IT Depratment - Rest Stop on The Innovation Superhighway

In an editorial in CIO Insight Magazine Eric Chabrow pushes the point that the IT department is where innovation gets transformed into a project, complete with restrictions, functional measures, and performance benchmarks - all weighing down the rapid development speed intrinsic to innovation. In the article Gary Hamel cautions against turning to the IT department for help on some initiatives. As a matter of course Hamel sees that innovation and rapid prototype decisions would be forced down into the ranks of those who are 'doing' not 'strategizing'.  There have been books about process management that preach that empowering the front line to catch and stop waste is the best way to engage employees, drive up quality, and improve overall efficiency. With that in mind it is wholly clear that the same approach should be taken in the rapid prototype and innovation arena as well.