The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9)

September 4, 2007 · Filed Under Business, Business Model, Creative Thinking Techniques, Creativity, Facilitation, Featured, Innovation, Myers-Briggs, Personality 

Table of contents for 7 Levels Of Change

  1. The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9)
  2. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 2 of 9) - Level 1: Effectiveness
  3. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 3 of 9) - Level 2: Efficiency
  4. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 4 of 9) - Level 3: Improving
  5. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 5 of 9) - Level 4: Cutting
  6. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 6 of 9) - Level 5: Copying
  7. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 7 of 9) - Level 6: Doing Things No One Else Is Doing
  8. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 8 of 9) - Level 7: Doing Things That Can’t Be Done
  9. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 9 of 9) - Bringing It All Together

This is no run of the mill Top 7 list. Prepare yourself for a rigorous review of the greatest innovation field guide in the universe: Rolf Smith’s “7 Levels of Change.”

I’ve since read many books on creativity and different aspects of innovation, but 7LoC was my introduction to innovation and creative thinking. This nine-post series will

  • describe each of the seven levels in detail
  • explain the tools and techniques for each level
  • discuss relations to different creative styles

Afterwards I’ll tie them together in a comprehensive philosophy for dealing with change and applying innovation.

Here are the 7LoC:

LEVEL 1: Effectiveness DOING the right things
LEVEL 2: Efficiency DOING things right
LEVEL 3: Improving DOING things better
LEVEL 4: Cutting Stopping DOING things
LEVEL 5: Copying DOING things other people are doing
LEVEL 6: Different DOING things no one else is doing
LEVEL 7: Impossible DOING things that can’t be done

Each level is harder to implement that the one that precedes it. Each requires a different level of thinking, inspires a different level of fear, and carries a different set of pros and cons. And there is defintely a relationship between the 7LoC and creative style.

We’ll get started with Level 1 - Effectiveness.

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18 Responses to “The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9)”

  1. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 2 of 9) - Level 1: Effectiveness « Open Source Innovation on September 22nd, 2007 1:42 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  2. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 3 of 9) - Level 2: Efficiency « Open Source Innovation on September 25th, 2007 10:00 pm

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  3. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 4 of 9) - Level 3: Improving « Open Source Innovation on September 27th, 2007 10:53 pm

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  4. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 5 of 9) - Level 4: Cutting « Open Source Innovation on October 5th, 2007 1:09 am

    [...] Posts IC’s Familiar Quotations on InnovationThe 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9)EEStor, A123, Altairnano…AND THE WINNER IS…Keirsey Temperament Assessment - Free, Powerful, and [...]

  5. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 6 of 9) - Level 5: Copying « Open Source Innovation on October 15th, 2007 11:21 pm

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  6. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 7 of 9) - Level 6: Doing Things No One Else Is Doing « Open Source Innovation on October 21st, 2007 10:48 pm

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  7. “The Crazy Idea” - How To Make It Work « Open Source Innovation on October 28th, 2007 8:44 pm

    [...] “The Crazy Idea” - How To Make It Work Posted on October 28, 2007 by Innovation Catalyst I’ve added a new creative thinking tool to The Arsenal - “The Crazy Idea.” We’ll be putting it to use in the next installation of 7 Levels Of Change. [...]

  8. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 8 of 9) - Level 7: Doing Things That Can’t Be Done « Open Source Innovation on November 5th, 2007 11:37 pm

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  9. Karin Hiebert on November 22nd, 2007 2:06 pm

    This is the type of information in which used and thought out, and implimented does give the greatest results in my experiences.
    as in your quote “Each level is harder to implement that the one that precedes it. Each requires a different level of thinking, inspires a different level of fear, and carries a different set of pros and cons”
    However, our ability to to have the “well thought out different level of thinking” does create a different level of fear. “Will it work” What if it doesn’t” comes into play in our thoughts…and in our actions…yes, way the pros and cons, this is not such a “different level” of thinking, it is one of the oldest ways and effective ways of thinking…I look forward to reading the various 7 levels of change!
    This is outstanding food for thought…
    Regards,
    Karin Hiebert

  10. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 9 of 9) - Bringing It All Together « Open Source Innovation on November 30th, 2007 12:16 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  11. 7 Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Innovator « Open Source Innovation on December 22nd, 2007 5:05 pm

    [...] of Change describes innovation in terms of types of change, from doing better to doing different. Read my 9-part series on the 7 Levels and get the book to learn the comprehensive [...]

  12. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 2 of 9) - Level 1: Effectiveness | open-source-innovation.com on February 6th, 2008 5:11 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  13. The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9) « Open Source Innovation on March 1st, 2008 5:57 am

    [...] The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction (Part 1 of 9) Posted on September 4, 2007 by Innovation Catalyst Open Source Innovation has moved - here is the new link to The 7 Levels Of Change - Introduction. [...]

  14. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 3 of 9) - Level 2: Efficiency | open-source-innovation.com on March 1st, 2008 6:06 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  15. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 4 of 9) - Level 3: Improving | open-source-innovation.com on March 1st, 2008 6:06 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  16. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 5 of 9) - Level 4: Cutting | open-source-innovation.com on March 1st, 2008 6:07 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  17. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 6 of 9) - Level 5: Copying | open-source-innovation.com on March 1st, 2008 6:09 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

  18. 7 Levels Of Change (Part 9 of 9) - Bringing It All Together | open-source-innovation.com on March 1st, 2008 6:10 am

    [...] Part 1 - Introduction [...]

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