Innovation – Answer to School District Budget Woes?

Tuesday, 15 June 2010 00:00

School districts across the country are struggling to preserve student achievement and school operations in the face of unprecedented reduction in resources. It is also clear, as evidenced by almost daily news reports, that the world as we knew it will not return soon. Can innovation provide a way out of this crisis? The District Management Council (DMC) thinks of innovation as a process that makes something better, faster, or cheaper?

DMC developed the Innovation Process Framework to help school districts harness breakthrough ideas and put them into action.

The best ideas may already be in out there.  The first step is to identify and harness innovative ideas from internal or external sources and turn these concepts into reality.  This is the Idea Generation phase. Within this step, school leaders should assess: Do we have the right approach and resources to identify promising innovations?  

Here are a few suggestions for identifying breakthrough ideas:

• Use dedicated teams to structure the pursuit and implementation of innovation. Start the brainstorming at the group level and balance with individual contribution. Groups should combine skill sets to create a well-rounded dynamic.  
• Celebrate small wins.  Sometimes the smallest innovations can blossom into huge savings. 
• Use external partnerships to add value. Outside collaborators can bring a wealth of new ideas and help sustain innovative projects going forward.  
• Develop or hire innovative thinking as a leadership skill in individuals. Make sure the skills of your current staff and new hires match the concept of innovative thinking. Provide clear, simple goals for the process and then allow individuals autonomy to create innovative ideas.

Next week, we will discuss the second stage in DMC’s Innovation Process Framework: Testing & Refinement.