as a tangible reminder of what you can do to drive innovation
of what you can do to drive innovation
of what you can do to drive innovation in your world thank you
in your world thank you
in your world thank you [Applause]
”
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