Page 18 - AAA JULY-AUGUST 2012 Online Magazine
P. 18
FEATURE INNOVATION
Qantas’’Faster Smarter on the other side of the argument, research from the men in white coats is
check in’ and bag drop eurocopter’s Ducrot contends that something kumar agrees with, saying
incorporates the Q Bag Tag innovation becomes a useful item on the that there is sometimes a misconception
on which the passenger’s company checklist when it starts from the that innovation is the responsibility of the
flight details are embedded top. he says that it is mostly driven top- research and development department
down from a strategic standpoint, but still only. it’s not.
needs to be encouraged from the ground “innovative thinking is actually
too. “we have innovation sponsors across important across every sector, business
functions to ensure that the innovation and function,” he says. “anybody, at any
learning strategy has the authority and level, can have that spark of an idea
resources to be implemented,” he adds – which could change the way we do things
a necessary gate-check for the most out- in rolls-royce. at its most practical
there innovative ideas. level, innovation refers to the successful
and in between, Qantas and rolls- implementation of ideas that bring some
royce admit it needs a little of both. form of value or competitive advantage,”
Qantas’ webster says it is vital that But whichever approach is taken,
Patents are a there is sponsorship from senior whatever the mechanism and whoever
drives it, there is no doubt that innovation
management for embedding innovation
vital ingredient in in the development process, as well as is part and parcel of what drives our
turning an innovative fostering it at the working-group level. highly visible yet innovative business.
idea into reality. “we have found success in bringing as eurocopter’s Ducrot puts it, “people
frontline staff into our innovation teams,”
remain dedicated to pushing the limits in
she says. these people work directly aviation. and there is no end to what can
with customers, which makes their be accomplished when we continue to
- Dr Alan Epstein, VP Science and experience and ideas extremely valuable, think without limits.” we have no doubt
Technology, Pratt & Whitney
she adds. this “outsourcing” of innovation robert Plath would agree.
18 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JULY / AUGUST 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM
