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 »
What drives Innovation and who owns it?
December 11, 2012
Ownership is one of the key imperatives of Robert’s Rules of Innovation. Most would agree that innovation is everyone’s responsibility, but employees can’t innovate unless their leaders empower them to do so. Innovation needs a champion within the organization to push them to take calculated risks, and to step outside their own comfort zone. Without ownership, positive results are almost impossible to achieve. To find out if you are on track in your companies’ innovation ownership; ask yourself the... Read more »
Innovations to be thankful for… & the importance of the NPD process
November 26, 2012
After sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner last week, it is hard not to think of all that we have to be thankful for. In the past year there have been some incredible new innovations revolutionizing the way people live their lives. After countless hours spent planning, researching, designing, and testing; what was once an idea, becomes a tangible reality. Implementing innovation depends on a disciplined strategy customized to the needs, size and culture of an organization. Innovation can be incremental, which... Read more »
Innovation Balancing Act
November 12, 2012
r On June 15th of this year, Nik Wallenda became the first person ever to walk across the roaring Niagra Falls on a 2-inch wire. After battling wind swells, and thick mist, Wallenda completed his walk crossing from the United States into Canada. He was greeted by a Canadian customs agent who asked, “What is the purpose of your trip sir?” Wallenda’s response: “To inspire people around the world to follow their dreams and never give up”. There are many possible roads to innovation.... 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 »
Gauging Your Organization’s Training and Coaching Program
August 28, 2012
For creating a company culture and mindset focused on innovation, it starts with proper training and coaching from the high ups of an organization. Team members need to be trained and coached to constantly improve their skill set, and this attitude should be continuously reinforced. It’s important for the entire company to be innovative, and not just a designated “Department of Innovation.” Successful, sustainable innovation depends on a natural curiosity and open-mindedness from all members... Read more »
Innovation is Creativity x Risk Taking
August 13, 2012
Innovation is impossible to achieve without taking a necessary amount of risk. In a world where the success rate of new product entries in the grocery business is 1 in 100, it is inevitable that every success sees failures along the way. An effective innovation leader should encourage creativity and risk taking, while also practicing a tolerance for failure. In order to foster initiative and innovation, ask yourself these questions. * Do you allow free research and development (R&D) time? * Do you invest... Read more »
Innovation Evolution
