The Innovator's DNA. Clayton M. Christensen

if” questions that provoke exploration of new possibilities and frontiers.

      18 I consistently follow through on all commitments and finish what I’ve started.

      19 I regularly observe the activities of customers, suppliers, or other organizations to get new ideas.

      20 I consistently create detailed plans to get work done.

      To score your survey:

      Add your score on the odd-numbered items. You score very high on discovery skills if your total score is 45 or above, high on discovery if your score is 40–45, moderate to high on discovery if your score is between 35 and 40, moderate to low if you score 29–34; you score low on discovery if your score is 28 or less.

      Add your score on the even-numbered items. You score very high on delivery skills if your total score is 45 or above, high on delivery if your score is 40–45, moderate to high on delivery if your score is between 35 and 40, moderate to low if you score 29–34; you score low on delivery if your score is 28 or less.

      We have drawn this short survey from a more systematic seventy-item assessment (either a self-assessment or a 360-degree assessment) that we have developed to assess an individual’s discovery skills and delivery skills. You can do this assessment through our Web site at http://www.InnovatorsDNA.com. Should you decide to complete an assessment, you will receive a development guide to walk you through your results and help you design a skill development plan. Your assessment will provide you with your DQ and percentile data for each discovery and delivery skill to compare your scores with the over five thousand executives and innovators in our dataset.

      You Can Learn to Think Different

      In this chapter, we’ve tried to convince you that creativity is not a just a genetic predisposition; it is an active endeavor. Apple’s slogan “Think Different” is inspiring but incomplete. Innovators must consistently act different to think different. We acknowledge that genetics are at work within innovators, and that some have superior natural ability at associational thinking. However, even if two individuals have the same genetic creative ability, one will be more successful at creative problem solving if he or she more frequently engages in the discovery skills we have identified. By understanding—and engaging in—the five discovery skills, we believe that you can find ways to more successfully develop the creative spark within yourself and others. Read on as we describe how to master the five discovery skills in order to become a more innovative thinker.