Radical innovation: crossing knowledge boundaries with ...

the people who ‘identify the obvious’ problem in an otherwise accepted problem
statement.
In order to be successful in the maverick role, they must be able to act as a champion
for interdisciplinary work, and also have the influence to gain traction within their
organisation (possibly with the aid of a sponsor or patron). They typically exhibit both
flair and persuasion.
6.3.4 Pole-star leadership
“Pole-star” leadership demands that the charismatic leader of an innovative
interdisciplinary programme must establish middle ground between objectives that
satisfy and reassure sponsors, while also being open to the unanticipated outcomes
that are the most valuable opportunities.
Some important factors include:
� aiming to achieve capacity rather than specific goals
� just-in-time versus just-in-case
� linking short-term goals with long- term vision
� coordinating goals versus collaborator’s individual goals
� distinguishing and maintaining both focus and serendipity
� defining and promoting an ‘inspiring’ phrase to brand the enterprise
6.3.5 Entrepreneurs
The term ‘entrepreneurship’ was seldom used by the people speaking to us, even
those who would probably regard themselves as examples of that property. The term
is seldom seen in the literature on interdisciplinarity. However it is commonplace in
the innovation literature. This may have as much to do with policy statements and
hyperbole that fail to distinguish between entrepreneurship and innovation as sources
of wealth.
In this work though we regard entrepreneurs as those individuals focusing primarily
on commercial return and for whom innovation is just one element of building new
business. Our commentators focused primarily on radical innovation as the source of
their businesses, typified by Cleevely’s new ventures 40 . In Cleevely’s case,
3WayNetworks was a company that developed a very novel technology before being
sold as a realisation of value for the founders. A current undertaking, Abcam plc, is a
result of innovation around bringing product to users in new and valuable ways. In
both cases innovation has been at the core of the entrepreneurship displayed.
Entrepreneurs typically display many of the attributes associated with innovators and
40 Expert witness report
Innovation and Interdisciplinarity 67