Discovering the nature of complexity involved in the innovation processes

Innovation has become critical for the survival and growth of institutions, markets and societies. In spite of the complexity of innovation, leaders and the institutions continue to operate mainly with the same hierarchical structures, processes and scientific approaches that consider innovation as a simplistic mechanical process. The nearest they come to accommodating a variety of ideas is to pursue brain storming. No wonder then that they fail to unlock the innovative capabilities of all the participants or understand the wider complexities involved in the processes that can unleash the hidden ideas. When institutions fail to innovate they do not attempt to find out the complex issues involved instead they resort to renaming whatever products, services, methods they already produce as being innovative. This paper looks at the myriad of issues involved and invites readers to focus on the complexity of the processes and to consider the need for working with equally complex notions, thinking processes, methods and interactions of social groups in order to facilitate innovation.