Suzanne Verdonschot, Marloes de Jong, Paul Keursten: Innovationen im Hier und Jetzt – Eine Toolbox mit neuen Ideen und ungewöhnlichen Ansätzen zum Ausprobieren

Abstract

As in medical education, innovation processes play an important role in many other fields and the involved stakeholders struggle with similar problems. However, such difficulties in development processes can also be considered as tasks which have to be solved successfully without wrecking one’s own nerves. The handbook enclosed in the toolbox reports the investigation of such processes which can be successfully worked on with proper “project management”. Not only does it provide explanations, but it also offers tools printed on handy cards which can be directly used in one’s own workshop. Hence, it is very useful for everyone who wishes to manage group processes that do not always run smoothly (e.g. curriculum development). In the first chapter of the handbook, innovations are described as a mutual learning process that depends on the different perspectives. So called “innovation practices” are the focus of this chapter, i.e. groups of people who want to work jointly on a difficult task in practice. By means of investigations of different innovation practices from different work and life areas the authors developed a model for the design process of breakthroughs to facilitate innovations. In addition, they identified factors in several studies which influence the design process. Being aware of these relationships they developed 11 design principles in the second chapter of this handbook which can serve as guidelines for individual work in innovation processes in practice. These design principles sound very intuitive and pragmatic, for instance: „Draft an urgent and fascinating question” or “Establish unfamiliar contacts between people with different expertise” or “Work on the basis of mutual attraction”. All design principles are displayed according to the same principle. Initially, the mode of operation of the principle is explained, afterwards, the principle is exemplified further with a practical example, and finally, a guideline is given how to use this principle in one’s own practice. Every design principle is prefaced by a motto and a cartoon which help tomemorize the principle easily. An abbreviated version of every design principle can be found in the toolbox printed on a DIN A6 card including important tips to be used in practice. The toolbox also contains a set of 27 DIN A5 cards, so called cards with methods, which described possible