Innovation Dilemmas

Innovation leads to dilemmas that can either help or hinder the process. These dilemmas arise when natural tensions between two apparent opposite ideas or concepts are encountered, such as cost vs. quality or stability vs. change. Dilemmas can be managed over time by recognizing the difference between dilemmas and problems, which differ in that problems are decidable. Innovation facilitators face the dilemma of choosing between problem-to-solution and solution-to-problem methods, among other dilemmas. Managers need to find the right balance between disruptive and incremental ideas, and to weigh the value of creating new ideas against the payoff from finishing existing projects. Innovation teams need to be formed with a balance between content expertise and diverse views and insights.