You need new input to get new output. Traditional business strategies focused on efficiency and process management have run their course and now only encourage incremental shifts instead of transformational changes. Innovation in the future will come from harnessing the collective intellect of organizations and the world. To develop new ideas individuals need energy and insights from powerful inspiration, the key to the innovation equation: Inspiration + Creativity = Innovation.

On April 21-23, 2009, Play, a Prophet company, and its education partner KaosPilot International will guide a select group of leaders through three days of experiences in Shanghai. We will study the impact of inspiration for business and create an initial network of inspiration catalysts who will lead organizational transformation. The program will follow Play’s Radiant Model of Innovation: inspired individuals create ideas that grow businesses and ultimately impact the world.

A consortium of businesses, not-for-profits, and educational institutions that want to cultivate inspired individuals who will drive market-facing innovation and positive social change at the same time.

April 21-23The Inspiration Lab’s First Experiment.

a PROPHET company

Personal Inspiration. How do individuals stay inspired and inspire others? Using the streets of Shanghai as our laboratory, KaosPilot students will give participants an intense understanding of the discipline of inspiration and its many forms. We will examine the physiological, emotional, and intellectual components of inspiration and discover how to engineer the right kind of inspiration for specific business objectives. Leading research and truly unique experiences uncovered by thirty six KaosPilots in Shanghai will fuel our exploration.

Example: Built for speed. Shanghai is home to the world’s first commercial maglev railway where the train is lifted and propelled by magnets at speeds up to 500 kilometers per hour. How can the physics behind this innovation make us think differently about decreasing friction in our lives and businesses so we can be more successful?

Business Growth. How can inspiration be translated into actionable ideas? Play and the KaosPilots will work with participants prior to arrival to identify specific business objectives that will be addressed over the course of the three days. We will find compelling, relevant sources of inspiration in Shanghai and use a variety of creative mechanisms to transform inspiration into ideas that can grow participants’ businesses. We will also explore strategies for injecting more inspiration into the existing infrastructure and processes at the participants’ organizations.

Example: Investing in creativity. Shanghai has a thriving creative community that is supported by the government, but there is also a rapidly growing “underground” of entrepreneurs and innovators. How can businesses learn from the real life example of creativity surviving with a strong central authority like the Chinese government?

World Context. How can innovation help the world? Being a high-performance, successful, innovative organization isn’t enough anymore. That’s the price of being in business. Companies also need to provide a larger value for their people internally, their customers, and the world in general. We will examine how the Chinese government and businesses balance the tensions and opportunities in Shanghai as its economy experiences double digit growth for 15 years. By examining everything from urban infrastructure and sustainability to religion and history, business leaders will learn ways to ensure that their products and services have significance and relevance for the world.

Example: Expo 2010. Shanghai is preparing to host the world during Expo 2010. We will study how the city is transforming itself to embody the expo theme “Better City – Better Life” and make connections to ways that businesses can provide more meaning for its people through physical and cultural reinvention.

Join us.

About Play.Play is a creativity and innovation company. We develop ideas and strategies that drive growth and improve performance for our clients. www.lookatmorestuff.com

About the KaosPilots.KaosPilot International is a school where creativity and innovation come to life. The KaosPilots is a values-based education where learning must be real-world, playful, adventurous and risk-taking. www.kaospilot.dk

About Prophet.Prophet is strategy, innovation and design firm focused on growth and transformation for their clients. www.prophet.com

For More Information.

Ben Armbrusterbarmbruster@prophet.com +1 804 474 3560

Kasper Arentoftkar@kaospilot.dk + 45 86 12 95 22

The Numbers.USD 3,600.00 DKK 21.600,00 Includes accommodations for three nights, breakfast, lunch, and any group dinners.