A MAGIC framework for innovation

Following up on my post about Jerry Bowles' take on social media and adapting an architecture of participation (also know as collaboration) in the enterprise, Vinnie Mirchandani wrote a post titled, CIO View of Tech Innovation: The MAGIC Framework. Vinnie writes that CIOs want the building blocks to further their visions of innovation, not some pre-canned, costly, vendor-driven notion of innovation.

He has come up with a five-element MAGIC framework to capture his view of tech innovation: Mashups, Alpha technology, Global inspiration, Intensity and Collaboration with line of business. He also provides advice to the vendors on the five elements, such as: "The number of patents you have is not that important. Innovations in release 8 of a product are just as unimpressive. Early, but usable, technology in the hands of the CIO team is what counts."
Mashups for CIOs is innovating around business model changes, channel optimization, product improvement and more, Vinnie said. Alpha technology means taking "more risk to deliver innovation" and a willingness "to give younger vendors and technologies much more of a chance." CIOs are becoming adept as sourcing globally and looking outside their verticals. Intensity is based on constraints--smaller teams, shorter time frames, less money and tactical payback projects. Vinnie advises,  "Think big, execute small and intense." Finally, collaboration with LOB, means strengthening the bonds between business execs and CIOs to deliver solutions that solve problems, and aren't focused on impressing technologists, Vinnie said.

Vinnie thoughts on the subject in part addresses a challenge for both vendors and their customers--speaking the same language, having a common viewpoint on how innovation happens. It will take a lot of MAGIC going forward to overcome the basic level of dysfunction in aligning the two camps.