20%

Last night I brought the latest edition of Advancing Philanthropy (published by AFP) with me to the bar. Obviously I've got some issues to work out. The very first item I read has seriously stuck in my head.

The W. K. Kellogg Foundation recently issued a report called Intentional Innovation: How Getting More Systematic About Innovation Could Improve Philanthropy and Increase Social Impact. Within the synopsis of the report AFP highlighted a figure that astounded me, apparently Google sets 20% of employees time for exploring pet projects.

20%

In my working past I have never had that much time to think creatively, let alone on a pet project. The study is not referencing the odd hour of time you take to think about the focus of your next direct mail piece, it's talking about time out to think up new ways of doing things.

The article cites further methods for instilling a culture of innovation - collaborate, create a support system, create change agents, and use new technology.

You can download the executive summary here.

Andrew Taylor's weekly summary came out today and he had a post that was relevant to this same discussion. Taking a clue from the medical industry he focuses on the analysis that occurs after events or the lack there of. Yet another practice from alternate industries that we should really put in place in the theater world. Read the post here.