Christensen, Gregersen & Dyer’s The Innovator’s DNA

Clayton Christensen, Jeff Dyer, & Hal Gregersen wrote The Innovator’s DNA—I loved it

My family used to play a game we called “What is it?”. A family member would hold up on object and ask “What is it?”. Everyone would then call out their answers. The answers varied because the rules prohibited saying what the obvious answer seemed to be. Little did we know that the game developed our innovator’s DNA.

Our family buzzed as we read The Innovator’s DNA. We reminisced, laughed, and appreciated our parents for developing our innovative skills and abilities. I heard Jeff Dyer speak about the research and read the book. I highly recommend you get it and read it.

5 Traits of the Innovator’s DNA

The authors reviewed research on twins that indicated innovative tendencies are not genetic. So, the title of the book does not reflect gene pool DNA. Instead the Innovator’s DNA refers to five character traits and skills common to all innovators. Innovators:

• Associate: Innovators combine seemingly diverse items into something new. The authors share an example how thinking of both a washing machine and a microwave generated a dishwasher that fit in a kitchen sink
• Question: Innovators frequently question the status quo. They ask “What if…?”, “What is…?”, and questions that contain explosive innovation.
• Observe: Innovators observe issues closely. The authors described how what Steve Jobs observed during a visit to Xerox’s PARC generated ideas for both the mouse and graphic based OS10 (which later changed software and inspired MS Windows)
• Network: Innovators network with others to gather more information, observe more, and learn more. They seek out people from different backgrounds or ways of thinking to gain additional insights and changes.
• Experiment: Innovators experiment to try different approaches, different products, or different ideas. Experimentation expands their understanding. Innovators do not fear failure, but use it to increase their learning.

Our family made games to develop these skills. We thought everyone did. The authors highlight that people can learn each of these skills to innovate.

Monday we will begin analyzing a new report highlighting the growing salary gap in America