In December, LCRIG’s Sector Insights team introduced a festive quiz, “What Polar Animal Matches Your Innovator Personality Type”. The quiz was designed to explore attitudes toward innovation across the sector while spreading some Christmas cheer. This unique initiative aimed to provide fresh insights into how individuals within the supply chain and local authorities perceive, approach, and contribute to innovation. The quiz highlighted different personality-driven styles of innovation, creating a snapshot of how the sector collectively tackles challenges, learns from setbacks, and drives progress.
The quiz was simple yet effective, featuring a range of multiple-choice questions focused on problem-solving strategies, responses to failure, collaboration preferences, and methods of staying informed about industry trends. Based on their answers, respondents were matched with one of five polar animals, each embodying a distinct innovator archetype:
- Polar Bear: Visionary and pioneering innovators, leading with boldness and collaborative approaches.
- Narwhale: Creative and experimental innovators, willing to take risks and embrace unconventional solutions.
- Snowy Owl: Analytical and pragmatic innovators, methodical and detail oriented.
- Reindeer: Risk-averse or follower innovators, preferring proven methods and group consensus.
- Greenland Shark: Conservative or disruptive innovators, cautious yet transformative when necessary.
By exploring individual approaches and identifying shared values, the responses provided valuable insights into the sector’s collective mindset, highlighting its strengths and opportunities for growth.
The quiz revealed key insights into how individuals in the sector approach innovation. Problem-solving emerged as a strength, with 42% of respondents identifying as analytical thinkers (snowy owls) who prioritize thorough analysis and informed decision-making. Resilience was another defining trait, with 98% of participants viewing failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. This included a mix of detailed analysis (snowy owl) and persistence (polar bear archetypes) to overcome obstacles.
Collaboration stood out as a preferred method for exploring new ideas, with 55% favoring brainstorming and group discussions, highlighting the importance of teamwork and shared expertise. Similarly, the importance of staying informed was identified as a high priority, with 62% choosing conferences, workshops, and webinars to engage with the latest innovations, reflecting a strong commitment to continual learning and proactive engagement.
Finally, fostering innovation was linked to collaboration (36%) and encouragement of experimentation (26%), emphasizing the value of open dialogue and creative exploration.
The Innovator Quiz has provided a valuable snapshot of how individuals within the sector approach and contribute to innovation. Overall, it demonstrated a sector-wide focus on learning, collaboration, and the importance of a forward-thinking approach to overcoming challenges and driving meaningful change. A significant majority of respondents (80%) embodied pioneering, creative, and analytical traits, reflecting a collective commitment to exploring new ideas, collaborating effectively, and learning from setbacks. The results highlighted a shared resilience and determination to overcome challenges, as well as a strong preference for teamwork and proactive engagement with industry trends.
LCRIG’s findings reaffirm the importance of fostering collaboration and supporting innovation across the sector. Initiatives like the Innovation and Learning Festival demonstrate LCRIG’s dedication to creating spaces for shared learning, discussion, and the development of cutting-edge solutions. By understanding and celebrating individual approaches to innovation, the sector is well-positioned to continue driving meaningful change.
Read the quiz findings here.