In Strategy and Planning, we’re in the business of possibility. Our mission is to empower our people with the resources, frameworks, expertise, and tools needed to turn the impossible into the inevitable. We want to help you shape the future, not just plot a course. From infrastructure modernization to AI exploration, our work is driven by one purpose: to empower and equip our people to deliver for our customers.
A strategy defines how this can be achieved. Good strategy is bold, agile, and resilient – not rigid or predictable. One way to make strategies more robust is with innovation, turning obstacles into opportunities. The best innovation does what some would say is impossible. Let’s explore what that means.
We shouldn’t take ‘impossible’ for simple fact, we should take it as a challenge. It reflects the limits of our current perspective, not the true limits of what can be done. Ingenuity challenges the status quo, often striking the familiar script of “we’ve always done it this way.” But every challenge is an opportunity to innovate, disrupt, and create something new. We should not fear taking risks, failing, and learning from our mistakes. In the end, it’s not about being perfect – it’s about being bold, fearless, and willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
How do we help those around us be bold? When someone floats their “idea balloon,” one’s first instinct may be to pop it – but what would happen if you added more air? Maybe that additional air changes the composition slightly. The idea keeps floating, evolving with each person’s contribution. Did you pop any balloons today? How many did you add air to?
Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law states, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Innovation, at its best, feels like magic.
We do so many cool things here in Electronic Systems. You are all magicians disguised in business casual, working across teams and disciplines to transform the impossible into reality for our customers. How do we cultivate this? How do we do more? We must create an environment where employees feel empowered to bring their best forward.
One place where our innovative culture truly shines is through our Empower program. The Empower program is the strategic innovation arm of our business and provides funding and guidance for maturation and prototyping when appropriate. This initiative has come a long way since its inception, evolving from an open portal for ideas to focused sprints that tackle specific challenges. And now, in its 15th anniversary year, Empower has reached a major milestone with the launch of our Innovation Impact Accelerator. This accelerator is designed to amplify the potential of our team members, providing them with the mentorship and resources they need to take their ideas to the next level.
But we know that advanced thinking is only half the battle. We need to give our ideas the runway they need to take flight. That’s why we’re investing in better collaboration tools, enhancing our processing infrastructure, and embracing cutting-edge technologies to eliminate obstacles that have previously limited capabilities.
With these investments, our teams can accomplish significantly more with the same resources, tackling twice as many customer challenges and creating exponentially more value with every effort. The result? A more agile, advanced, and impactful organization that’s better equipped to drive business growth and success.
Can we do more? Let us know. We’re here to add air to your balloon.
By Chris Rappa, Vice President of Strategy and Planning
With Laura Goodwin and Colleen Stone, Communications