In the early days of NASA, according to an urban myth, astronauts discovered that ballpoint pens would not work properly in zero gravity. NASA scientists spent $12 billion to solve the problem, coming up with a pen that writes in zero gravity and at any angle. The Russians used a pencil.

I suspect many of us, if asked, would say we want to make a difference, to have an impact on the business. Innovation is such an opportunity. Innovation can be a difference-maker in product, service, cost, growth and more. But you need to seize the opportunity and do it the right way.

Why is this important? Because innovation is becoming an expectation of IT.

Regulations are setting the bar higher on quality and efficiency. Businesses are looking to their IT departments for ideas to help with competition, costs, engaging the customer and much more.

Key innovation strategies

1. Look for the Russian pencil

While the NASA story above may not be factual, it does make a point about pursuing overly-complex solutions, wasting time and money. Your staff may want to generate just such a solution. Always look for simplicity.

A manager in one of our business departments requested this of IT: Enable faster printing of a specific document to save time.

"Why do you print this document?" I asked. The answer was to prove that the business department had thoroughly tested system changes.

"Who do you need to prove it to?" I asked. "IT" was the response.

Being IT, I trusted the business department was doing the testing they said they were. While we could have engineered a technology solution for faster printing, it would have been unnecessary. No printing was needed at all ... a Russian pencil.

2. Generate (or steal) ideas

You have access to your own wealth of knowledge, that of your staff and that of resources outside of your company. Tap into those sources.

3. Overcome resource and risk hurdles

There will be inevitable concerns raised about resources and risks. Address and resolve these upfront, rather than waiting for these issues to be raised later on by others.

4. Exploit the innovation

Leverage the innovation for business advantage and for recruiting purposes. Derive as much value as possible.

7 ways to generate innovative ideas

Where do innovative ideas come from? Consider these approaches to generating innovation:

1. Know your strategic business plan

What business problems need to be addressed? Your business colleagues may not be thinking of technology solutions, so you think about how technology could contribute. Think outside the box for creative solutions to these business problems.

2. Leverage your IT knowledge

Some may not think they are creative enough to come up with innovation, that this is the job of some other person or department. But you have a wealth of experience and training. Bring this to the table, as only you can. It is OK to steal (or reuse) ideas from your past.

I proposed an innovative marketing idea in a former company, but the company was focused on cost containment, and my idea was focused on growth. The idea went nowhere. While working for a growth-oriented company years later, I brushed off the idea, and it was enthusiastically implemented.

3. Draw from your team

Just as you have a wealth of experience to draw from, so does your staff. Think of all the companies they have collectively worked for and the diversity of their backgrounds. Tap into this resource. It may be as simple as asking them for ideas, perhaps in a group discussion about the strategic plan.

4. Consult with your vendor partners

Share your strategic plan with your key vendor partners, to the extent you can without violating confidentiality or competitive secrecy. How can they help if they don't know where you and your company are headed? Draw from their experience with other clients facing similar challenges.

Ask about the vendor's product or technology pipeline. An innovative solution may be forthcoming that you were not aware of. You may need to sign a nondisclosure agreement to obtain this information, but better to be prepared than surprised.

5. Draw from industry analysts

Consult with industry analysts like Gartner, IDC, Forrester, etc. I tried to sync with the analysts as least annually to be sure I was aligned with current technology trends and direction. In those trends may also be innovative products or ideas. Even if they are not immediately available, knowledge can help you position for these products or ideas.

6. Network with other CIOs

Look for, or initiate, networking opportunities with peers both inside and outside your industry. A great example is the Society for Information Management (SIM). The solutions you seek may already have been implemented in another company or industry.

Attend conferences, again both inside and outside your industry. These provide topics and discussions of interest, plus provide networking opportunities with attendees. Conferences also provide access to peers outside of your geographic area, broadening your reach for ideas.

7. Read

Consider not only technology magazines, but industry ones as well. Typically available online, these sources are rich in case studies. Blogs and LinkedIn groups also provide valuable sources. In my experience, reading is easy to push to the bottom of your priority list. Proactively allocate some time each week to this endeavor.

Sell the idea

Now that you have the innovative idea, prepare to sell it. Address resource and risk issues upfront, rather than waiting for such questions to be raised. Package the idea for approval.

Resources

• Look for low-cost options, including a pilot project to test the idea. Consider a smaller scale, using fewer resources. Consider alternative sources, like grant money.
• Position this as an opportunity for IT staff. Align with their development plans. You may find they will pursue the idea on their own time just for the opportunity.
• Ask change agents within the business for their help. Solicit help from these business peers who are supportive of new ideas and change.
• Ask vendors partners to help. This opportunity may align with their staff development or skill building. If you have cultivated a strong partnership, having made deposits in the "emotional bank account" as Stephen Covey calls it in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," this may be the time to ask for a withdrawal.

Risk

• Will the idea actually work? Consider a pilot effort to scale down the risk. Develop metrics to measure the results. Survey the participants for reaction. The data will guide in the decision to expand beyond the pilot.
• Is there a chance for lawsuits? Think about how legal and regulatory risks can be proactively addressed. For example, in healthcare, we developed and used a patient consent form to comply with regulations.

Package the idea

• Clearly state how this innovative idea aligns with the strategic business plan.
• Quickly define the benefits — to the business and to the customer. If you save this until the end of your pitch, you may never get there. The discussion may be sidetracked by discussions of risk, for example.
• Use the language of the business, not technical jargon or a wiring diagram. Help your business partners understand the idea by eliminating hurdles to their understanding. Consider using diagrams, or analogies to something familiar.
• Consider using a one-page proposal that shows the idea, the benefits (including alignment with the business plan), resources and risks (including how to overcome them), alternatives considered and discarded, and request to proceed.

Leverage the idea

Once the innovative idea has been sold, how can you maximize the impact?

• Consider a copyright or patent on the idea, protecting the competitive advantage and value for your company.
• With your marketing department, leverage the advertising value of the idea. Can it be used to accentuate the reputation of your company as a leader in innovation? Can it drive business to your company?
• With your HR department, consider use of the idea in employee recruiting. Again, it may accentuate the reputation of your company as a leader in innovation, and increase the value proposition to a prospective employee.

Results

These techniques contributed to our company being recognized by InformationWeek in 2010 and 2011 for innovation in technology. In 2010, we were honored with the data analytics award, across all industries, for innovative work in data analytics. This involved the identification of "emergency room frequent flyers" and creation of an outreach program for them, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first year alone.