Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Inclusion, Innovation, and the Aerospace Industry

In 1968, for the first time ever, humans got an image of Earth from space:


The blue oceans. The swirling clouds. The continents without political borders. The thinness of the atmosphere.

The imagery may have influenced both the environmental movement and the movement for peace in this world: the concept of the global village, and efforts to move beyond tribalism. It is that tribalism, I think, that influences so many of the phobias we see today.



But what does that have to do with business, industry, or particularly the Aerospace industry?

Well, first of all, innovation doesn't happen alone. Roger Launius blogged about the Mythology of the Lone Genius, which seems to build on his earlier post about the Individual and the Possibility of Aviation Innovation. Both point to the fact that innovation requires groups working together.

One of the risks of groups working together, is developing a positive culture. Because the internet didn't create human cruelty. Yesterday, game developer Rachel Bryk's suicide was reported. Her cyberbullies encouraged her to do it.

read up on bullying several years ago, in an attempt to help my son at his preschool. One point in particular is relevant to cyberspace today: Adults need to be adults, to

  1. lead by example, and
  2. teach others what behavior is acceptable, or not.


Meanwhile, Roger Launius discussed the United States Aerospace Corporations and the Changing Nature of Global Markets. He suggested focusing on ensuring the technical superiority of American aerospace technology.

So how do we create an innovative organization?

Ernst & Young describes "The new global mindset: driving innovation through diversity." All seven articles are worth reading.

Meanwhile, Harvard Business Review evaluated How diversity can drive innovation, and proposes a 2-D model:

  • Inherent diversity - traits one was born with
  • Acquired diversity - traits one acquires via experience

Also, yesterday, Marco Rogers commented on the Salesforce move to ensure equal pay across gender lines, and the importance of intersectionality.

This "Women in Astronomy" blogpost cautions us on The Limits of Labels, Categories, and Classifications


Deloitte University has relevant research, but the best intro to the concepts may be this powerful TedX video about leadership:




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