Facing a Resource Crunch? Read On!

Recently I read an excerpt from a new business innovation book wherein the author went to great lengths to instill the need to provide sufficient resources for every innovation effort, without which the effort would be almost certain to fail. The cited leadership's frequent failure to ensure adequate resources as the single most important reason for innovation failures.

Hogwash! Not only is the author wrong, his perspective is downright dangerous to the heart of the innovation effort. Frequently when addressing a client's desire to instill greater innovation within their organization, I will define a strategy that purposely restricts access to resources. Why? Simple. When we are faced with severe limitations, most groups either quickly give up or wade into the fray determined to succeed despite the their circumstances.

When I think of difficult, in fact, perilous circumstances, my mind turns to the Apollo 13 near disaster. You will recall that following an onboard explosion enroute to the moon, Houston Ground Control was faced with several problems. First, was how to turn the spacecraft around and head it back to earth. The next arose a few days later when the crew began to suffer carbon dioxide poisoning. In response to this second dilemma and his engineering staff's analysis that no in flight repair was possible given the crew's available resources, the Flight Director gathered the engineering team together. He placed them in a room with only the equipment which the crew had onboard, which he unceremoniously dumped onto the table from several sacks and told them they had just hours to design a solution that the crew could replicate. He also told them that failure was not an option.

The result? With only minutes of oxygen remaining, the engineering team talked the astronauts through the construction of carbon dioxide scrubbers, fabricated from a sock, a carbon filter cartridge of the wrong size, a few other odds and ends and a roll of duct tape. This innovation saved the lives of the three crew members and possibly the future of the Apollo program.

Copyright 2005 by John Di Frances.

John Di Frances is an internationally recognized organizational legacy expert and motivational speaker. http://www.difrances.com

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/winners-openofficeorg-community-innovation-program/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B7FFDAD1D-C6D6-403C-8B13-2AF6E4785611%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254867880ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNH4SM31jOMn62GnCvz8fTKU4PTM8gWinners of OpenOffice.org Community bInnovation/b Program Awards b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1today announced the winners of the OpenOffice.org(TM) Community bInnovation/b Challenge designed to fuel binnovation/b and community around OpenOffice.org, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frost--sullivan-names-redxdefense/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BD5DFAC40-A8F3-41D6-AC6D-4A533ADAFDC7%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254881472ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFA-zIRjdBEkH04HmwW7qsPLcGsfwFrost amp; Sullivan Names RedXDefense 2008 US Explosives Detection b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological binnovation/b, customer service, and strategic product development. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frost--sullivan-recognizes-cfx/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B1860FB92-F3FC-4A81-BA6C-77BB60D9A311%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254866295ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHlKOwxiVEwrSQ90KbaWSwjxesvPQFrost amp; Sullivan Recognizes CFX Battery#39;s bInnovation/b in b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological binnovation/b, customer service, and strategic product development. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frost--sullivan-recognizes-aoptix/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BEE2362CE-D9CC-4595-9AE4-5E35CE5A6F61%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254866295ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFHEN6DaWGJE_qyEVDtXfhhBrdz6wFrost amp; Sullivan Recognizes AOptix Technologies for its Pioneering b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254866295hl=ennobrall 17 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://weblog.infoworld.com/editor/archives/2008/10/financial_meltd.htmlcid=1254927759ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEiyBVrPoumTvhZKD8DGDgohIXFFwBooms, busts, and the value of binnovation/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInfoWorld,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1But Wall Street was never much interested in determining the real value of tech binnovation/b, although it delighted in encouraging certain analysts to inflate b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx%3FId%3D732487%26SMap%3D1cid=1254866267ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHKByuCoHONdgfvrovTyscoZU2NAgImplant Sciences Receives $750K Phase II Small Business bInnovation/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRTT News,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1(IMX: News ), supplier of systems and sensors for the homeland security, said it received a 13-month Phase II Small Business bInnovation/b Research contract b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/10/06/daily5.htmlcid=1254866267ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHTM23W68EY1POVtneXEhPJ2OAEeAImplant wins $750K contract/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBizjournals.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/implant-sciences-receives-750000-contract/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BDFD124C4-FF8A-416E-BB3F-429B4F10001F%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254866267ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNH65OQ8ZQmjV-uaN6DgBsBMhUjvOQImplant Sciences Receives $750000 Contract Award from Department b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx%3FNode%3DB1%26Id%3D732530%2520%26Category%3DBreaking%2520Newscid=1254866267ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFgGYuQT6wfNcE3HcopAQHdL1MQzwImplant Sciences Gets $750K Contract From DHS - Update/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrRTT News/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254866267hl=ennobrall 18 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html%3Fid%3D608662d9-00e9-472f-ac59-cf8ab5312785cid=1252609630ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNGg_NefcYxcqZGC6uJC1pr5GohtLwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=PRpXdsv88YkJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/718a79b0-7a41-49dd-9b4a-708e8b0a38a7/stocksx29.jpg%3Fsize%3Dl width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Canada.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/GlobalEnvironment08/idUSTRE4956KK20081006cid=1252609630ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFKRojvccKcxigU3UOLj4MzShAkrARio Tinto says binnovation/b to help with climate/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fReutersnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Industrial binnovation/b and a price on carbon emissions are needed to help mining b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSL643241620081006cid=1252609630ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFNL9rtX6YkZ6KO8Np8ip_s_1F1GwToshiba sees NAND prices halving in next year-CEO/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0152254820081001cid=1252609630ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFrd7q2wN-PPf2gXSK1RGSw9V6WsgUPDATE 1-Toy executives back rescue to calm US consumers/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN3045163420080930cid=1252609630ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFTRD_g1uYMcx2FeBvtCgpdeYwruwWRAPUP 1-Big Pharma prunes Ramp;D as times get tough/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1252609630hl=ennobrall 2,121 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.newamerica.net/blog/new-health-dialogue/2008/health-it-guest-blog-post-sen-sheldon-whitehouse-7546cid=1254827246ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEjDUj97qMrcn7lppgSu7d4tx8rIwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=8RCC56e9gtYJimgurl=www.newamerica.net/blog/files/Senwhitehouse.jpg width=63 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New America Foundation/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14258.htmlcid=1254827246ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNExphbUNmTYRRU9ud3NP9_DOTgrhgDear 44: 21st century binnovation/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPolitico,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1To ensure that the United States remains an “binnovation/b superpower” in the 21st century, the 44th president must increase funding for research and b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/tsc-tsc100608.phpcid=1254827246ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNE07X-tfrXnppIDH7A1a-LXZfSyfAThe Science Coalition#39;s #39;10 questions#39; for the presidential debate/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrEurekAlert (press release)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254827246hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ikonisys-named-2008-company-watch/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B485BC8B3-F6A9-4DED-85D1-D43D5FA509EC%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254772361ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNGlZcui2t_4fGMfdIOUY9BcGreTZAIkonisys Named 2008 Company to Watch by the Connecticut Technology b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This award is part of the second annual bInnovation/b Pipeline Accelerator awards. Ikonisys received the honor at the recent bInnovation/b Pipeline 2008 Companies b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cas-medical-systems-inc-chosen/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B525C37A3-3096-4081-9C1D-0C8222E6E9C3%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254772361ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNE7SKn5doOxT5UmeR28jHU1-pZXQwCAS Medical Systems, Inc. Chosen by the Connecticut Technology b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254772361hl=ennobrall 10 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/frost--sullivan-praises-range/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BB1C6406E-ACE7-4EBA-8157-B2ECABBADF6C%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254859188ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFl_IqqkWYKHkKayaj-GKOX2gmdHAFrost amp; Sullivan Praises Range Fuels for Technological Leadership b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Range Fuels is driving ethanol binnovation/b through its K2 ethanol production technique, which can convert a variety of biomass feedstocks into ethanol. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081006/BREAKING01/81006025cid=1254828402ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNF9kVnCwiIcUghvW9ThTsRCH7qpJgBreak in natural gas line forces evacuations at lofts, bInnovation/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNews-Leader.com,nbsp;MOnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b gas line 50 feet from the Jordan Valley bInnovation/b Center this morning, forcing an emergency evacuation of the building and nearby Boonville Lofts. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081006/BREAKING01/81006019/1007/NEWS01cid=1254828402ei=27_qSOHdMJf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHYRvnpy16D4oLD0T3EoDrKndQDRwLarge gas leak reported in downtown Springfield/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNews-Leader.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254828402hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
innovation - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

