innovate outward by serving needs inward

While in Pennsylvania, I drove through the town of Hershey which is known for its candy bars and theme park.

What I didn’t know until then was the presence of Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Ave. I wandered in, excited to get more of the story behind Milton Hershey and the candy making method.

I was suprised by the social innovation accomplished beyond consumables and products. Milton encouraged his employees to invest and become home owners in the community his company helped to engineer and build; with residential areas, recreation centers, and structures of the town remaining and operating to this day.

In any industry, short gains are inherent to whatever supply chain, manufacturing process, and development product “x” requires. As an organization scales innovation farther and outward, the tighter it is bound to the inward needs of understanding, community, and autonomy of those involved.