The Four Phases of Air Force Innovation
All successful innovative efforts start with a problem and an idea of how to solve that problem.
As we will see, though, innovation and creative problem solving is a discipline that uses specific techniques to identify problems, prioritize them, evaluate the most likely routes to solve those problems, and build the support necessary to start testing the solutions.
As Peter Newell and Brian Miller observed: “systematic innovation means connecting invention to adoption via a disciplined framework.”
But what is innovation?
Peter Drucker, in his 1985 work “Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” argued that innovation is a discipline:
“Successful entrepreneurs do not wait until ‘the Muse kisses them’ and gives them a ‘bright idea’; they go to work.
Altogether, they do not look for the ‘biggie,’ the innovation that will ‘revolutionize the industry,’ create a ‘billion-dollar business,’ or ‘make one rich overnight.’
Those entrepreneurs who start out with the idea that they’ll make it big — and in a hurry — can be guaranteed failure.
They are almost bound to do the wrong things. An innovation that looks very big may turn out to be nothing but technical virtuosity; and innovations with modest intellectual pretensions, a McDonald’s, for instance, may turn into gigantic, highly profitable businesses.
The same applies to non business, public-service innovations. Successful entrepreneurs, whatever their individual motivation — be it money, power, curiosity, or the desire for fame and recognition — try to create value and to make a contribution. Still, successful entrepreneurs aim high. They are not content simply to improve on what already exists, or to modify it.
They try to create new and different values and new and different satisfactions, to convert a ‘material’ into a ‘resource,’ or to combine existing resources in a new and more productive configuration.”
Innovation and improvement, then, isn’t about advanced technologies or revolutionary new approaches.
It’s about applying technology, methods, or processes to solve problems facing Airmen in the accomplishment of their mission. It’s about finding ways to make a contribution and aiming high.
To help you tackle problems in your organizations, we’ve outlined the Four Phases of Innovation.
Dive into each phase below:
- Phase One — Identify, prioritize, get buy-in
- Phase Two — Get tactical
- Phase Three — Find the right solutions and show success
- Phase Four — Prepare for scale
Innovation and improvement requires resources and discipline, but if you solve a deep and meaningful problem for your fellow Airmen, you will be joining the ranks of millions of innovators who have had a vision and saw it through to execution.
As you set out on your own path, remember these three things:
First, you can do it!
Aiming to solve deeply-rooted pain points in your organization isn’t for the faint-hearted, but we believe anyone who has the drive to do so can make it happen.
Second, don’t do it alone!
The Air Force has invested numerous resources with the goal of helping create an ecosystem for innovation.
Reach out to fellow innovators, the Squadron Innovation Fund connect line, your Major Command, Spark Cells, our Air Force Continuous Process Improvement Office and AFWERX. We can only succeed if we work together.
And, finally…
Continue to THINK BIG, start small, and Scale Fast!
Ready to move on to Phase I? See our next blog on how to begin defining your problems during the Air Force Innovation Process.
Check out our Innovation Handbook for more in-depth information on how to innovate in your organization.
