Innovative Termites

Termites are nasty lil' things, but they can teach us a lot about innovation, apparently. In an article called "How termites reveal the rules behind radical innovation," Sunnie Giles, a Forbes contributor, suggests that termites have managed to survive for so long because of their innovation. 

Giles summarizes radical innovation using the following principles:

• Self-organization
• Simple rules
• A generalist approach
• Diversity of input
• Speed of execution, and
• Profuse experimentation

Termites, she argues are prime examples of radical innovation because:

• They self organize, self heal, and are strong, independent termite
• They use simple communication methods that are highly effective
• Colonies work together to support one another, without even realizing it
• They make improvements through trial and error, rather than striving for perfection immediately
• They connect, communicate, collaborate, and adapt accordingly, resulting in transparency among the colony

According to Giles, "by understanding and applying the principles and patterns behind complex adaptive systems, we can greatly enhance our ability to lead organizations, and improve our chances of inducing radical innovation... innovation is the only way to survive. The implication is clear: transform your organization to harness complexity or face the fate of extinction."

In light of what we've learned in this course about innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, I think that Giles' observations are helpful in thinking about innovation.