VMware : When You Say ‘IT Innovation,’ You Probably Mean ‘Creativity’

New technology isn't always the answer. That's a bold statement coming from a technology company. According to VMware CIO Jason Conyard, "innovation" is an overused term that's often used incorrectly. Innovation is the space program in the 1960s, the steam engine, Uber. When business leaders say "innovation," a lot of times they really mean "creativity."

When teams are in need of new big ideas, they should focus less on the "new" and more on the "big idea." Conyard says, "I love to see creativity that comes from old tech or from ideas from technologies that have existed a long way but people have imagined new ways for assembling them."

Imaginative, diverse teams are often the catalyst of great discoveries. While the technology world heavily values STEM professionals, leaders should cast a wider net and search for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) candidates to round out their teams. The arts are not a hobby. Literature, music and fine arts teach people to think outside of equations and the right-or-wrong nature of mathematics and code writing. Magic happens in creative conversations and a mountain of ideas result.

In addition to assembling the best team, IT leaders must also be adept at shaving down that mountain of ideas into a manageable handful. Not all ideas are great ideas. Leaders have to be open with their teams when an idea is not right for the problem at hand or the current time and have the courage to shut it down, even when time, passion and creativity have been put into it. Leaders may need to be ruthless to sever employees' attachment to concepts that just won't work. Sometimes ideas can be put on the shelf for potential future assignments. Other times, it's straight in the bin. Teams must move quickly between projects and give them their full attention instead of thinking wistfully of the crumpled proposals that'll never see the light of day.

While it sounds harsh, it's key that technology leaders encourage their teams to believe in the overall vision and invest in the quest versus focusing on individual submissions. One way to work together is to file patents. In 2021, the VMware IT team filed multiple patents. Patents ground teams with tangible results and provides an excellent learning experience that can inform future decisions. "If we progress our thinking then I believe we've been successful," Conyard notes.

Listen in to VMware's CIO Jason Conyard discuss innovation on episode 1 of CIO Exchange's three-part Lead/Forward podcast series and learn that disruptive innovation isn't always the be-all end-all. Often, the journey and learning process associated with new ideas, both successful and not, is the real marker of progress. Over time, the gathered lessons learned from creative sessions will lead to the next greatest IT innovation that changes the way the world works.