GUEST POST from Arlen Meyers

Innovation Fatigue can be defined broadly as a negative impression of what is characterized as innovation caused by the overuse of the term, poorly-executed initiatives, internal misalignment and innovation for the sake of innovation. 

The etiologies of innovation fatigue are:

1. Pervasive misuse of the term and confusing true innovation with an idea, an invention or an improvement
2. Buying into the innovate or die mindset without creating the components necessary to do it
3. Not having the knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies to create it
4. Repeated failures attempting to create it
5. Cynicism about the ability to substantive change organization and systems that are traditionally highly resistant
6. Frustration that leads to anger and resentment about the process
7. Unwillingness to learn from other people and industries who have been successful creating truly innovative products and services
8. Anxiety about the fear of missing out or the “I never saw it coming” syndrome
9. Believing the press and cyberspace hype
10. The bandwagon effect

Signs and symptoms of innovation fatigue are:

1. Bloated budgets that do not translate into impact
2. Misplace hires
3. Spending more and more money on innovation initiatives without evidence that they work
4. Attending programs, workshops and seminars that capitalize on fear and that do not change what you will do on Monday that you did or did not do on the previous Friday
5. Buying products and services that have not been clinically validated
6. It all becomes a joke
7. Employees pretend to be engaged
8. Resistance to change increases
9. People say no
10. People quit

Recent advances in treatment include:

1. Recruiting for innovation
2. Identifying champions with an entrepreneurial mindset
3. Creating a culture of innovation
4. Putting in place the leadership, strategy, tactics, structure, process and metrics
5. Learning how to test business ideas

1. Leading innovators instead of managing innovation
2. Teaching innovation and entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship
3. Understanding the definition of value
4. Value proposition design
5. Creating a VAST business model

Chronic innovation fatigue syndrome is endemic to geographic areas but is spreading rapidly. As yet, there is no vaccine to prevent activation of the corporate immune system that is a contributing factor.

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