The+Medici+Effect

      In May 2008, I was honoured to speak to the Ministry of Education of Singapore's biennial conference for teachers, academics and administrators. I was very fortunate to meet  Frans Johansson the author of '  The Medici Effect' (Harvard Business School, Press, Boston, 2006) who gave a keynote address on innovation and creativity based on his book. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">The Medici Effect is so named as it refers to the enormous outporing of ideas that came about during the Renaissance. This was not an accident. The Medici family had deliberately bought together the finest artists, thinkers, artisans and innovators of the time so that they could share their ideas and influence each other

So in our modern times the Medici Effect is seen where different cultures, domains and disciplines stream together toward a single point – ‘the intersection’. Frans felt Singapore to be an appropriate place to be talking about these ideas - a vibrant city full of energy and ideas and the meeting place of many cultures.

<span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> In writing the Medici Effect, Frans had three objectives: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> >      <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">  There are criteria for an intersectional idea. Is the idea new, is the idea valuable and can the idea be realized? Characteristics of intersectional innovations:        <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> The intersection represents a place that drastically increases the chances for unusual combinations to occur. Following the Renaissance we have seen the fragmentation of ideas and the specialization of thinkers. This worked well in the newly industrialised world and in a scientific paradigm that was reductionist. However, now in the 21st century we need to see the reintegration of ideas. We live in a smaller more connected world. It is t  ime to learn from other cultures. It is time for a us to reimagine our society and impose a new metaphor - a metaphor of the ecosystem where we recognise the interconnectdness of ideas. Break down our associative barriers
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">one to explain what the intersection is
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">two to explain why stepping into new intersections creates the Medici effect
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> three to outline the unique challenges we face when executing in intersectional ideas and how we can overcome those challenges
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They are surprising and fascinating
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They take leaps in new directions
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They open up entirely new fields
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They provide a space for a person, team, or company to call its own.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They generate followers, which means the creators can become leaders
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They provide a source of directional innovation for years or decades to come.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">They can affect the world in unprecedented ways.

There are ways to be successful in the intersection. We need to reverse assumptions - t  hink of the situation, product, or concept related to a challenge you are facing and thinking about the assumptions associated with that situation write    <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">down the assumptions: then reverse them. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;">Creativity comes from combining concepts in an unusual fashion. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> Time is needed for the ideas to develop.

<span style="display: block; color: #4c14db; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #39f9a8; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Interact with diverse groups of people <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; color: #4911d4; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #88f7c9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3100ff; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; background-color: #8b00ff; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #3413f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #67f982; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"> I need to try my ideas out on other people; particularly people with a different perspective. Simply bringing people together from different disciplines and cultures, with very thinking styles, different values, is not the same as putting together an innovative team. Quantity. The most innovative people have lots of ideas. They pursue the best ideas relentlessly. Mistakes are inevitable if you want to succeed so  plan for failure