Creativity, innovation and lean sigma: a controversial combination?

• Published in: Drug discovery today Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 50 - 57
• Main Authors: Johnstone, Craig, Pairaudeau, Garry, Pettersson, Jonas A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Creativity; Diffusion of Innovation; Drug Discovery - methods; Drug Industry - organization & administration; General pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; Organizational Innovation; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Research - organization & administration; Research Design; Innovation; Pharmaceutical technology
• ISSN: 1359-6446; 1878-5832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2010.11.005

The application of lean sigma is gaining momentum in drug discovery and development but it remains controversial because of perceptions that process improvement will suppress much-needed creativity and innovation. We review the conditions required to support creativity and innovation and the principles and benefits of lean sigma in a drug discovery environment. We conclude that it is desirable to create a unified climate that encourages and enables both innovation and continuous improvement and that this is possible if three key tensions are handled carefully and with due respect to the needs of research. These three potential traps occur in the interpretation of standardization, the role of variation and the choice of how to use liberated capacity.