Outsourcing should be Innovative
by
Charlie Bess
Yesterday Franz Johansson (of The Medici Effect) spoke to a number of EDS folks today. Most of what he talked about was how innovation is generated at the intersection points. The discussion made me wonder more about the barriers to innovation, particularly for outsourcers.
Outsourcing by definition, is a clash between cultures: between the existing organization and the newly injected outsourcer. If handled effectively, it should cause a flurry of innovative activity, since it is an intersection point. The outsourcer should be looking at the different ways this organization works compared to the other customers and the customer at an influx of new (and possibly uncomfortable) perspectives, tools and approaches.
Yet, innovation from outsourcing seems to be an on-going concern. Could it be that organizations don’t allow enough conflict – or (at least) don’t bring it to the surface and cultivate it to some extent? It should be different. It should be uncomfortable. If it is not, is there an opportunity being missed? In Franz’s presentation he talks about having diverse perspectives working together and that diverse teams are more productive. In addition to that, there needs to be governance to bring that conflict (innovation) to a practical and useful conclusion.
When two organizations come together should be the time ripe for rapid innovation, since any team that works long enough together will begin to settle into a pattern of behavior. So to keep an on-going relationship alive means bringing people in from outside who can shake things up. It should be a good thing even though issues are going to be brought forward that some people would rather have kept hidden. As long as the organization can accept a degree of experimentation and (heaven forbid) failure, the ball should move forward. Winston Churchill said: “If you are going through hell, keep going.” I don’t think he meant just keep doing the same thing over and over -- instead we can be creative and overcome.
