Stuart Crainer - Embracing Sustainable Innovation: Lessons from Shimizu's Evolving Tradition

In celebration of the new PMI | Brightline +Thinkers50 book "Driving Sustainable Innovation: How to Do Well While Doing Good," we interviewed some of the book contributors to explore what leaders can do to drive and change their organizations through the lens of sustainability and innovation.
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Stuart Crainer, Cofounder of Thinkers50, is the author of the chapter "Building the Future at Shimizu".
Stuart Crainer provides an insightful look into how Shimizu, one of Japan's largest construction companies, has undergone a transformative cultural shift toward sustainable innovation. Historically, Shimizu's role was to construct buildings for clients, but now the company views each structure as part of a dynamic ecosystem that requires ongoing engagement and craftsmanship. This philosophy is deeply rooted in the Japanese concept of 'mono zukuri,' which emphasizes quality and skill in creating objects.
Shimizu has established a Small Business Innovation Unit, which focuses on five key missions, including projects aimed at enhancing island communities' resilience and sustainability. The company's initiatives underscore the importance of innovative thinking, even in areas with limited construction needs, as it explores new possibilities through partnerships, such as the one with the University of U in Finland, using 5G and 6G technologies to foster a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society.
Crainer highlights four key lessons from Shimizu's approach to innovation:
1. The need for established companies to continuously rethink their business models and practices.
2. The timeless values that must be reinterpreted and updated to stay relevant.
3. The importance of technology serving as a complement to human craftsmanship rather than replacing it.
4. The power of viewing a business as an ecosystem, can lead to new ways of structuring and configuring organizations.
5. Every product or service should be evaluated for its broad impact and the jobs it enables to be done, reflecting true sustainable innovation.