Today, I read a very interesting article called The Ethics of Innovation. The article starts with the concept of innovation in technology, and expands on how it is/ how it should be applied in other sectors of the economy. I found the following bit very interesting, especially the last two questions, which touch upon the misuse of innovation and the cumulative benefit of a long-term innovation plan. I am now inclined to use these 5 questions as the starting point of my personal charter of innovation and try to apply to, for e.g: an upcoming training project.

This basic framework (of ethical innovation) is helpful when it is used to spur questions about specific initiatives, which cross the spaces of technology, business, and development— questions such as:

  1. How do we take advantage of global knowledge, technology, and expertise to solve enormous problems without imposing a paternalistic model on the solution or those who benefit from it? For e.g: how can we design a training program at the global HQ, and still ensure that local training needs and learning cultures are respected?
  2. How do we design in an inclusive and participatory manner, when resource and power dynamics are so unequal? For e.g: how do we design training and performance management strategies that tie in with organizational diversity principles?
  3. How do we address persistent problems that defy a single clever invention and require sustained engagement, learning, iteration, and adaptation? For e.g: How do we design a learning management system that can be quickly and continually updated and calibrated to map to an organization’s business functions, like conducting clinical trials?
  4. How do we take advantage of capital markets as paths to scale, while recognizing that they are not inherently humanistic or ethical? For e.g: How do we select and purchase tools that give us the best benefit in the short and the long term?
  5. How do we account for the potentially destructive results of innovations five or ten years from now without completely shutting down the sort of risk-taking that is essential to the creative process? For e.g: Do we have oversight plans in place that are reviewed and updated on a pre-determined frequency?