“At a time when we are constantly being told to value
the new and the different, it may come as a surprise to
learn that the standard, the shared and the common can
be strong drivers of transformation,” writes Monitor’s
Henry King, in this essay for Fast Company Design. King,
who is an associate partner with the innovation strategy
firm Doblin, part of Monitor Group, cites five
illustrations from business to demonstrate how
standardization—in business processes, common
organizational goals, common platforms, shared cultural
values, and equipment interfaces—are critical tools of
innovation. 2011
