Innovation:TheLanguageofLearningLibrariesLOTW2010:Calgary,Alberta
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Innovation:TheLanguageofLearningLibrariesLOEXoftheWest2010
MountRoyalUniversity,Calgary,AlbertaJune10‐12,2010
PresentersM.J.D’Elia([email protected])LearningandCurriculumSupportLibrarianUniversityofGuelphRandyOldham([email protected])WebDevelopmentLibrarianUniversityofGuelphRobinBergart(inabsentia)([email protected])UserExperienceLibrarianUniversityofGuelphObjectivesforthispresentation
1. Understandtheimportanceofinnovativepracticewithinlearningorganizations
2. Learnsimplestrategiestofostermoreinnovativethinkinginyourorganization
3. Recognizethevalueofplaytoproductivity
FreeAssociationGame(Instructions)
• Insmallgroups,answerthefollowingquestion:Howisalibrarylike_______?• Fillintheblankswithoneofthefollowingwords:Airport,submarine,gas
stationandgarage,spaorsalon,hotel,hospital,tattooparlour,orchestra,researchlaboratory,skiresort,farmers’market,amusementpark,hockeyarena,cargovan,policestation,farm
• In2minutes,brainstormasmanysimilaritiesbetweenlibrariesandtheseobjects/placesaspossible
FreeAssociationGame(Purpose)
• Simpleactivitytogetparticipantstopracticetheirlateralthinking–forcesparticipantstolookforconnectionsorfreeassociationsbetweenseeminglyunrelatedobjects
Innovation:TheLanguageofLearningLibrariesLOTW2010:Calgary,Alberta
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• Shiftsthemoodandsignifiestotheparticipantsthattheyareinforsomethingdifferent(andthat’sokay)
• Canrevealamoreinterestingpictureoftheobjectsthatarebeingfreeassociated
• Highlightstheimportanceoflookingoutsideourindustry(libraries)forsolutionstotheproblem(toooftenwefocusonwhatotherlibrariesaredoingandwemissbroadertrendsinotherindustries)
UniversityofGuelph(http://www.uoguelph.ca/)
• Mid‐sizedteachingandresearchinstitution• Undergraduate,graduateandprofessionalprograms• Over22,000students
McLaughlinLibrary(http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/)
• Primarylibraryoncampus• Sciences,socialsciences,humanitiesandarts• Busyhuboncampus–11,000+visitorseachdayduringtheacademicyear• 120+staffmembers,approximately23librarians
McLaughlinLibrary:OrganizationalRenewal&Innovation
• Transitioningfromaliaisonlibrarianmodeltoafunctionalteammodelo Needtobemoreflexibleandresponsiveo Needtodomorewithfewerresourceso Tobemorestrategicinthefaceoftighterbudgets
• RevisitedsomeoftheLibrary’sdefiningdocumentsaspartoftherenewalprocess(e.g.ourcorevalues,ourmission,ourservicephilosophy,etc.)
o Administrationinvolvedstaffatalllevelsrightfromthebeginningasweattemptedtoshapethefutureoftheorganization
• RecognitionthatinnovationisoneoftheLibrary’scorevalues–yettoomanystaffmembersbelievedthattheyweren’tinnovativeorcreative
o Needtocombatthebeliefthatcreativityisaninnateabilityandcannotbelearned
o Buildingourcapacityforinnovationandcreativeproblemsolvingwillbeessentialaswemoveforward
• FormoreinformationontheOrganizationalRenewalcheckout:o http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/about/organizational_renewal.cfmo http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/about/components/documents/organiz
ational_renewal_2009.pdf
Innovation:TheLanguageofLearningLibrariesLOTW2010:Calgary,Alberta
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KeyQuestions:InnovationInitiatives
• Ifwe’regoingtopushourselvestobemoreinnovativeinourpractice,thenwehavetoaddressanumberofkeyquestions:
o Caneveryonelearntobecreative?o Caninnovationbedevelopedandnurtured,likeahabitofmind,ora
discipline?o Ifso,whatmightthatenvironmentlooklike?o Whatdoesinnovationmeaninalibrary?o Isthereaninherenttensionbetweenalibrary’smandatetocontrol
informationandthechaosthatcomeswithdisruptiveinnovation?o What’sthedifferencebetweenpromotingcreativityinapersonandin
agroup?o Howdoleadersbestpromotecreativity?o Doesmoreamoreinnovativelibraryinfactbettersupportstudent
learning?
