{"id":362619,"date":"2020-07-30T15:58:52","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T14:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/?p=362619"},"modified":"2020-07-31T10:48:29","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T09:48:29","slug":"fa3-kieran-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/transform-en-ie\/na\/fa3-kieran-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation\u00a0in\u00a0Challenging Times, Our first Microsoft Talk\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Innovation\u00a0<\/span><\/b>in\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Challenging Times<\/span><\/b>, Our first Microsoft Talk<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When the wind<\/span><\/i><\/b>s<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0of change blow, some\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>people\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>build walls<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0and some people\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>build windmills\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Chinese proverb<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had the pleasure of opening our first virtual Microsoft Talk which <\/span>explored\u00a0<\/span>Innovation in Challenging Times. It was a great session, with some stellar speakers like Margaret Burgraff, a Venture Cap<\/span>italist who talked about what\u00a0<\/span>opportunities may exist in the coming year. We also heard\u00a0<\/span>from Rosemary<\/span>\u00a0Garth, the Head of\u00a0<\/span>Communications for Irish Distillers Limited, who\u00a0<\/span>talked about how the company pivoted to produce hand<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sanitiser<\/span>, but just as important, educated and engaged its staff and partners with\u00a0<\/span>innovative\u00a0<\/span>digital experiences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We also had our Chief Learning Officer, Lurlene Duggan, talk about\u00a0<\/span>Microsoft\u2019s Global Skills Initiative<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0the need for organisations and employees to continue to evolve and adopt new skills to prepare for new jobs that may not exist yet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are looking for a good practical definition of \u2018innovation\u2019\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span><\/i>application of technology to reflect\u00a0<\/span><\/i>changing needs and circumstances and to help organisations\u2014and people\u2014be more efficient, more effective, and more responsive.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Against the backdrop\u00a0<\/span>of the COVID-19 pandemic, we\u2019ve seen many innovations occur at breakneck speed. Businesses h<\/span>ave\u00a0<\/span>adopt<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0new styles of\u00a0<\/span>remote, mobile, and hybrid\u00a0<\/span>working<\/span>. We\u2019ve seen employees using\u00a0<\/span>collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0balanc<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0professional and personal commitments<\/span>, working where and when is most practical for them<\/span>. And we\u2019ve seen organisations develop and roll out<\/span>\u00a0new\u00a0<\/span>cloud-based\u00a0<\/span>systems and solutions with previously\u00a0<\/span>unheard-of<\/span>\u00a0agility<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just\u00a0take a<\/span>\u00a0look\u00a0at the amazing work that has been done by the frontline\u00a0<\/span>organisations<\/span>\u00a0here\u00a0<\/span>in Ireland<\/span>\u00a0in terms of data collection and reporting, track and trace, and lab testing capacity systems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disruption as\u00a0<\/span><\/b>an\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Opportunity<\/span><\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Meaningful Transformation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These innovations in business operations weren\u2019t brought about\u00a0<\/span>solely<\/span>\u00a0by necessity, but rather by the freedom to depart from\u00a0<\/span>old and\u00a0<\/span>often<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>limiting<\/span>\u00a0and restrictive<\/span>\u00a0business practices that slowed down or impeded change and frustrated improvement.\u00a0<\/span>This is not at all a\u00a0<\/span>\u2018move fast and break things\u2019 approach but rather \u2018move fast in a structured, well controlled manner.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
Rosemary Garth talked about\u00a0how companies needed to show up and play their part in the national interest – innovation must be meaningful.\u00a0She talked about how\u00a0Irish Distillers changed\u00a0an entire production facility to ensure there was no shortage of\u00a0high-quality\u00a0hand sanitiser. But more than that, Irish Distillers supported their employees and retail community with digital events, training and\u00a0experiences that helped them endure the lockdown. They are now helping their trade customers by innovating with Jameson Connects to\u00a0bring connect consumers to music and giving them discounts\u00a0that they could redeem in store or in pubs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On a more sober note,\u00a0<\/span>Margaret Burgraff\u00a0<\/span>outlined<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the need to disrupt\u00a0<\/span>clearly<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

