When you think of innovation, you quickly tend to think of high-profile discoveries, but Sergei Kart, Lead System Architect at BPM Company, thinks otherwise. For him, innovation is a process of constantly undertaking small experiments, not being afraid to make mistakes and learning from them. In this blog, Sergei shares his unique perspective on innovation and how it drives him daily in his work.
Innovation: innate or learned?
Some people believe that you are born an innovator. This was certainly the case with my grandfather. He was a brilliant scientist in organic chemistry, endowed with an exceptional memory. Although I did not inherit his scientific gene, I learned that innovation is not just in the blood. Unfortunately, my grandfather died prematurely, so I also never had the chance to copy the art from him. I had to learn by experimenting myself.
Small experiments, big discoveries
For me, innovation is not necessarily about making revolutionary discoveries. It’s more about constantly conducting small but thoughtful experiments. This is how I find the best solutions to the challenges I face in my work at BPM Company. Often the complexity of a task matches the relevance of a discovery, but sometimes discoveries arise by accident.
Passion for innovation in the DNA of BPM Company
Innovation is about finding solutions. Some ideas suck, some are okay and only a few are great. Before you get to that brilliant solution, a lot of mistakes pass by. So making mistakes is a natural part of innovation; you learn from them. Setting challenging goals, embracing mistakes and having a tremendously strong desire to get to that exceptional solution, without settling for something that is merely “okay,” that is my way of innovating. That passion for innovation fits right in with BPM Company’s corporate culture.
Setting challenging goals, embracing mistakes and having a tremendously strong desire to arrive at that exceptional solution, without settling for something that is merely ‘okay,’ that is my way of innovating. That passion for innovation fits right in with BPM Company’s culture.
The value of a Proof-of-Concept
At BPM Company, we naturally deal with projects with a tight deadline. We want to meet that deadline because delivering the final product to the customer is essential. This means that everything we do is focused on providing the best solution. But sometimes we explore options without being absolutely certain of a positive outcome beforehand. Thus, we balance meeting tight deadlines with exploring creative solutions. Creating a Proof-of-Concept (POC) allows us to identify risks and explore innovative solution options. Not every POC leads to success, but it gives us room to experiment and make early adjustments.
Early stage research
Does a POC always lead to a positive outcome? No, not always, and that’s fine. A POC does not guarantee a perfect solution; it provides a controlled space for innovation within established frameworks of scope and resources. In some of my projects, after conducting a POC, we decided to abandon the original proposed solution. Sometimes, based on the POC, we can convince the client to modify the requirements. A POC gives you a chance to explore early how successful a solution is. Then, if it turns out that you are on your way to creating an ineffective or poor solution, it is better to let it go at that early stage.
More certainty, less fear, more innovation
This approach contributes to a sense of certainty and reduces the fear of failure. It makes your team members dare to take responsibility and contribute freely to the search for innovative solutions. Of course, mistakes will be made. But embracing them improves team collaboration and communication. When everyone understands that making mistakes is a natural part of the innovation process, it creates an environment where team members feel more comfortable taking risks and sharing their ideas openly. Thanks to this culture of transparency and trust, we at BPM Company are more likely to put our thoughts and ideas on the table. There is no fear of judgment or criticism. Mistakes are seen as opportunities and not reasons for reproach.
Research and try
I encourage everyone to seek opportunities to innovate, whether in a work environment or in your daily life, simply because it is so exciting and inspiring. You really don’t have to be Thomas Edison or Marie Curie. Dare to explore, have the guts to try things and let go of your fear of making mistakes. That’s how you will come up with the most beautiful solutions.
Join BPM Company
Like Sergei, do you want to push your boundaries, discover your IT talent and make an impact at leading organizations? If you are proactive, critical and driven, we invite you to join our team. Exciting opportunities await you at BPM Company. Check out our job openings and apply quickly.
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