Hack:
The cost of teaching basic skills for innovation need not exceed the price of two beers

One possible solution consists of a change of perspective, a change in focus, and a change in action. 

Step 1: Change in Perspective: Acknowledge innovation is a result, not an action.

This simple change in perspective should move the concept of innovation into its proper place. Business model innovation is now acknowledged as a goal, and as such it allows us to focus on the specific actions to take towards that goal. These actions are few and they are straightforward.

Step 2: Change in Focus:  the specific categories of action that will make innovation more likely

At least three things must happen for an idea to become an innovation: first, it must be conceived, second, it must be executed, and third, a market must validate its value by adopting it. Therefore, I suggest we have three categories of actions for business model innovation: 1) actions related to thinking up new models, 2) actions related to executing these models in part or whole, and 3) actions that will make it more likely that a market will validate the value proposition of these models.

Step 3: Change in Action: steer away from seminars on creativity shmeativity, and teach your employees a few simple practical skills

As you read onward, you will notice that I have left out the category related to execution. Here’s why: execution is what companies do best, and I expect they have access to the necessary skillsets and mindset to do a great job. What most of them are not good at is actions related to exploration, to unlearning, and to questioning the taken for granted.

A. Thinking skills are a prerequisite. That is where ideas come from. But few of us, myself included, actually apply ourselves to real thinking. That takes skill, effort, and dedication. I recommend at least two approaches to thinking, relevant to the task at hand:

Model thinking – particularly business modeling skills - at least to the level where they are able to map out, unassisted, the current business model of the company;

Critical thinking – particularly reasoning and argument analysis – at least to a level where they can analyze and question choices made regarding the building blocks of the existing business model (e.g. value proposition for each customer segment, channels, relationships, resources, key activities, partnerships etc)

B. Public Speaking skills are a second must. It is rare that someone can singlehandedly conceive and execute an idea. So, if the collaboration of others is needed, then the next two skills should be given due attention:

Persuasion skills – particularly pitching – at least to a level where a person who discovers an insight can then put it in a communicable form that is necessary to convince others to support the idea and dedicate resources.

Team design skills – particularly when the project happens somewhat outside the existing hierarchy – at least to a level where the owner of the idea can conceive of its project as a collection of tasks that require a specific bundle of skills to be represented on the team. Once a pool of candidates is generated, then it is time to practice the finer art of selecting a subset that plays well together. This is a good example of a skill that can only be acquired through practice – any amount of theory will not suffice.

C. Since market validation is outside of our control, we can only focus on actions to increase the likelihood that our novel business model is better aligned with socio-economic realities in general, and the targeted market in particular. I believe that can only be accomplished through continuous and rigorous research.

Research Skills – particularly primary market research skills such as interviewing – at least to a level where they can test the newly formed hypotheses in the field, by asking potential customers, channels, partners suppliers etc to validate their assumptions;

Finally, there is much literature on the mindsets that are conducive to great things. Among them, a design mindset certainly applies to everything discussed above. But there is another mindset that trumps all other. If I had my wish, this mindset would be venerated and cultivated in any business. It is the Scientific Mindset, that blend of humility and persistent curiosity, of a genuinely open mind and skepticism.