The Necessity of Process

Necessity is the mother of invention. In the previously described situations, favorable opportunities, successes, and failures served as sources of innovation. Another source is aptly explained by the old proverb: "Necessity is the mother of invention." Here, the driving force for innovation is an urgent need. Typically, all employees know that such a need exists, but no one takes action. The implemented innovation is accepted as obvious and immediately becomes the standard. This type of innovation requires a deep understanding of the necessity for updates and follows this sequence: studying the process, identifying the weak or missing link, clearly defining goals, and developing tasks and specifications. For example, O.M. Scott and Company, a company producing lawn care equipment, became the leader in the American market thanks to a simple device – a spreader that allowed for the even distribution of the right amount of chemicals when watering the lawn. Today, there are many varieties of such spreaders on the market. TIP OF THE DAY: What process in your company has a weak link? Describe the process, evidence of the weak link's existence, and possible solutions.