Innovation is one of the most sought-after qualities in today’s business world. Companies and organizations struggle to create the best conditions to promote creativity and new thinking. But here an interesting paradox arises. When we introduce structures and standards for innovation – such as ISO 56000, which is an international standard for innovation management – we risk tying up creativity rather than unleashing it.
Can a framework for innovation really lead to genuine creativity, or is it precisely the structures that prevent us from thinking outside the box?
A standard is about structure
A standard for innovation provides guidelines for how organizations can structure their innovation work. It can be useful for creating a basic understanding of innovation processes and for ensuring that everyone within an organization has a common understanding of methods and goals. Standards help us create a common platform, where everyone can collaborate effectively and work towards common goals.
But here also lies one of the biggest challenges. A standard is just that – a standard. It is about organizing, structuring and improving processes. It gives us a framework for how to do things effectively, and that’s where the problems can arise. If we blindly follow standards, we risk losing what really makes innovation interesting and groundbreaking: the unpredictability, the experimentality, and the creative chaos.
What if you give a bureaucratic organization an innovation standard
Imagine taking a bureaucratic organization, perhaps with rather unmotivated or tradition-bound employees, and giving them a standard for innovation, such as ISO 56000. Will they suddenly become more innovative? Maybe, but not necessarily in the way we want to see.
Well, they might create more than they did before. We might see ideas being generated, solutions being identified, and processes being effectively improved. But here’s the question: Will they create something truly groundbreaking? Something that changes the industry or the world? Probably not.
Standards help us create structural improvements – but these improvements are not automatically the same as innovation. Innovation is not about doing what we already do better, but about thinking in a completely new way. To innovate.
Standards create efficiency, but not necessarily creativity
When we talk about standards like ISO 56000, they are often useful. Think of other areas where standards are necessary – such as in electricity, the internet or building codes. These standards create opportunities by making us do things the same way, which makes it easier to collaborate, follow safety regulations and work efficiently. But when it comes to the actual doing in the specific case – where we should actually be creative – we risk that an overly strict standard focuses on doing like everyone else and that it then prevents new thinking and justifies a way that does not involve groundbreaking, emotions or daring to be different.
Innovation is often about breaking with conventions and thinking differently. A standard can guide us in how we organize the work around innovation – how we collaborate, how we communicate and how we learn from each other. But it can never tell us exactly how to think, and it is precisely the mindset that drives real innovation.
A standard can stimulate security, but inhibit imagination
One of the great advantages of introducing a standard like ISO 56000 is that it can make people feel more secure. For those who feel unsure about how to start or how to structure their innovation work, a standard can be a secure support. It allows them to get started and start working in a more structured way, which leads to more ideas coming to the surface.
But here comes the paradox: While a standard can provide security and structure, it can also prevent the most creative from thinking freely. For those who already have a strong drive for innovation, the standard may feel like a limitation, an invisible handbrake that prevents them from thinking in a free and unconventional way. A standard does not allow room for those who want to think outside the box, and it can even discourage them from doing so.
Standards and creativity – two sides of the same coin
Standards for innovation are certainly not without value. They can help us organize ourselves better, create structure and efficiency, and ensure that we do not miss important steps in the innovation process. But they can also create the illusion of innovation without the real creative spark being there. They can help us do some things better, but they can never create the magic spark that leads to truly groundbreaking ideas.
As with many things in life, it is a balancing act. A certain amount of structure and guidance is necessary to keep the process on track, but it is also important to allow creativity to flourish outside the box.
Standards like ISO 56000 are a useful tool for creating structures and processes that support innovation. They can help organizations collaborate better, share knowledge and build a common foundation for innovative work. But they will never be able to replace the real driving force behind innovation – the imagination, the willingness to think new things and the courage to break norms.
So the next time you think about how to promote innovation in your organization, remember that a standard can be a guide, but it is not the creative force. Real innovation comes from people who dare to think outside the box and who do not let themselves be limited by structures.
Is it possible to create innovation without following ISO56000? Yes, most innovations have been created anyway.
