Management Innovation is at the Top of the Innovation Stack
Note: This article is updated at Management Innovation is at the Top of the Stack.
Management Innovation is at the top of the Innovation Stack.
The Innovation Stack includes the following layers:
- Management Innovation
- Strategic Innovation
- Product Innovation
- Operational Innovation
While there is value in all of the layers, some layers of the Innovation Stack are more valuable than others in terms of overall impact. I wrote a post that walks through each of the layers in the Innovation Stack.
I think it’s often a surprise for people that Product or Service Innovation is not at the top of the stack. Many people assume that if you figure out the ultimate product, then victory is yours.
History shows that’s not the case, and that Management Innovation is actually where you create a breeding ground for ideas and people to flourish.
Management Innovation is all about new ways of mobilizing talent, allocating resources, and building strategies.
If you want to build an extremely competitive advantage, then build a Management Innovation advantage. Management Innovation advantages are tough to copy or replicate.
If you’ve followed my blog, you know that I’m a fan of extreme effectiveness. When it comes to innovation, I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of playing a role in lots of types of innovation over the years at Microsoft. If I look back, the most significant impact has always been in the area of Management Innovation.
It’s the trump card.