Innovation: essential action or buzzword? Surely the lack of innovation is one of the historical reasons for the weakness of our economyas noted by Istat in its “Report on companies 2021”.
However, innovation is not a magic word but a precise intention, which must be pursued with awareness and skills. It is not enough to invest to arrive at solutions: you need to have the right attitude.
With respect to performance in the field of innovation, Italy is in the last places (2022 Report “Super Smart Society: towards a more sustainable, resilient and human-centric future”, by the Innotech Community of The European House – Ambrosetti).
The picture may not look rosy at a time when the urgent need for profound change is felt at any level, especially after the years of the pandemic. But what is needed is to face the transformation methodically, as recommended by the Cefriel digital innovation center in its new article “Eight attitudes to innovate – how to best guide digital transformation” at signed by the CEO and scientific director Alfonso Fuggetta.
“The transformation in companies as well as in organizations and public administrations is a marathon. Not a hundred flat meters, but a real marathon that requires time, effort and above all endurance. Because the path to be covered is long, complex, not necessarily achievable in a short time ”, explains Alfonso Fuggetta.
Cefriel’s article offers valuable insights by identifying and exploring the eight attitudes necessary to act on change and activate a transformation, which is structural and lasting over time:
Agility and focus
It is necessary to “learn to eat the elephant one piece at a time”: frame a job, define the overall structure and framework, put together the key pieces and then put them in the field by proceeding with subsequent modifications. With an agile approach.
Impact
Concreteness and pragmatism are the key words: if digital innovation projects do not change the life of the company, of the Public Administration, of the organization involved, then what are they for? We must always ask ourselves how our innovation project can have a positive, tangible and useful impact.
Speed
Being fast does not mean being in a hurry, but doing things reasonably, understanding the reasons and without wasting time. In dealing with change, it is necessary to move quickly, but only after having set up a correct action strategy.
Simplicity
When you realize that something is wrong, you must first ask yourself how to simplify what you have designed.
Abstraction
We cannot dwell on the most insignificant details while we are talking about an overall strategy: the moment will come when we can (and must) deepen the discussion, but without getting lost in useless details that slow down the work.
Syntax and semantics
It is necessary to use identifiers, names, with clear definition and meaning. We work for clear and defined concepts, not for buzzwords. To do this it is necessary to ask: what does the word I used represent? Did I give this word the same meaning in every context in which I mentioned it? A precise, consistent, consistent work style that allows you to work at your best requires this.
Coherence and Collaboration
Too often we have lived in a fragmented way within organizations. Now we need to collaborate at all levels.
Top-down and bottom-up
Long-term vision and short-term results must be related. The roadmap outlined in the preliminary phase of the project must be implemented by combining quick win and long-term vision.
