Management Tip of the Day: Use Constraint to Instigate Innovation

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JUNE 16, 2011 Use Constraint to Instigate Innovation Scarcity seems to have replaced necessity as the mother of invention in today's organizations. Far too many managers believe that depriving projects of resources will inspire innovation. While that's true sometimes, you're better off using constraints rather than starvation. The human brain reacts to stimuli, so while a blank sheet can terrify, one or two constraints can stimulate. Experiment with introducing a clearly defined problem and an urgent need. But, don't create false urgency by refusing to fund a project. The team you are asking to innovate shouldn't have to waste its creative energy scrambling to find resources. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Necessity, not Scarcity, is the Mother of Invention" by Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Harvard Business Review on Inspiring & Executing Innovation Harvard Business Review Paperback Series If you need the best practices and ideas for creating and delivering new products and services — but don't have time to find them — this book is for you. Here are ten inspiring and useful perspectives, all in one place. This collection of HBR articles will help you decide which ideas are worth pursuing, adapt offerings from the developing world to wealthy markets, plan all-new ventures by testing and tweaking, and more. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Prepare Your Speech, but Be Ready to Change It 3 Rules for Making Your Writing Clear Look Beyond the Financials Don't Mix Business with Pleasure Share a Hypothesis Instead of a Directive Treat Every Task as Three Steps, Not One 3 Rules for Choosing the Right IT Vendor Avoid 3 Traps of Performance Management Save Your Company from Reorg Misery Give Compassionate Criticism BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Free HBR Interactive issue Download the iPad app HBR Reads, and get your issue with audio and video interviews and multimedia slideshows. Learn more » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2011 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)