Is there a The Misconception About Innovation In The Military?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 08:28:51 -0500

Is there a The Misconception About Innovation In The Military?

Despite the view that military bureaucracies can’t change, service members have a long history of being innovative, especially when stakes are highest.

Service members, both active duty and veteran, should be mindful of their innovation skill set. And whether they work in Silicon Valley or the Pentagon, they should carry themselves with confidence as they seek to adapt their organizations to a rapidly changing world.

RP Members what are your thoughts about innovativness in the military and how it can be applied to the civilian sector?

http://taskandpurpose.com/the-misconception-about-innovation-in-the-military/

Moreover, service members develop a skill set in what I refer to as the “politics of innovation,” something that makes them unique compared to civilian peers who have not had to navigate the politics of government bureaucracy.

Another way of describing military innovation is as the product of two currencies. The first currency, what I call “idea capital,” represents the value of a powerful new idea and the knowledge to bring it about. The second currency, “political capital,” represents the support of key military and civilian leaders to execute change. A reality of change in a bureaucratic environment is that both currencies are crucial for innovation.

The Misconception About Innovation In The Military

Despite the view that military bureaucracies can’t change, service members have a long history of being innovative, especially when stakes are highest.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 8:51 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 08:51:22 -0500

Yes and No, soldier will make anything work for them when they are on battlefields, but then politic and money come in play ... nothing much the soldier can do about it beside paying with their life. Example: Sherman Tank in WW2, the introduce of "self cleaning" M16 and the first encounter of IED to MRAP . Those are all telling stories between "soldier's innovation" and military industrial complex's innovation mixed with politic.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 14 at 2015 9:01 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 09:01:23 -0500

Very well articulated, COL Mikel J. Burroughs. The ability to communicate the tools and skills needed to navigate and successfully implement change within a large bureaucracy is huge, particularly for interviews with the corporate world at the senior leader level. If you can get across the HOW and WHY of your idea capital and political capital, you will prove out your ability to benefit the company you're applying to.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 14 at 2015 9:07 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 09:07:08 -0500

Over the centuries there has been ebbs and flows of innovation in the military COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Higher level support for innovation within the military and use of the military seems to be related to our national view on international engagement. It might be interesting to see if there is a correlation between innovation and international engagement when the military tends to me used more heavily.
As a leader I tried to encourage innovation within accepted boundaries among my subordinates in training. This is how we learn to think and act on our feet. Something the US military has been well-known for at least since WWII.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 10:49 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 10:49:49 -0500

Sir-I may be in odd company when it comes to my opinions regarding "innovation". I sincerely feel it is often confused with 'initiative', particularly when it comes to the profession of arms.

Innovation should probably be the outcome of shortfall...not a self-sustaining practice. We lionize the ability to "improve"...but I feel we often fail to notice that nothing was broken in the first place.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 14 at 2015 11:20 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:20:53 -0500

I think those in the military have to be innovative. We always have hurdles to overcome. That creative ethos must certainly translate well to the civilian sector (but I haven't worked in industry, so I can't say for sure...)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 2:19 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:19:21 -0500

There is very little original work being done in the military anymore. That being said, service members are very innovative when motivated. The Logistics field fosters this with their program that compensates service members that present ideas/products that result in cost savings.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 14 at 2015 2:23 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:23:14 -0500

Soldiers and sailors (and I expect Airmen, too) are famous at applying "field expedients" (using what's at hand to solve a problem or fix something). We used to repair the mechanism that drove typewriter ribbons with dog tag chains rather than wait for the repair depot to come to our rescue). However, the talent seems to get rusty somewhere between E1 and O7 proving once again the corrupting influence of bureaucracy. I've witnessed the effects many times.

One of my law professors got into politics. He quickly rose from PTA President to County Executive to Governor to Vice President of the United States. He began as a good man but the system quickly divested him of that quality. His name was Spiro Agnew.

Before entering the Army, I worked in the federal bureaucracy at the Social Security Administration. Innovation was frowned upon at every level. The chief difference between the federal bureaucracy and the Army, I was to learn, was that bureaucrats don't have "mission orientation". Their job is to apply federal laws without variation. Thus innovation is not part of their mindset. If it is, they lose it or go mad.

It seems that as one rises in the ranks of the military they leave the battlefield and take up their duties in environments much like other federal bureaucracies and suffer the same mind-numbing influences as other bureaucrats. Sad...

Response by SGT James Hammons made Dec 14 at 2015 7:08 PM

SGT James Hammons — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:08:21 -0500

There is no doubt that veterans make stronger employees and out perform their civilian coworkers.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Dec 14 at 2015 7:08 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:08:44 -0500

Yes. I believe so. It is driven by popular culture and a lack of understanding regarding the depth and breath of the impact of military research on our everyday lives from vaccines to food preservation.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 14 at 2015 8:42 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:42:24 -0500

Often I've experienced disregard for innovation. Years ago I had a great idea to reduce the number of DUI's on base and took it to my Chain of Command. They too thought it was a great idea, and my XO took it to the base XO at NAS North Island. He thought the idea was "too difficult to start" (read too lazy) so it was ultimately shot down. Fast forward 4 years, and my idea was implemented but the base XO took all the credit for it. Yeah I was a little bitter, because I'm sure quite a few people could have avoided getting a DUI and ruining their lives and careers in the preceding 4 years.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 15 at 2015 12:36 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:36:56 -0500

Not necessary to Inform Me and I will be the First to set the Record Straight on Innovation, Technology and Science. I worked with the Greatest Scientist, Engineers and Technicians in the World and they worked for the DOD and US Navy. Leaders in Computers and Telecommunications. Maggie Turner (Skipper), Grace Hopper (Admiral). Astronauts while I was Master at Arms to COMSPAWARSYSCOM. The fiercest and loudest to sound the Alarm about Global Climate Change were the Scientist at NRL Navy Research Labs. One of my Favorite Jr Officers Mr McGibbon is a Professor of Information and Electronic Warfare at the War College. This is my Community of which I am very Proud.