Communicating The New Methods to Shape and Accelerate Innovation

This book describes and demonstrates methods for communication in the design thinking/innovation process throughout all stages of the process, not just the end. It introduces core concepts and methods that help manage complexity, accelerate synthesis, bring clarity and diffuse important knowledge to the people who need to act on it.

A practical toolkit for using communication at every step of the innovation process

Many creators of The New are paying attention to the growing body of methods and frameworks for managing innovation. But among innovation management methods, what is missing is an equally considered and robust playbook for how to explain that work—to ourselves, to our teammates, and to others—and for how to engage others in advancing new ideas into organizations and markets.

Communicating The New reframes the role of communication in the innovation process as a powerful integrative tool for individuals and teams. It introduces core concepts and methods that help manage complexity; accelerate synthesis; and clarify and diffuse important knowledge for the people who need to act on it. To do so, it presents a framework and methods to help innovators address five distinct moments in which communication methods can advance the development process. Along the way, the book outlines a new communication mission for innovators, one that prioritizes the engagement, alignment and judgment of the many human beings involved in the work, so that communicating The New and creating The New become inseparable acts.

This innovative guide:

• Reveals how to use communication to tame and frame the inherent complexity of creating The New
• Offers robust methods for making the innovation process clear, coherent, and accessible to others
• Presents a collaborative approach that brings together people from different disciplines to explore new ideas effectively
• Applies to the creation of new products, environments, processes, policies, experiences, and more

"Communicating radical innovation is very different from discussing marginal change. Erwin's book provides a serious analysis of why, in this era of VUCA—Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity—we need to change our individual and organizational modes of communication. Erwin then provides a series of concrete, practical communication methodologies that we so need. Communicating the New is a book that needs to be offered in all of our best business-school classes."

—Bruce Nussbaum, author of Creative Intelligence, former assistant managing editor for BusinessWeek, and Professor of Innovation & Design at Parsons The New School of Design

"One of the main problems with executing innovation in organizations is also one of the least obvious. Communicating The New reminds us about an often neglected but crucial part in the innovation process. Applying the principles contained in this book will increase your chances for innovation success, both inside your company—overcoming organizational barriers, as well as outside—convincing your customers. This is an essential read for those who not only preach for improving the current state of things, but more important to those responsible for executing it."

—Luis Arnal, Managing Partner, INSITUM

"I was hooked instantly. The names of people that I should give this book to keep building with each new chapter. Communicating the New is thorough as well as thoughtful in providing an impressive compendium of models, framework, methods, and tools for navigating the 21st-century challenges of creating The New. Finally, a useful resource to navigate the complexity of creating The New."

—Clement Mok, Designer, Entrepreneur, and Instigator

"Anyone who has experienced the challenge of co-creating The New and engaging enterprise audiences will find useful ways to produce insight, influence, and impact."

—Paul Siebert, Director of Research + Strategy, Steelcase