1.5 - About University

Innovation assessmentYour personalquestion assessment Action plan to improveHow creative is your own thinkingstyle?How threatened are you by someoneelse generating a new idea?How prepared are you to deal with theambiguity and risk new ideas bring?How often do you use negativephrases like, “We’ve tried that,” “Itwon’t work here,” “They won’t go forit,” or “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?How skilled are you at encouragingnew ideas?How skilled are you at encouragingparticipation?How many creativity techniques areused by yourself and your workgroup?How well do you deal with failure?(No new idea is foolproof.)How conscious and skilled are you atunderstanding problem frames andreframing?How skilled are you at border guarding—providingcreativity andinnovation space for individuals andgroups?How often do you explicitly discusscreativity and innovation with yourworkgroup?How balanced are you in yourlifestyle: learning, reading, andcontributing outside your professionand worklife so you have “lateralthinking”life experiences?[☛ 14.7 Personal Preferences][☛ 15.6 Defenses][☛ 10.7 Getting Participation][☛ 7.1 Problem Framing][☛ 10.8 Ground Rules][☛ 15.1 Balance]Part 2: Taking a Creative Idea to ActionNow assess your skills at taking a good idea to implementation and producing results. Planactions as appropriate.Innovation assessmentYour personalquestion assessment Action plan to improveHow skilled are you at massaging anidea to make it more workable andresults-oriented?How conscious are you of establishingan innovation culture?How skilled are you at selling a newidea?[☛ 4.5 Culture][☛ 9.7 Selling Wheel]SECTION 6 TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND INNOVATION 191