Innovation predictions

Business Week has published its Innovation Predictions 2008. An interesting bunch of predictions about innovation itself -- not necessarily about innovations. Some of them are already in place -- like "the customer is king" where "Consumers replace competitors as the key reference point for corporate strategy." Many revolve around the new face of innovation - with d-schools replacing b-schools, private equity firms embracing innovation as a turn around strategy and major consulting firms going after the design/innovation firms. Others have to do with the privacy backlash and new marketing trends. The one I found especially interesting was about politics:

A national innovation policy emerges as a key part of the Presidential campaign. With the economy sinking into recession and competitors from China, India, and Europe embracing national innovation plans, Hillary Clinton is the first to propose a program—and rivals respond.

That would be nice -- but don't hold your breath. Yes, the candidates will say (and already have said) nice things about innovation and have put forward plans and proposals (see earlier posting). But whether they add up to a "national innovation strategy" or simply a call for a "national innovation strategy" remains to be seen. Of course, even a call for a strategy would be a good starting point.

The real problem will be connecting to the voters - which is needed if innovation becomes a "key part." The candidates can talk about what ever they want, but it is what the voters are interested in hearing about that determines the course of a campaign. Right now, "innovation" is a MEGO issue ("my eyes glass over"). Until and unless one of the candidates can connect the issue emotionally to the public, it will remain the providence of policy wonks and specific interests. And making that connection requires transforming the rhetoric and the public consciousness -- two things I don't yet see happening.

So, look for innovation to come up in the campaign, but not be a key part. It would be great if I'm wrong on that latter point, however.