Think For A Change: Innovation Done Right...3M's Innovation Story...

Think For A Change: Innovation Done Right...3M's Innovation Story...

Innovation Done Right...3M's Innovation Story...

I was incredibly fortunate to be one of a very select handful of innovation thought-leaders invited to the 3M Customer Innovation Center yesterday for a behind the scenes look at how and why 3M innovates. This visit moved me in a totally unexpected way. As a person passionate about innovation and ideas, I have always used 3M as a shining example of one of the elite few organizations who champion innovation as a true business strategy. But, until yesterday, I didn't have a real hands-on understanding of the depth of just how much 3M "gets it." I was not prepared to meet so many people whose passion and dedication to innovate matched mine. So many organizations say they want to be innovative and trample new paths that you can get lost in the artificial euphoria. When confronted with legitimate and deeply sincere euphoria...it can catch you off-guard. And that is where I was as I sat at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport last night...collecting my thoughts...trying to figure out why I had been moved so much.

So let's explore some snapshots of things that really took me by surprise yesterday:

1. The day was led off by Chief Marketing Officer Robert McDonald on how important innovation is to 3M and how/why it gives them a competitive advantage. Okay...you could pretty much predict something like that right? A senior executive reading the company cheerleading message to start the day. But...here's where I was taken aback. He stayed with us the entire day. The CMO of a Fortune 100 organization spent the ENTIRE day with 6 innovation thought leaders to share 3M's passion and learn from our passion. And he didn't just tag along, he was FULLY engaged. Sharing stories. Asking very educated questions about innovation management strategy. Helping us "play" with 3M's products. Impressive.
2. The VP of Corporate Research, Larry Wendling, walked us through 3M's Pillars of Innovation. I'll list these "pillars" in a moment, but what really struck me, and continued to do so all day, was just how invisible (or maybe seamless) the innovation process is at 3M. They don't talk about where they are in the process, how to move from one step to another, who owns what piece of the process, etc. They just all have this collective understanding of how, what, who, when and where things need to progress along the innovation management path. Everyone knows it because everyone lives it and the leaders facilitate it. As promised, here are specific 3M's Pillars of Innovation:
   • Research & Development
   • Corporate Culture
   • Diversified Technologies
   • Networking
   • Recognition
   • Measurement
   • Connection to the Customer
3. I never understood just how many products in the world are either direct-branded 3M products or have a 3M product in them. And nowhere was that made more apparent than the "World of Innovation" center. If 3M was going for the "WOW!" factor...they certainly succeeded. This is a Disney-esque Museum of Science and Industry, complete with plantetarium-style presentation and dozens of individual technology platform exhibits with hands-on examples of products, services and processes. Again, you could expect an organization to have a flashy showcase of products. But what made this stand out is its real purpose. 3M put this center together not to show off, but to stimulate thought. When customers come in to partner with 3M on new products, they are first brought through the center as a kind of creativity exercise. Customers are encouraged to make connections between available technology platforms. Yeah...WOW! Get your customer to help improve their own products via a unique combination of 3M products.
4. Following an engaging lunch where we shared "war stories" of innovation management, we were treated to a nice presentation about breakthrough innovation by Corporate Scientist Andrew Ouderkirk. Honestly, he was preaching to the choir with this presentation. But what was extremely valuable, and what caused me to be the most impressed with 3M's innovation approach, was how deep and broad 3M's internal network reaches. This is a culture that is built from the ground up via networking. Have a problem...call someone in your network. They don't know...they will connect you with someone who does. And this goes top to bottom folks. I really believe that any entry level scientist would be hooked up eventually with the CEO if the CEO had the answer that was needed. That's unbelievable rare. Not only that, it goes horizontal too. There are no silos at 3M. At least in the technology and R&D areas. Want one more advantage of the network? Its easy to force two or more unique viewpoints at a problem very quickly. The "collisions" of ideas necessary for a breakthrough concept happen here every day...by design. My only hope for 3M is that they protect and nurture this incredible advantage.

One other thing I'd like to mention before closing...and that is the collective brilliance in the room yesterday. We had executive level people, corporate scientists resplendent with PhD's and 3M Hall of Fame Awards along with brilliant minds on innovation from some of the finest universities, think tanks and consultancies that specialize in innovation. It would have been easy to be intimidated. But it was the most relaxed, open, honest and collaborative meeting I have been involved with in a long time. Thank you to those involved yesterday for a moving, thought-provoking and inspirational day. I have a hundred new blog ideas based on what I experienced and saw yesterday...so watch for more insights in the future.

To build on this discussion, some of my counterparts have also shared their thoughts. Please review and participate!

Jeffrey Phillips - OVO - Innovate on Purpose Blog
Michael Lippitz - Clareo Partners - Grow From Within Blog
Nick Schulz - American Enterprise Institute - The Enterprise Blog
Lisa Bodell - FutureThink
Joe Sinfield - Innosight
Mary Tripsas - Harvard Business School & NY Times Contributor