Creating a Culture for Government

or ways to increase Government agility and effectiveness

Innovation following the Feng Shui

Paul Boos

But first…. some definitions…

in·no·vate / in·ə·vāt / Verb:

1. Make changes in something established, esp. by introducing new methods, ideas, or products.

2. Introduce something new, esp. a product.Change has to become

the norm for good flow.

feng shui / fəng shwē / Noun: (in Chinese thought)

A system of laws considered to govern arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi)

Definitions from dictionary.com.

cul·ture / kəl·chər / Noun:

The total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of social action.

Put another way…

to

And second…. some limitations…

Limits inhibit innovation.While we must remain aligned to these,

don’t artificially add any.

Statutory Requirements

Federal Policies

Budget

Public Trust

i.e.

RightDo

What’s }

So we’re going start to sow some seeds to harvestinnovation.

Let’s start with a question…

And that is…

WHY? Why doesn’t the Gov’t innovate?

This will be answered by yourselves as we take the Path to Enlightenment.

The Path of Enlightenment

5 Personae Characteristics to grow

4 Team Values to support

3 Organization Elements to develop

2 Types of Innovation to encourage

1 Vision to bind themUmmm… wait that’s bring them into focus

Let’s explore the innovation personae.

What characteristics do we need to grow in our people…

Learning

When was the last time you read something and tried to put it into practice? … f e e d y o u r b r a i n …

through experience

Unlearning

There is no such thing as best practices. We won’t always do it this way. Unravel the need. Simplify.

…and

Experiments!

Fail early to succeed. Each failure is a learning experience to succeed in your context.

creating

Commitment

Self.Customer.

Team.Change.

making a

maintainingPassion

What’s the Feng Shui for the 5 persona characteristics?

In Feng Shui, the Number 5 carries the energy of -

change, resourcefulness,

adventure

Without the 5, innovation can’t happen.

Let’s explore the innovation team.

What values do we need to grow in a team…

People and Interactions

It’s more than one of us.

Workin g

Product

It gives confidence & instills trust.

Valueof

CustomerCollaboration

Pulling together; no one loses.

WelcomingChange

New opportunities arise only through change.

What’s the Feng Shui for these 4 team values?

In Feng Shui, the Number 4 carries the meaning of –

stability, grounding,

security

The team provides stability during the changes.

Let’s explore the innovation organization.

What do we need to put in place to grow in the organization…

Servant Leadership

Helping others grow to their full capacity unleashes loyal talent and energy.

Increased Authority&

Reponsibility

Greater experimentation happens when no one takes ownership away.

Cross-Functional Structures

Broaden knowledge and spur new ideas by helping diverse backgrounds come together.

What’s the Feng Shui

for the 3 elements of the organization?

In Feng Shui, the Number 3 carries the energy of -

creativity, family,

self-expressionWith safety, comes inventiveness.

There are two types of innovation.

Lay seed for both.

Kaizen

Small innovations improve existingproducts and services.

Kaikaku

Disruptive innovations create new products and services.

What’s the Feng Shui for the types of innovation?

In Feng Shui, the Number 2 carries the energy of -

balance, choice,

cooperation

Continuously pursue Kaizen while leveraging Kaikaku.

How do you bring innovations together into a cohesive direction?

Innovation still must support your organizational mission.

A clearly communicated vision will bring the multitude of possible innovations together into focus.

The vision helps everyone understand the effectiveness of their innovations.

What’s the Feng Shui for the vision?

In Feng Shui, the Number 1 carries the energy of -

unobstructed flow of energy, new beginnings

Visualize the flow.

the flow.Visualize

The portfolio roadmap is the flow of innovation.The value stream is the execution of vision.

What’s the Feng Shui for these put together?

5 persona characteristics+ 4 team principles+ 3 organizational elements+ 2 types of innovation+ 1 vision/envisioning as a flow15 1 + 5 = 6

In Feng Shui the number 6 yields -calm,

patience Exactly what one needs during change

but wait there’s one more thing…

Innovation (change) seems to lack calmness when weare missing one of these

You can’t innovate unless you reflect on

what can be better…

To generate innovationsfor the vision (of the future),

you reflect on the gaps (of the past).

Put another way…

Past & FutureBack to the Feng Shui of 2

Retrospectionadds balance or choice

to the change; it is a reminder of why, our feedback loop.

It keeps us on the path

or tells us when a new path is needed.

So when retrospection is added the Feng Shui is…

6 (yielding calm, patience) + 2 for Retrospection 8

In Feng Shui, the number 8 represents –

infinity, abundance,

success in business

Missing any of

likeis

missing oneof these

stones

these items

It could become a difficult step to innovation.

A summary of the Feng Shui for Government Innovation:

5 People-Oriented Characteristics to Encourage4 Team Values to Support3 Organizational Elements to Develop2 Innovation Choices to Utilize1 Vision and Reflect to Know How You’re Doing

Set

Sow. Grow. Harvest.

Innovation

Thanks!

boos.paul@epa.gov

@paul_boos