LJ 1-3b

Reflecting on your personal past experiences, discuss an idea you developed, only to have it fail during the implementation. Why did the implementation fail?

I actually can not think of an idea that I developed and failed at implementation. Most of the ideas that I developed or developed with others were successfully implemented - if the idea was deemed worthy of going forward with it. The only idea that went partially to implementation, before being killed, was a part of my Master's thesis work. This novel idea was created by my advisor, a professor, and validated by a myself and a peer. The possibility of the idea was validated and at least one paper was published on this subject. Through the university, we started through the patent process. This idea made it through the first part of the process, but was killed in the due diligence review. The idea was not marketable enough to develop a product or process into a viable, money making process for ceramic manufacturing.

Other implementations I have been involved in could have been much more efficient if planning and listening to others perspectives and experiences were paid more attention. Sometimes people in charge of implementations tend to manage every aspect of the implementation instead of leading everyone through the changes the implementation process creates. Unfortunately implementation plans include people to carry out tasks and objectives. Autocratic and "know-it-all" attitudes or approaches typically results in a bumpy implementation. Including everyone at the start and keeping them engaged throughout the implementation process ensures that any missed issues are handled and addressed efficiently. This approach is also effective in ensuring that the process will support itself after all the "managing resources of implementation" leave. Implementation process needs to be about having the people who will be left with the processes implemented to create and develop the processes and NOT told what to do by "You" without any of their input. Again - engage the people in the implementation and future issues will be minimal.