Innovation Station, Part 3

Focus on the Problem, Not the Solution

The old adage “Necessity is the mother of invention” — around for thousands of years — describes the notion that people are more likely to come up with new ideas when trying to address a need or solve a problem.  While the saying is thought to have originated in ancient Greece, it probably predates that because it points to man’s ingenuity in the face of adversity.  It reminds us that people are often at their most creative when faced with a challenge.  When forced to ‘think outside the box’, we are more likely to come up with new and innovative solutions.

History is replete with examples of inventions created out of necessity.  Here is a basic one.  The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in response to a need for a more efficient and reliable source of light.  There was already gas lighting being used in homes, but it was expensive and produced a lot of pollution. Edison believed that an electric light bulb could be cleaner and more efficient.  He began working on the lightbulb in 1878, experimenting with different materials for the filament, including carbon, platinum, and tungsten. He also experimented with different ways to create a vacuum in the bulb. After many, many failed attempts, Edison finally succeeded in creating a lightbulb that could last for 1,200 hours. He patented his invention in 1879 and that single innovation changed the world.

But that invention simply shed light (pun intended) on a series of other problems that then generated other innovations.  For example, the invention of the light bulb led to the invention of the electric power grid.  The light bulb was one of the first major applications for electricity, and its widespread adoption led to the development of the electric power grid. This allowed people to have access to reliable and affordable electricity, which in turn led to a number of other inventions, such as the electric motor, the refrigerator, the washing machine, and other pieces of equipment that made chores like cooking and cleaning easier.

The invention of the light bulb also led to the invention of the motion picture industry.  Before the invention of the light bulb, films had to be shot during the day, as there was no way to create enough light to film at night and indoors. The light bulb made it possible to film at night and inside big warehouses where sets were constructed.  This opened up a world of possibilities for filmmakers.

And the invention of the light bulb led to the invention of the television industry. Early televisions were very expensive and bulky, and required a lot of power. The light bulb made it possible to create smaller, more affordable televisions that could be used in homes.

But, arguably the most important innovation that resulted from the invention of the light bulb was the computer industry.  Early computers were huge, wildly expensive, and required a tremendous amount of power. The invention of the light bulb made it possible to create smaller, more affordable computers in a number of ways. The first computers were vacuum tube computers. Vacuum tubes were large and bulky, and they required a lot of power. The light bulb made it possible to create smaller, more affordable vacuum tubes, which in turn made it possible to create smaller, more affordable computers. 

Then the invention of the transistor in the 1940s made it possible to create computers that were even smaller and more affordable than vacuum tube computers. This was invented by a team of scientists and engineers who were working on a way to automate the mathematical calculations (partial differential equations) that were needed by the military during World War II.  Transistors are much smaller and more efficient than vacuum tubes, and required less power.

Then, the development of integrated circuits in the 1950s and 1960s made it possible to create computers that were even smaller and more affordable than transistor computers. Integrated circuits are made up of multiple transistors that are etched onto a single silicon chip. This made it possible to create computers that were much smaller and more affordable than previous computers.  So while the computer was originally designed for mathematical calculations, it turned out, with the right software, to be infinitely adaptable to different uses, from business data processing to personal computing to the construction of a global information network.  This too changed the world and has also revealed a host of other problems that people are using computers to solve.  The ripple effect of innovation is that it invariably reveals more problems that lead to even more innovations.  It is an endless virtuous cycle.  That’s why Uri Levine, founder of Waze, advises to “Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution.” 

Why Does Necessity Drive Creativity?

So why do people need a problem to solve in order to be creative?  People are more creative when faced with a problem or need because it motivates them to find a solution. When we are faced with a challenge, our brains are forced to work harder to come up with new ideas. This leads to new and innovative solutions we may not have thought of otherwise.  When faced with a problem or need, people are more:

• Intensely motivated. When faced with a problem or need, we are more motivated to find a solution.  This helps us overcome frustration generated by obstacles and provides the perseverance when tired to continue to seek creative solutions.
• Keenly focused.  When faced with a challenge, our brains are more likely to focus intently on the problem in order to come up with solutions. This focus helps us to see the problem from different perspectives and conjure new and innovative solutions.
• Open to new ideas.  Never are we are more likely to be open to new ideas than when faced with a problem. 
• Open to Risk.  The bigger the problem, the more likely we are to take risks.  Risk-taking helps spur out-of-the-box thinking.

In Business, Problems Drive Innovation

For companies, the drive to solve customer problems is driven by the company’s culture of genuinely knowing their customers and wanting to solve their problems.  Companies need to have a:

• Culture of Innovation.  Innovation can’t be forced. It needs to be a part of the company’s culture. Employees need to be encouraged to take risks and try new things. Employees need to feel like they are supported in their efforts to innovate even if they aren’t successful.
• Commitment to Research and Development.  Companies that are serious about innovation invest time and money into R&D.  This commitment means that not every idea will work right away, but given time could eventually work.
• Willingness to Fail.  That is part of having an R&D culture.  There will be times when companies fail.  Innovative companies are willing to fail and learn from those failures.  Edison failed many, many times before he finally found the right materials to make a lightbulb.
• Focus on the Customer’s Problems.  Innovation is about solving the customer’s problems. They look to meet those needs in new and innovative ways.
• Diverse Workforce. Diversity of thought is important for innovation. Companies that have a diverse workforce are more likely to come up with creative ways to solve problems. 

For a company to be truly innovation-driven, it requires visionary and courageous leadership.  Innovation requires leaders who welcome problems, accept failure graciously, and trust bright capable staff to try new things.  So the only real question is whether your workplace is willing to check ego at the door and allow intelligent, driven, focused and curious people to push the boundaries and find new ways to fix vexing problems.  Does your workplace have what it takes?

Quote of the Week

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

© 2023, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.

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