Home 禄 Opinion 禄 Foreign Views
How a solar plane can take you to new heights
Print Edition
Solar Impulse, soon to be the first solar-powered plane to circle the globe, has accomplished some astounding feats. But, the project is also a useful guide to understanding innovation at any organization.
Throughout history those who have achieved the impossible have used a similar formula for success. Solar Impulse co-pilots Bertrand Piccard, Andre Borschberg and their sun-fuelled ship are no exception.
To start innovating, learn to think like an A.L.I.E.N.
A for anthropology
The first rule is to observe reality as an anthropologist would, to see problems and human beings as they are and not how we would like them to be. In his book 鈥淐hanging Altitude,鈥 Bertrand Piccard tells how he finally got authorization to fly over China when he co-piloted the first ever, non-stop around-the-world balloon trip in the Breitling Orbiter. During the first two failed attempts, the team asked for permission following the usual international law protocols. Beijing refused the requests. Not giving up, Piccard went to meet face-to-face with the Chinese authorities 鈥渢o try to understand the problem and to find a solution together.鈥 And it worked.
L for lateral thinking
The second rule is to think laterally and to combine ideas from previously unrelated fields. When Piccard and Borschberg were conceiving their idea for a plane which had a wingspan comparable to that of an A340, was as light as a small car, and could fly night and day only using solar power, aviation specialists said it was impossible.
The two Solar Impulse pilots had to look outside of the existing knowledge of the aviation industry to find a way forward. As Piccard said 鈥淎n innovation is not just coming up with a new idea, it is the shedding of an old certainty.鈥
I for imagination
You have to have imagination, to be able to picture another world, and dream about something different. For this, Bertrand Piccard was fortunate from childhood. He recalls 鈥淚 was captivated hearing about my father鈥檚 adventures at the north and south poles, Mount Everest, in space and in the deep sea.鈥
E for experimentation
But dreams are not enough to fuel a solar plane. Ideas have to be tried and tested, sometimes for lengthy periods of time. This is the fourth rule. Acceptance of failure is necessary and so is the courage to get up and start again. For Piccard 鈥淪uccess comes from trying once more than the number of times you fail. But you have to try something different every time: another altitude or another method. That鈥檚 what makes the difference between doggedness and perseverance.鈥
N for navigation
The fifth rule is to navigate, to take others along on your journey, to motivate them by sharing your vision and values so you can build a team that will achieve your goals. Despite the doubts of aviation experts, Bertrand Piccard managed to gather together 80 partner companies to bring Solar Impulse to life. It now has a team of 100 people, made up of 30 engineers, 25 technicians and 22 mission operators.
All of these rules were consciously applied during the creation of Solar Impulse. And they have always been part of the recipe for big discoveries and innovation.
Cyril Bouquet is Professor of Strategy at IMD. His major interest is the interface between organizational psychology, strategy and leadership.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
