It may surprise you to know that you can generate a significant ROII (Return on Innovation Investment) without spending a dollar.

An innovative organization is one in which innovation is part of its DNA. As a result, innovation is embedded within and diffused throughout the organization on a 24/7 basis.  Innovation becomes a mindset which subtley informs and drives every action taken by everyone in the company, from the top down. Innovation applies to everything that is done both inside and outside an organization from internal to external communications, to HR, to operations, to sales, and so on.
 
Innovation becomes rote, like riding a bicycle or tying your shoes. You do it automatically and effortlessy. Just as divers dive with precision, and skaters skate with grace, innovators innovate naturally with regard to everything that they do.

At GE, Jack Welch encouraged a "better way every day". Think about Jack"s maxim as you think about what you can do now with no added expenditure. In a truly innovative organization, innovation has been instilled as an organizational core competence. You don"t need to allocate additional dollars to innovation initiatives or increase your R&D budget. The tools and the mindset are already in place...the work has been done. Now put it to work in a better way, every day.
 
For some examples of innovations going on in different industries, visit the following links at the Inspiring Ideas blog:
 
Stepping outside of your comfort zone in search of transformative experiences:
 
http://hsm.typepad.com/inspiringideas/2008/12/award-winning-film-to-be-screened-at-world-innovation-forum.html

 
Disruptive innovation meets blue ocean in a previously uncontested space:
 
http://hsm.typepad.com/inspiringideas/2008/11/t5-at-jfk-----a-winning-innovation-featured-at-world-innovation-forum.html

 
Democratizing genomics in an effort to provide access to all:
 
http://hsm.typepad.com/inspiringideas/2008/11/1-invention-23andme-at-1-innovation-event.html

Youth, innovation and entrepreneurship:
 
http://hsm.typepad.com/inspiringideas/2008/12/our-children-will-save-the-world.html