For the past Fall, and still until March, I’ve been a part of a team researching Living Lab practices and options for an innovation-education incubator organization GESCI. We have created a blog to keep notes and share insights called The Sound of the City.

We have just launched a series of Expert Insights for the blog. The first Expert I interviewed is a dear friend, Sari Virta (PhD Candidate in Media Management at University of Tampere, Finland; Team Leader). At present, she is researching how innovation can be managed in creative organizations. Before, and in parallel to, her academic career, Sari has had a long career in innovative media organizations, as well as a team leader in multi-stakeholder contexts. I highly appreciate the way she condensed some hot topics related to managing creativity and innovation, so cross-posting her views here:

Sari’s Top 5 Recommendations for Effective, Empowering Innovation Leadership

1. Understanding of the true nature of innovation, as work. Creativity and the resulting innovations are complex mix of different aspects, hence, conflict-driven work. Leaders of innovative organization need to realize that and carry the related responsibility.

2. Innovation and creativity in organizations need to be understood in different levels: Not only as organizational but also as individual, groups within the organizations, and even in terms of the broader networks around the organization. The dynamics of these levels might be very different and have to be skillfully managed.

3. Understanding of how the work/organizational environment can lead to, and support, creativity and innovation. Mere individual creativity, let alone, is not enough.

4. Innovation is often prohibited or hindered by the existing ways of being and doing. Leaders need to examine and question plenty of old routines.

5. Understanding of different stages of projects and processes. Managing the brainstorming stage will most likely needs to be very different than the final steps of the execution.

Thoughts? Comments? Please post them below!