The significance of “design thinking” to innovation and collaboration could not be better demonstrated than in it is here, in Tom Wujec’s TED talk. Tom presents his research using “the marshmallow tower.” This simple exercise reveals profound (and amusing) truths about how people think, and how that thinking can kill – or cultivate – creativity.
Motivating your human resources with intrinsic rewards versus the old-fashioned, carrot-and-stick extrinsic incentives will boost productivity, innovation and creativity.
A 2007 McKinsey Global Survey revealed that 70 percent of corporate leaders call innovation one of their top three priorities. They believe that breakthrough (or radical) innovation will have the greatest affect on corporate performance. The report shows that these leaders agree — “innovation is the best strategic decision for sustainable competitive advantage.” Yet these same leaders report that strategies for spurring innovation in their companies elude them. Too many barriers exist. Why?