KS on the Web

Earlier this week, I attended a talk by someone from Xerox’s research arm. The most striking thing about the talk was how “innovation”-laden it was.

His group within the company was called the “Innovation Group”. He spoke about 3 different “innovation verticals” within their group, and the different “innovation models” they follow. He described “Customer Led Innovation” and “Collaborative Open Innovation” as two of the innovation models they follow.

Needless to say, it was one of the most cringe-inducing talks I’ve ever been to.

For the benefit of humanity, I wish more people read this article by Scott Berkun in the Economist:

From all my travels and speaking gigs in 2007, I’m most confident about the following advice: Stop using the word innovation in 2008. Just stop. Right now. Commit to never saying the word again. Einstein, Ford, Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, and Edison rarely said the word and neither should you. Every crowd I’ve said this to laughed and agreed. The I-word is killing us.

Here’s why: it doesn’t mean anything anymore.