Week 4 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations?

The “Terrorism Ignites Innovation” section was interesting. I did not realize that the US government solicits ideas and proposals from businesses in that capacity. It is surprising that the government takes such big risks (i.e. the special radio antenna) with pressure from taxpayers, although if the antenna had worked, the taxpayer wouldn’t have anything to complain about.

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

The author didn’t provide a solid example of walking through the creative process. A real-world example of creativity through each phase would have beneficial, as well as other examples that take the steps out of order would have been helpful.

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

How do you move on between Phase 3: Idea Experience and Phase 4: Evaluation and Implementation? Sometimes you can come up with an idea and create elaborate what-if scenarios, but there needs to be a point when planning is put behind you and you move on to taking action.

Why do many companies inhibit innovation among their employees? They do not set up environments conducive to creativity, and, although the answer is probably “it’s not in the budget”, wouldn’t you think an innovative employee would be better than one who is never allowed to speak their mind?

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

I think that Evaluation and Implementation should be separated into two different phases. Phase 4 should be Implementation and Phase 5: should be Evaluation. I believe that sometimes action just needs to be taken without over-analyzing and if you’re in the “Evaluating” frame of mind, you’re going to nitpick each failure as it occurs and become overwhelmed by it. If you take a lot of action, then worry about the consequences, you will have a wider set of data to work with and each failure wouldn’t be so monumental.