Strategic thinking, inside the boxStrategic thinking, inside the box

Jim
Sullivan

“Innovation, most of the time, is simply taking A, B, C and D — which already exist — and putting them together in a form called E.” 

— Wolfgang Schmitt, 
chairman, Rubbermaid Corp.


I distinctly recall a Brinker manager meeting I attended many years ago in which a guest speaker repeatedly stressed the importance of “thinking outside the box.” But other than citing 3M’s Post-it product, he was unable to provide any specific insight on how to jumpstart this process; he only emphasized that innovation “was key.”


After the speaker left, our area director and meeting emcee James Coughran addressed the group. He looked toward the door where the speaker had exited. 


“The problem with thinking ‘outside the box,’” he sighed, “is that...