InnovationBootCamp
• Operateda12‐weeksocialexperimentcalledInnovationBootCamp• Adoptedamilitarymetaphor(includingcamouflage)because:
o Wewantedtobedisciplinedinourtraining(likemilitarybootcamp)o Inherenttensionbetweenthechaosthatoftencomeswithcreativity
andtheregimentedorderthatcomeswiththemilitary• Deliveredanopencalltothelibraryandrecruitedsixindividuals• Spent2hourseveryFridayafternoonforanentiresemestersomecreativity
experimentsandlearningtogether• UsedTomKelley’sbook,TheTenFacesofInnovation,tostructurethe
programo KelleyworksatIDEO(http://www.ideo.com/),afairlywell‐known
internationaldesignconsultingfirmo Dividesthetenfacesintothreecategories:
Learningpersonas Organizingpersonas Buildingpersonas
o Presentsabroadperspectiveofthetypesofpersonasrequiredforinnovativethinking(enabledustoseewhatwe’regoodat,butalsowherewe’relacking)
o Thegoalofthebookisnottoidentifywithasingleface,itistobecomeawareofthefacesneededtogenerateandexecutegoodideas
o Attimesyoumayplaymultiplerolesonagiventeam,oryoumayplayoneroleononeteamandadifferentoneontheother
o Whileyoumayinherentlyleantowardone“face”,youcandevelopskillsandabilitiesintheotherfaces
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The10FacesofInnovation:ShortOverview
Learningpersonas• Description:Informationgatherers• Purpose:Tohelptheorganizationavoidbecomingtoointernallyfocused• Responsibilities:
o Gathernewsourcesofinformationo Openlyquestionassumptionso Remainopentonewinsights(regardlessofthesource)
• Credo:EnemyofcomplacencyTheAnthropologist
• Developsadeepunderstandingofhowpeopleinteract• Observeshumanbehaviourwithproducts,servicesandspaces• Watchessubjectsintheirnaturalenvironment• Keyphrase:
o “fresheyes”–it’saboutseeingthingsforthefirsttimelikeatouristinaforeignplace
TheExperimenter
• Learnsbytrialanderror;takescalculatedrisks• Continuallyprototypingandproduct‐testingnewideas• Expecttofailoften,butfailingearlyleadstofasterandbettersolutions• Keyphrases:
o “experimentationasimplementation”o “thinkingbydoing”;“thinkingwithyourhands”
TheCrossPollinator
• Exploresotherindustriesandcultures• Translatesfindingsfromotherenvironmentsintothecurrentcontext• Effortsarefocusedexternally• Nurturescuriosity;exploresadjacencies• Keyphrases:
o “connectcultures”;“workthemetaphor”–everyobjecthasthecapacitytostandforsomethingelse
o “connectcultures”Organizingpersonas
• Description:Ideasorters• Purpose:Tohelpgoodideasmoveforwardintheorganization• Responsibilities:
o Movepastorganizationalchallengestoaccomplishtaskso Allocateresourceseffectively
• Credo:Survivalofthefittest
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TheHurdler
• Hasaknackforovercomingobstaclesandroadblocks• Intricateknowledgeoftheorganizationalprocessesandhierarchy• Politicallyawareandunafraidofbureaucraticprocess• Willingnesstobendtherulestoaccomplishtasks• Thrivesonconstraints–doesn’tliketohearthatsomething“can’tbedone”• Keyphrases:
o “seekforgivenessnotpermission”o “seethroughconstraints”
TheCollaborator
• Bringseclecticpersonalitiesanddiverseindividualstogether• Encouragesandenablescooperationamongtheteammembers• Helpsgeneratemulti‐disciplinarysolutions• Co‐optstheDevil’sAdvocates• Getspeoplelearninganddoingtogether• Thrivesinthemessyspacesofpeopleworkingtogether(conflict,friction,
strife,delight,creativepotential)• Keyphrases:
o “Leadfromthemiddle”o “breakdownsilos”
TheDirector
• Gatherstalentedcrewandinspiresthemtoperform• Intimateknowledgeofteammembers’strengths• Abilitytoharnessthecreativityofothers• Allocatesresources,keepspeopleontasks,showcasestheteam• Drawspeopleout–motivatesandencourages• Lessdictation,morefacilitation• Putsothersonthecentrestage• Keyphrase:
