This morning I joined a webinar run by the Learning and Skills Group.  The Group, chaired by Don Taylor, run a fantastic series of these online sessions throughout the year and they are always interesting and often very useful.  Today's session was delivered by Nigel Paine and focused on 'Innovation, Learning and Survival'. 

Nigel posited that in tough times such as these, being innovative can often be the key to an organisation's success; organisations must adapt or die.  And does L&D play its part in being innovative within different organisational cultures?  I would argue that L&D are often at the forefront of innovation - leading edge software implementations such as Learning Management Systems are often required by the L&D department, e-learning continues to evolve and become more innovative, whilst social and informal learning gathers apace.  In my book this puts L&D streets ahead of the rest of the organisation! 

One interesting question Nigel raised was 'What is the difference between innovation and creativity?'  There was an abundance of different answers and I must admit I think it is a tough question.  Indeed, can you have one without the other?  I'm not sure you can.

Ultimately, the session concluded that innovation begins and ends with people.  And it is the people business that L&D is all about, and perhaps it is this that keeps us trying different initiatives and embracing the new.