Walking on the Edge with Innovation
May 6, 2013
Innovation thrives on a diet of news ideas. It needs new views, fresh thinking; a different perspective from across the organization, from the center to the edge. Walking on the edge According to John Hagel and John Seely Brown for the Aspen Institute Roundtable Discussion in 2012, the place where innovation is most likely to flourish is not at the core of an organization but at the edge “where the weight of inertia is less inhibiting and where disruptive initiatives are more likely to be tolerated”. Edges... Read more »
The Hidden Value of an IP Portfolio – Just ask Dell
April 8, 2013
Value creation is the performance of actions that increase the worth of goods, services and businesses. It benefits customers, who receive improved products and services, as well as shareholders of the company who wish to see their stake appreciate over time. How does a company create and maintain value? Through innovation processes that build a portfolio of patented intellectual property. A company’s value is not only measured by its annual revenue, but also by the worth of its IP portfolio. In the... Read more »
Sustainable Innovation – Inspiration from a 7-year-old
February 22, 2013
Vision leads to the mission, from which is developed the strategy. Inject vibrant ideas, and stir in some climate and culture, process, and technology. The result: Sustainable Innovation About those vibrant ideas, where do they come from? In the earliest days of our childhood, we spent a great amount of time creating and thinking up new ideas. We were continually building, imagining, and creating things; pillow forts, Lego buildings, kitchen snacks, and whatever else we could dream up using household supplies. Somewhere... Read more »
Innovation from a “Gemba” perspective
February 18, 2013
When was the last time you approached your business as a customer? Have you ever placed an order for your own product, and followed its path from start to finish? It may be time to start. It may be time for a Gemba Walk. Competitive business strategy requires effective planning, development and growth. It demands innovation in all aspects of performance and interaction. The ability to monitor, study, and track core elements; both human and material, can help to minimizing errors and increase... Read more »
If ideas are the seeds of innovation…
January 25, 2013
“If ideas are the seeds of innovation, idea management is the formalization of the processes involved in gathering, sharing, analyzing and executing the ideas generated within an organization and its collaborative networks.” Whichever form your ideas take, how you manage them dictates the outcome of each endeavor. For great tips on idea management read the latest post, “If ideas are the seeds of innovation…” at the Robert’s Rules of Innovation Blog. http://www.robertsrulesofinnovation.com/blogs/ideas-seeds-innovation.html Read More →
2013 Innovation Resolution: Make Mistakes
January 8, 2013
At the beginning of every year, I pick one solid quote to live by for the year. This year, my quote comes from Neil Gaiman. Gaiman himself never graduated from college. He never even enrolled in college. Yet, today, he is one of the most celebrated and prolific writers working today. “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.... Read more »
In a Marketing Rut? Get Innovative!
November 20, 2012
You’ve optimized your website keywords, populated your social profiles with content, and maximized your print advertisements and direct mail campaigns… but your traffic and revenue still hasn’t increased. If this sounds familiar, you may be stuck in a marketing rut. Rather than continuing your same old, same old marketing tactics, utilize a few innovative ideas to jump-start your campaigns and start increasing your revenue. Get Strategic with Email You’ve got a customer mailing list already, and you’ve... Read more »
I.N.N.O.V.A.T.I.O.N : Creating a Culture of Innovation
October 30, 2012
Innovation in business is the development of new customer value through solutions that meet new needs, inarticulate needs, or current needs in new ways. Innovation in and of itself is the key to a company’s survival. It is the lifeblood of a company. That said, innovation is not always easy, and it does not come by itself. It requires a culture and desire to deliver that needs to be nurtured and reinforced by its leadership and a backed by a structured process approach. The ten imperatives in Robert’s... Read more »
Measure Innovation Efforts in Leading and Lagging Indicators (KPI)
October 23, 2012
How will you measure success? Innovation is ultimately about Return on Investment. It’s critical to use leading and lagging Key Performance Indicators, and observe and measure time spent on each segment of the new product development (NPD) process to see how it’s progressing. Leading Metrics used in the industry can include ideas generated, ideation sessions held, number of patents filed, and for lagging new products released, and percentage of sales due to new products. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srpyLoPp1JE&feature=share&list=UUxXhckNtVpjkJDNlR-GEYaA Read More →
Supporting the “R” in R&D
October 9, 2012
When it comes to Research and Development (R&D), a majority of the new product development process involves the “D” from concept to launch. However, the “R” is where most breakthroughs come from – and it is in jeopardy due to recessionary cuts and the short-term pressure for monthly and quarterly results. When companies are laser focused on delivering monthly bottomline goals, research can be left on the back burner. What are you doing to support research? Are you investing... Read more »
Innovation Evolution
