Overcoming the barriers to effective innovation

Purpose – This article offers three key pieces of advice for companies that aspire to be successful serial innovators: don't just treat the symptoms. Don't only act on one root cause. Don't blindly copy best practices.Design/methodology/approach – Explains how to conduct an “innovation diagnostic” to pinpoint your company's specific innovation issues and opportunities and how to build a tailored action plan to address your company's most critical issues.Findings – The study found that companies that act systemically on all four root causes of innovation blockages have the best chance of success.Practical implications – Companies that aspire to be successful innovators need to act on the root causes of innovation failure found in four areas: leadership behaviors, management processes, people and skills, and culture and values.Originality/value – Explains why innovation dysfunctionality is systemic problem, not one that can be quick fixed with a few new techniques such as stage gates and idea generation ses...