Embracing the Innovation Paradox: Why Success Means Letting Go
Innovation isn’t just about creating the new; it’s about having the courage to let go of the old. The most successful organisations don’t shy away from this tension; they embrace it. Turning uncertainty into opportunity.
Remember Kodak? Once a giant, it clung to film technology and watched the digital wave pass by. In contrast, Canon and Fujifilm thrived by reinventing themselves. Canon by building digital capabilities, Fujifilm by diversifying and leveraging its chemical expertise, and then moving into digital. Both found ways to blend their strengths with new directions, proving that survival isn’t about choosing between the past and the future, but about integrating both.
Formula 1’s reinvention is another masterclass. Once seen as a niche motorsport, it’s now a global entertainment powerhouse. By embracing digital content, social media, and storytelling, F1 has captured new, younger audiences without losing its technical edge.
The Real Question: How Do You Integrate Opposites?
It’s not about picking “A” (the old) or “B” (the new).
The real challenge is asking:
How can we combine the best of both worlds?
How do we experiment with this tension, learn from it, and carve a unique path forward?
Creative flexibility and integrative thinking are your secret weapons.
Start by identifying the tensions in your business early. Don’t stumble into trade-offs or ignore them because they don’t fit your current model. Every organisation faces its own “knotted problems.” The trick is to address them head-on.
Here are a couple of typical examples:
Exploitation vs. Exploration
Most companies stick to what they know (exploitation) and miss out on what they could become (exploration). The winners, like Canon, ask: “What expertise can we leverage to meet tomorrow’s needs?” They innovate by building on their strengths while exploring new possibilities.
Efficiency vs. Flexibility
Project managers often see only trade-offs: speed vs. quality, cost vs. time. But what if you could have both? Toyota’s legendary manufacturing system did just that—combining high efficiency with high flexibility through continuous improvement and smart processes.
The Takeaway
Integrative thinking helps you spot connections between seemingly opposing choices. In today’s fast-changing world, it’s not just useful, it’s essential.
By creatively managing tensions and exploiting new trends and technologies, your team can unlock new value and stay ahead of the curve.
If you need help identifying the competing tensions that are holding back your innovation, get it contact. We’d love to help.