The Other Side of Innovation: Is Execution the Stumbling Block for Decentralized Energy?

By Anouk Kendall, President | WADE Canada

Companies can't survive without innovating; industries like ours are no different. But most put far more emphasis on generating Big Ideas than on executing them--turning ideas into actual breakthrough products, services, and process improvements. That's because "ideating" is energizing and glamorous. By contrast, execution seems like humdrum, behind-the-scenes dirty work. But without execution, Big Ideas go nowhere.

If there is one book I would recommend to all colleagues in the DE industry it is this one: The Other Side of Innovation. Authors Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble reveal how to execute an innovation initiative--whether a simple project or a grand, gutsy gamble. Drawing on examples from innovators as diverse as Allstate, BMW, Timberland, and Nucor, the authors explain how to: Build the Right Team: Determine who'll be on the team, where they'll come from, how they'll be organized, how much time they'll devote to the project, and how they'll navigate the delicate and conflict-rich partnership between innovation and ongoing operations. Manage a Disciplined Experiment: Decide how team members can quickly test their assumptions, translate results into new knowledge, and measure progress. Give innovation leaders a tough but fair performance evaluation. Practical and provocative, this new book takes you step-by-step through the innovation execution process--so your Big Ideas deliver their full promise.

WADE Canada boldly enters the execution game with programs and initiatives that support innovation and commercialisation. Our members share a common goal to integrate decentralised energy technologies into the traditional centralised energy industry. The needs of a large corporation in terms of innovation and execution are very different from the needs of our entrepreneurs. We bridge the gap between market opportunities and optimum technology solutions in the DE industry by addressing the very unique needs, want and fears of large corporations and the unique needs, wants and fears of entrepreneurs.

So how do we execute this innovation initiative called decentralized energy?

Let's sing from the same song book:
The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge
By Vijay Govindarajan and Christ Trimble
Allow us to help you deliver your Big Ideas.
Become a member of WADE Canada today.

How are your Big Ideas being executed? We’d like to hear. Email us at info@wadecanada.ca