Radical innovation: crossing knowledge boundaries with ...

And what are the implications of our findings for those seeking to support and
enhance the practice and impact of interdisciplinary innovation?
8.1. Ex-ante not ex-post use of interdisciplinary innovation
One of our clearest findings is that for the value of interdisciplinary innovation to be
maximised, interdisciplinary approaches need to be used to frame the problem or
challenge to be investigated; otherwise the value of investing in an interdisciplinary
exercise is diminished.
Ex-ante interdisciplinary involvement opens up new frames that allow a wider range
of innovation options and thus a wide range of outcomes, some of which might be
radical successes.
All too often interdisciplinary teams are brought together ‘to fix the plumbing’ – only
to tell the client – ‘we can fix the plumbing sir, the problem is you’re living the wrong
house.’
This approach is particularly important within public policy contexts – which are
frequently characterized by extreme complexity – of stakeholders, of issues and of
shifting viewpoints. It is in such environments that interdisciplinarity offers the most
power when applied to the definition of the problem. By bringing together a range of
backgrounds, each with their own tools, their own analysis perspectives and their own
bases for analysis, the opportunity is opened for a broader canvas and a better picture
of the problem.
Our research highlighted instances where this interdisciplinary approach has been
used explicitly, for example the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, to broaden the
definition of big policy issues and to create the potential for a more innovative
solution.
Ex- ante use of interdisciplinary approaches is also vital given that the evaluation of
success or failure of intervention is embedded in the framing of the problem. This is
true both of the domain in which success will be measured, economic, social,
educational, and of the measures applied. Each discipline offers its own preferred
measurement and analysis tools. Used thoughtlessly, such measurements can drive
behaviours that will actively impede interdisciplinary innovation.
8.2. Evaluation
Interdisciplinary innovation is a quintessential example of the ways in which
quantitative measures can be ‘helpful indicators but very dangerous targets.’
So how do we know whether an innovative interdisciplinary enterprise has been
successful? We might describe success in terms of (intrinsic) quality or (extrinsic)
Innovation and Interdisciplinarity 82