Forbes: How Constraints Help Or Inhibit Innovation

September 3, 2019

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What is one of the most frequent points of feedback that leaders receive from innovation teams? “We don’t have enough budget, people and/or time.” Yet, organizations, even the multibillion-dollar publicly traded companies, work under constraints. So what is the right level of constraints that helps innovation to thrive?

Product teams tasked with creating the next blockbuster product demand ample resources to execute. After all, when teams are well-funded, motivated, intellectually challenged and socially encouraged, they realize the highest level of creativity and innovation. Yet, some research suggests innovation improves when constraints are imposed. This is the philosophy behind Agile management, lean startup principles and daily stand-up meetings. Yet a recent study indicates that imposing too many constraints can backfire and hurt the innovation process.

The study shows that there is an inverted U-shape relationship between constraints and innovation. Little to no constraints can breed complacency and inadvertently hurt the creative process. Too many constraints choke the life out of the project and demotivate the team. The research suggests that innovation thrives in between these extremes. However, it turns out finding the right balance is much harder than we thought. The research analyzed how, why and when constraints help or hurt innovation.

To read the full article, visit Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnycouncil/2019/09/03/how-constraints-help-or-inhibit-innovation/#3cf747695b82

About Scott Amyx

Managing Partner at Amyx Ventures, Top Global Innovation Keynote Speaker, TEDx, Forbes, Singularity U., SXSW, IBM Futurist, Tribeca Fellow