"Exactness and neatness in moderation is a virtue but carried to the extremes narrows the mind."
Francois Fenelon
17th century French Roman Catholic Theologian
17th century French Roman Catholic Theologian
Probably extreme neatness as well but certainly extreme exactness will result in thwarted innovation, don't you think?
Invention, entrepreneurism, even simple evolution from "here" to "there" is a messy business with many false starts.
Marketers and salespeople are often not exact whereas engineers and accountants are.
How about you?
Invention, entrepreneurism, even simple evolution from "here" to "there" is a messy business with many false starts.
Marketers and salespeople are often not exact whereas engineers and accountants are.
How about you?
Sometimes you need creative chaos, sometimes productive neatness.
ReplyDeleteGood point Samuli and maybe the best can do both simultaneously (I say as I stare at the unproductive mess that is my desk.)
ReplyDeleteI think you ALWAYS need creative chaos AND productive neatness with the only question being, in what ratio?
ReplyDeleteWhat ratio and how to achieve that balance. You may know what it should be but that doesn't mean you can make it happen.
ReplyDeleteIf you believe Ideo, you need a lot of neatness (or structure) around the chaos. Check the classic FastCompany article about their brainstorming:
ReplyDeleteSilicon Valley-based Ideo has sparked some of the most innovative products of the past decade -- the Apple mouse, the Polaroid I-Zone Pocket Camera, and the Palm V, among others. But Ideo staffers don't just sit around waiting for good ideas to pop into their heads. The company has institutionalized a process whereby ideas are coaxed to the surface through regular, structured brainstorming sessions.
In my earlier blog post The Art of Innovation there are some more toughts about Ideo and a more recent video by David Kelley.
I have seen them in action only on this video, and that's impressive. They do surround the creative chaos with productive neatness.
Thanks for reminding me of Ideo, Samuli. I've heard of them before, seen some of their work, but watching the three part video on YouTube was time well spent.
ReplyDeleteI think every department in every company could benefit from employing some to all aspects of Ideo's approach to product design. More than just products need to be invented/reinvented and their listen first, judge/talk later approach is good advice.
Bill,
ReplyDeletehad to dig up my old sketch of Ideo process from September 2, 2004 and blog it along with the videos.
Manager's Toolbox: Creative Chaos or Productive Neatness?
Glad you did Samuli
ReplyDelete