The Soft Side of Innovation: Five Things Engineers Need to Know and Do for Corporate Success

Chemical engineers often find that excellent problem solving skills and creativity do not translate into success inside a corporation. Some grow frustrated when technically sound solutions and clever innovations fail to have the impact they expected. Some grow disenchanted, concluding that it's all about “politics” instead of logic. In reality, innovation success involves technical expertise plus a network of relationships in order to drive adoption of the innovation. Failure to understand the “soft side of innovation” can contribute to innovation fatigue and unnecessary frustration. This presentation will consider the intangible elements that need to be understood for innovation success, including five key steps for success.