Open Innovation Blueprint: Commandment 5

This continues my on-going blog on mapping out a blueprint for implementing Open Innovation. The first entry in this series talked about the framework I am using to analyze this question, the Ten Commandments of Change Management. Open Innovation is a big change, and therefore requires a change management program. In today's blog, I'll cover the fifth element of the framework:

5. Support a strong leader role
Many companies have begun to appoint a Chief Innovation Officer in order to make growth sustainable. You need one go-to leader to drive Open Innovation through the organization and to run the day-to-day operation of brokering technology. One set of candidates for the job is your own senior R&D managers. You need someone who commands the respect of R&D people who also has strong business acumen and leadership skills. Another choice might be your Chief Information Officer. If the person commands the respect of R&D, the change of title makes sense since the most important information in a business is that which enables innovation and sustains growth.

I'll mention again, in the spirit of being open, all of these ideas are open for discussion, so please share your thoughts!