o “showcasetheteam”
Buildingpersonas• Description:Ideaexecutors• Purpose:Toturngreatideasintorealprojects• Responsibilities:
o Applyinsightsfromlearningpersonaso Recognizesuccessesfromorganizingroles
• Credo:BuilditandtheywillcomeTheExperienceArchitect
• Designcompellingexperiences• Connectwithcustomersandusersatadeeperlevelthanmerefunctionality
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• Surprisesanddelightsinunforgettableexperiences• Authentic• Attentiontodetails• Keyphrase:
o “maketheordinaryextraordinary”TheSetDesigner
• Createastageonwhichmemberscandotheirbestwork• Considerthephysicalenvironmentasatool• Findhiddenperformanceimprovementsbyreshapingspace• Buildsspacesforcreativeplay• Providesthematerialstobecreative• Keyphrase:
o “shapethespaces”TheCaregiver
• Anticipatecustomerneedsandarereadytolookafterthem• Willingtomovebeyondsimpleservice• Demonstratesempathytowardtheplightofthecustomer• Goesfor“intimacynotscale”• Treatpeopleasindividualsnotasanaggregatedgroup• Providesvaluableexpertise• Makespeoplefeelgoodaboutthemselves• Keyphrases:
o “showmore,tellless”o “smile”
TheStoryteller
• Buildinternalmoralethroughstories• Reinforceorganizationalculturethroughfirsthandaccounts• Createexternalawarenessthroughstories(marketingangle)• Importanceofauthenticity• Useavarietyoftoolstocommunicate• Keyphrase:
o “collectcompellingnarratives”
StrawBuildChallenge(Instructions)
• Insmallgroups,haveparticipantsfindaspotonthefloor• Challenge:
o Buildthetallestfreestandingstructureo Materials:100strawsand15cmoftapeo Time:10minutes
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StrawBuildChallenge(Purpose)
o Generateasenseofteam(groupshaveasimple,sharedobjective)o Getteamsworkingquickly–justenoughtimetoaccomplishthetask,not
enoughtimetobedistractedbypoliticalpowerstruggleso Encouragesparticipantstoworkwiththeirhands
o Communicatestheimportanceofrapidprototypingandtheiterativedesignprocess(build,refine,buildagain,refineagain,etc.)
o Recognizethatthereisnosinglesolutiontoagivenproblemorchallengeo Groupsbuildverydifferentlookingstructurestoaccomplishthetask
o Importanceofembracingfailure–notallstructureswillstandontheirowno Foranentertainingdiscussionofasimilarbuildchallenge(calledthe
Marshmallowbuild)watchthisTEDtalkfromTomWujec:o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_yKBitO8M
KeyThemes(or,TheThingsWeLearnedAboutRunningBootCamp)
Workisplay/Playiswork
• Thegroupthatplaystogetherissimplymoreproductive• Organizationsareincreasinglypressuredtobecomemoreefficientinan
efforttosavemoney,butthiscouldsendthewrongmessagetotheemployees(theyturnoffandmoralestartstodrop)
• Enablingthemtoplayandhavesomefunloosensupthemind,getspeopleengaged,andtrulyleadstoinnovativebreakthroughs
• Whenyouplay,failureislessofaconcern(becausethereisnocost)–ifwecantranslatethistotheworkenvironmentwe’llbelessafraidtotrystuff
• Similarlywhenemployeesareatplay(outsideofwork)theynoticethingsthattheycanbringintotheworkplace(i.e.cross‐pollinate)
• Workandplayarenotpolaropposites–theyreinforceeachotherandcanwork(orplay)quitenicelytogether
InnovationisaSocialProcess
• Creativityisnotthemagicofalonegenius• Welearnedthatworkinginagroupprovidesmanyadvantages
o Buildsteamo Enablesmorediverseideastoemergeo Encouragespeopleto“jumpandbuild”oneachother’sideaso Allowsthegrouptoaccomplishmoreandarriveatmoresuitable
solutionsthananysingleindividualwouldhaveontheirown
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Usethespace
• Thinkofyourspaceasacharacterinwhatyou’retryingtoaccomplisho Howcanyouchangeit,oruseittoyouradvantage?
