What is ICE? Innovation is the generation and realization of a new idea in the world. This means that innovation contains within it elements of both creativity and entrepreneurship. Creativity comes into play in the generation of ideas to meet a need in the world. This is based on a fundamental belief that there is more than one right answer to a given problem. Entrepreneurship is the set of activities aimed at building, scaling and sustaining the new ideas into an existing organization or creating a new one.

Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship (ICE) are linked. One cannot exist without the others.

Why is ICE important? Adopting a creative, innovative, or entrepreneurial mindset prepares you to make a change in the world around you. It enables you to find creative solutions to problems in real companies. Every person needs to understand the ICE process and tools no matter what career or job you hold.

Gear 1: Finding the Need – What’s the challenge? Interpreting information about various areas of the company such as people, processes, and problems. Focus on finding needs instead of finding solutions because they last longer than any single solution does.

Gear 2: Idea Generating & Prototyping – How might the need be satisfied? Coming up with many ideas AND getting feedback on those ideas. The generation of multiple ideas, making connections, and imagining what could be takes creativity. “The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”  – Dr. Linus Pauling, Nobel Laureate

Gear 3: Choosing a solution with Strategy & Testing – What solution works best? Selecting and making a solution work by expanding on one idea. Strategy is making choices about what you will and won’t do and who they will or won’t serve. Customers who will choose to buy/use your product/service must be clearly identified. Testing your strategy requires making assumptions about customers, competition, or the company.