“Innovation is taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way.” – Tom Freston
Innovation – when viewed as a force of uplift – represents an outcome of applying thought, expertise, knowledge, and experience to the many domains of human endeavor. Innovation may arise from systematic research, or from instances of accident, co-incidence, or happenstance. This idea remains key to the advancement of the human race as demonstrated by recent inventions such as powered flight, antibiotic-based medication, the World Wide Web, the frameworks/mechanisms of contemporary global trade, classrooms (both spatial and digital), etc.
- Context remains Critical
Hence, the idea of innovation seems relevant in different contexts that include the processes, systems, methods, techniques, and paradigms that animate commerce, science, technology, thought, design languages, protocols of experimentation, and modes of exploration in the modern world. The modern innovator could leverage distinct lines of thought, develop systems of original ideation, harness the incandescence of gray cells – and subsequently design/implement various methods of analysis to develop the ideal innovation flowchart.
- Chaos precedes the Perfect
From a design perspective, such a flowchart could take shape as a chaotic assemblage of ideas, lines of thought, instances of visualization, certain examples of improvement on current methods, and more. Hence, creators of the ideal innovation flowchart could populate the illustration with sparks of authentic originality or instances of derived inspiration. In light of these, initial editions of such flowchart may operate as a sandbox, presenting the viewer with different trains of ideation and works in progress. A subsequent refinement of the contents of this illustration could emerge into a stalwart ideal innovation flowchart that adheres to convention and depicts complete instances of manifold innovation. We must consider illustrations, as crucial to the multiple (and necessary) processes of experimentation, refinement, and invention that lead to functional innovation.
- Focusing on the Primary
A central idea when declared as a primary objective could gain center stage inside the ideal innovation flowchart. The processes of ideation that arise in the course of brainstorming may help develop the numerous stages and sub-stages that encircle the central idea. We may view such process as an interesting demonstration of fuelling innovation that generates competitive advantage for corporations, uplifts the structure of systems and processes, and creates definitive value for stakeholders in modern markets. Additionally, developers of the ideal innovation flowchart could work to coalesce different chains of ideation as part of the experimentation that could yield innovation. Therefore, we may infer that the structure and contents of flowcharts arise in tune with the impulses that animate the minds of analysts, creators, and innovators.
- Trial-and-Error
Owners of businesses and enterprises could seek to propel innovation through campaigns of trial-and-error undertaken inside the ideal innovation flowchart. The many inputs that contribute to such campaigns include a keen observation of process operations, a mindset receptive to emerging best practices, the framing of intelligent interventions based on insights, collaborations with industry leaders and consultants, advisory sourced from stakeholders (and operators of connected value chains), among others. Subsequently, the flowchart could take shape as a multi-tiered illustration that posits the outcomes of different instances of trial-and-error. In addition, such illustration could feature inputs/commentary from reviewers as part of efforts to upgrade the quality and potential scope of the contents.
- One Problem: Many Solutions
The human mind bears potential to incubate an idea at multiple levels; this remarkable ability could translate into ideal innovation flowchart that features different tiers of experimentation – each of which can terminate in distinct forms of innovation. For instance, the denizens of modern digital technologies could utilize flow diagrams to arrive at multiple solutions to a manifest problem. Such a stance could be embellished by the tools of modern research and development, by the ideas germinating in the minds of thought leaders, by the experiences of project leaders/associates that have undertaken similar enterprises in the past, etcetera. In addition, the ideal innovation flowchart could feature thoughts contributed by external consultants, as also inputs that arise in technologies centered on artificial intelligence. Therefore, a collaboration between the human mind and flowcharts remains a cornerstone in spotlighting the emergence of practical innovation.
- Reinforcing Commonality
Industrial processes that share common production platforms represent a certain pinnacle of operational innovation. These platforms remain key to the ability of modern automotive industry, for instance, to cater to a variety of markets and customer segments. The ideal innovation flowchart, in this instance, features links that connect the production processes that output different grades of passenger vehicles, utility trucks, and sport utility vehicles, among others. Hence, innovation would be the lifeblood that enables automakers to remain relevant in congested markets. The ideal innovation flowchart could also feature additional inputs that refine the common production platforms – and diversify the technical parameters underlying said platforms – such improvement would be the second generation of refinement embedded inside incremental campaigns designed to drive industrial progress.
- Colors Rule
Tints, colors, and artificial pigmentation could generate a definitive presence inside the expanse of ideal innovation flowchart. Designers of illustration could utilize these to depict the evolution of different lines of innovation inside processes, paradigms, and systems, among others. For instance, ideators that seek to spark innovation inside defined commercial frameworks could deploy tints/colors to spotlight the agents of change, define the evolving contours of commercial processes, mark the interstices impacted by possible lines of innovation, and underline subsequent improvements/upgrades in process performance. This technique allows innovators to build successful editions of innovation, and apply these upgrades across other processes as appropriate. Therefore, the flow diagram acts as a force multiplier, a force of upgrade and uplift – one that develops/propels inchoate new ideas (and creative suggestions) into perceptible reality.
- Focus on Efficiency
Certain aspects of process efficiency may emerge as sites of intervention that subsequently lead to process innovation. In this context, an ideal innovation flowchart can aid creators/ideators to closely examine the efficiency metrics emanating from processes. For instance, online distributors could sketch the expanse and moving parts of their business processes inside flowcharts; a subsequent examination of efficiency in process operation could spotlight avenues of possible innovation that may boost the efficiency metric. Such endeavors must adopt a holistic view of process particulars, thereby allowing a balanced perspective on efficiency to emerge. In addition, designers of flowchart could link this metric to other particulars of relevant process/operations, hence inaugurating a (possibly) wide-ranging refurbishment of online distributors’ business systems and processes.
We could engage with these texts as part of individual journeys into ideating on modern innovation through agency of flowcharts. Ideators and inventors could append additional devices – such as pie charts, Gantt charts, and Venn diagrams – into flowcharts in their bid to pursue innovation at different levels. In addition, inventors could consider different modes of collaboration (and collective brainstorming) to qualitatively boost the pursuit of seamless innovation. Such a stance enables human civilization to integrate such activities into mainstream of modern industrial/post-industrial ethos. The kinetic energies encased within flowcharts could enable designers to derive multiple tiers of the new, thereby fostering a sustained cycle of innovation and upgrades. Subsequently, the flowchart could feature as a mainstream tool of modern enterprise – one that promotes ideas that could engender widespread innovation and power the subsequent prosperity for the human race.