• Changingthespacebeforeameetingcanentirelychangethedemeanoroftheparticipants
o Signifytotheteammembersthatsomethingisdifferent–allowsthemtobreakoutoftheirmentalmodelsofthatparticularspaceandprovidesanopportunityforfreshthinking
o Varietyhelpsthemindwork• Somesimpleideastoimplement:
o Ifyouarealwaysfacingascreen,thenfaceawayo Ifyou’realwaysworkingonatable,takethetablesawayo IfyourelytooheavilyonPowerPoint,thenbanPowerPointfora
montho Moveyourmeetingstodifferentlocations(evenoutdoors)
Constraintscanbeenablers
• Thecreativeprocesscangetboggeddownbyconstraintsorbarriers(e.g.wedon’thavethebudgettodothat,wedon’thavethepeopletodothat,wedon’thavetheskillstodothat,etc.);asaresult,projectsandgoodideasnevergetofftheground
• Thinkoftheseconstraintsasopportunitiesratherthanbarrierso Withmorerestrictiveconstraintsthegroupcannottakethewell‐
traveledpatho Membershavetopushthemselvestothinkmorecreativelyabout
solvingtheproblemsathand
Creativityisapractice
• Thereisaroleforeveryoneintheinnovationprocesso Youdon’thavetobeadesigneroranartisttobecalled“creative”
• Creativityandinnovativepracticecanbelearned(justlikeyoucanlearntobeabetterwebdesigner,orabetterteacher)
• Practicingcreativehabitsisthekey–ifyouexpecttodeliverinnovativebreakthroughswhenitcounts,thencontinuallypracticesimplecreativeexercises
o Startsmallandpushyourselfoutofyourcomfortzonealittlemoreeachtime
• Ifyou’refacilitatingacreativebrainstorming/problem‐solvingsession,thenprovideanenvironmentwhereparticipantscangrow
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BuildYourOwnBootCamp
• Librariesareperfectlysuitableenvironmentsforinnovation(infact,innovationandcreativeproblemsolvingmaybeessentialforthefutureoftheprofession)
• Withbuy‐infrommanagement,“bootcamps”canbedoneinexpensively(e.g.asidefromthecostofstafftime,ourentire12‐weekprogramcostunder$500)
• Ifafullsemesterprogramisn’tfeasibletrysomethingthatfitsbetterwithyourinstitution/organization:
o Takeonemorningpermontho Takeadaylongretreatwithyourteamo Usesimplecreativityexercisesatthebeginningofeachstaffmeeting
MotivateYourOrganization–BorrowedfromDrivebyDanielPink
• Autonomy–givepeopletheopportunitytobeself‐directedo Givetheteamaclearobjective,butdon’tbetooprescriptiveinhow
theyneedtoachievetheobjectiveo Trustyourpeopletodeliver
• Mastery–givepeopletheopportunitytogetbetteratstuffo Trytoavoid“one‐shot”creativitytrainingo Worktomakeitahabitbyincorporatingitthroughoutthe
organization(eveninsmallways)o Peoplewilleventuallyovercometheirinitialfearandbecomemore
willingtotakerisks• Purpose–providetasksthatarelevantandmeaningful
o Noonewantstodosomethingforthesakeofdoingito Betransparentinwithyourpurposeandyou’llget“buy‐in”from
participants• FormoreinformationonDanPink’sbookcheckoutthisvideofromRoyal
SocietyfortheencouragementofArts,ManufacturesandCommerce:o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
InnovationBootCamp(StealTheseIdeas!)
• MoreinformationonInnovationBootCampcanbefoundatourblog:o http://innovationbootcamp.wordpress.com/
• Feelfreetoborrowandadapttheseideasforyourorganization!