🔗 How to build innovation teams

Why do people believe you can build an innovation team by hiring a few smart people and giving them a creative space? Phil McKinney's article challenges this notion, sharing insights from his experience leading innovation teams at HP and CableLabs. He argues that without a strong foundational culture and the right roles, innovation efforts often fail. McKinney outlines six essential steps for building effective innovation teams, emphasizing the importance of recruiting specific roles rather than just talent. He illustrates how processes must be tailored to a company’s unique context rather than blindly adopted from successful examples elsewhere. The piece is not just theoretical; it’s based on practical lessons learned from McKinney’s experiences, including a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of imitating others without adaptation. Readers seeking to cultivate innovation will find valuable strategies and insights here.