All Fortunes Begin With an Idea!

A new idea is merely the combination of two or... Read More

Mindfulness and Beliefs: Irrationally Yours

I can't help it--I am a confirmed neuroscience geek.So I... Read More

How An Idea Can Lift You

What determines your destiny? What predisposes your choices?It is your... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Teach, Coach, Learn

Coaching, training or learning about creativity and innovation involves mastery... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Being Obvious

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Role Play

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Facing a Resource Crunch? Read On!

Recently I read an excerpt from a new business innovation... Read More

Owning Your Power

Owning your power, your power to be real, to be... Read More

Opportunity: Could You Be Colour-blind?

Do you consider your vision perfect? You may never have... Read More

Intuition Power In Three Steps

Have you ever used your intuition to solve problems? Can... Read More

Business Innovation ? Radical and Disruptive Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Managing Creativity and Innovation, Part 1 of 2

Leaders, consultants and managers must be competent in at least... Read More

Why It?s Important to Make Your Idea Real

Say you have an idea for something new and exciting... Read More

Starving for Intimacy

Some are seeking love in a bottle. Others look for... Read More

Mother Of Invention Or Dummy? You Decide!

What would you say to yourself if when faced with... Read More

Process Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

A Time for Rebellion!

When is it right for you to rebel against the... Read More

Imagination

Imagination is the unreal, real state of mind, where all... Read More

How To Benefit from The Power of New Innovations in the Year 2005

How many times have you heard the phrase "knowledge is... Read More

Learn To Trust That Gut-Feeling

It just might save your lifeThink of the many times... Read More

Set Yourself Up for Success!

Set Yourself Up For Success!... Read More

Creativity Management ? When To Add Talent

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Let the Seeds Grow

The thought that every great thing that has ever happened,... Read More

How to Turn Nothing Into Something

Excerpted from the Jim Rohn Weekend Seminar-Excelling in the New... Read More

Innovation Management ? Developing Ideas Within A Framework

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More