L<\/span><\/i>ess than 1% of American Companies\u2019 lifespan is 30 years<\/span><\/i>, we are seeing a situation where the average lifespan of a US company is five years.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She added, \u201c<\/span>Sectors that are struggling<\/span>\u00a0can\u00a0<\/span>hunker down, shut<\/span>–<\/span>up<\/span>–<\/span>shop or look to transform,\u00a0<\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>you cannot<\/span>\u00a0stand still.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Microsoft\u2019s Innovation Principles<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Microsoft, we don\u2019t believe that this ability to innovate should rest with just a few, but that it should be available to everyone and every organisation on the planet to empower them to achieve more.\u00a0<\/span>To<\/span>\u00a0allow everyone to do just that<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0we believe innovation needs to be grounded in some solid principles.\u00a0<\/span>That\u2019s why in Microsoft<\/span>, we ensure that our innovation efforts are:\u00a0<\/span>meaningful and\u00a0<\/span><\/b>bold<\/span><\/b>, that is,\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0need to make a difference<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0responsible and grounded in\u00a0<\/span><\/b>trust<\/span>, focusing\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0just\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>what technology can do<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but<\/span>\u00a0on<\/span>\u00a0what it should do<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>inclusive<\/span><\/b>, such that new technologies are\u00a0<\/span>open<\/span>\u00a0and available to everyone;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and that\u00a0<\/span>they are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>applied and\u00a0<\/span><\/b>scalable<\/span><\/b>, that is th<\/span>ey<\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0endpoints of innovation but\u00a0<\/span>actually<\/span>\u00a0starting points or platforms for innovation<\/span>\u00a0for others<\/span>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lurlene<\/span>\u00a0high<\/span>lighted<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Ireland, we have 40,000 people in the developer space today, but we will need 165,000 to meet the future job opportunities in sectors like AI.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I<\/span>nnovation isn\u2019t just about needing to change; to do things better, faster, or cheaper; rather it\u2019s about\u00a0<\/span>developing a culture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0change<\/span>. An environment where the\u00a0<\/span>\u2018<\/span>freedom<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0to innovate is\u00a0<\/span>ubiquitous<\/span>\u00a0and encouraged.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In times of change and challenge<\/span>\u00a0it\u2019s important that organisation<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>respond appropriately<\/span>: facilitating and embracing<\/span>\u00a0innovation, using the rights tools, the right platforms, and the right principles.<\/span>\u00a0Above all, if\u00a0<\/span>you have responded to challenges using new\u00a0<\/span>technologies and new approaches<\/span>\u00a0it\u2019s important not to slide back into old ways of working, but\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>reflect on the combination of necessity and capability that has allowed innovat<\/span>ion to take place\u00a0<\/span>quickly and efficiently.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kieran McCorry<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

National Technology Officer<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Microsoft Ireland<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Innovation\u00a0in\u00a0Challenging Times, Our first Microsoft Talk\u00a0\u00a0 When the winds\u00a0of change blow, some\u00a0people\u00a0build walls\u00a0and some people\u00a0build windmills\u00a0 Chinese proverb   I had the pleasure of opening our first virtual Microsoft Talk which explored\u00a0Innovation in Challenging Times. It was a great session, with some stellar speakers like Margaret Burgraff, a Venture Capitalist who talked about what\u00a0opportunities may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":362862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1912],"class_list":["post-362619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-transformation-en-ie","specials-transform-en-ie","stories-how-can-i-make-my-company-more-innovative-en-ie","stories-innovation-en-ie","businessPriorities-digital-transformation-en-ie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362619"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=362619"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":363180,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362619\/revisions\/363180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/362862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=362619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=362619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}