What is Innovation?

A simple definition that I coined some time back is that Innovation occurs when: “When an idea, action or activity creates new markets or transforms the way business is done, thereby adding new VALUE.” Creating new (additional) Value is the center-point of ideation and innovation. Continue reading...

ʻSeeingʼ - A Critical Discipline for Innovation

Successful innovation requires our doing many things right. An excellent starting point is to begin by focusing on developing within our people the ability to see - to really ʻseeʼ. Those of us blessed with vision rely on it implicitly going through all the activities of daily life with eyes wide open. Continue reading...

Successful Innovation Begins with a Purpose

HEC, a top european business school issued a new Innovation study in December 2010, regarding corporate discipline of innovation management in Europe, entitled ‘The Corporate Innovation Function - Key Findings and Detailed Results.’ Continue reading...

Innovation: Can’t Afford It?

Heard it before? It goes something like this, “ These are tough times, we simply cannot afford to fund innovation - not right now. ” Come again? The boat has a leak and you can’t afford to fix it? Regardless of your circumstances, if you fail to innovate now, when the recession ends, your boat may have already sunk. Continue reading...

When Innovations Precipitate Secondary Opportunities

Frequently corporations strive hard to create breakthrough innovations in order to move their organization ahead of the competition. In doing so, they commit the necessary resources to their innovation effort. When a desirable innovation results, the organization moves on, rarely giving any further thought to what may be a potential gold mine. Continue reading...

I Have Learned that We are Standing on a Burning Platform

These are not the the words of a oil platform worker, but rather, the CEO of Nokia. Surprising? Yes, most certainly shocking, but honest to the core. Stephen Elop is not Finnish, nor did come from within the ranks of Nokia, but as an outsider, he sees the imminent challenge the company faces. At stake, its very survival. Continue reading...

INNOVATION: Source of Hope in a Troubled Economy

Almost everyone realized that the U.S. economy was in a recession long before the December, 2008, official government announcement, which acknowledged that the economic downturn had begun a full year earlier. What no one knew then, and what remains the subject of much conjecture today, is how deep and long will be its impact. Continue reading...

European Corporations Taking Innovation Seriously

HEC, a top european business school issued a new Innovation study in December 2010, regarding corporate discipline of innovation management in Europe, entitled ‘The Corporate Innovation Function - Key Findings and Detailed Results.’ Continue reading...

A Generation of Innovators at Risk

Everyone from the President to senators, representatives, governors, business executives and educators is talking about the critical need for Innovation. It seems they finally ʻgetʼ it. After trying everything else, we are now waking up to the startling realitythat we MUST find creative new ways of addressing the issues we face, not just across America, but worldwide. Continue reading...

Innovate Now or Jump Later

The choice to pursue continuous Ideation and Innovation cannot be forestalled by current economic ups and downs. The economy may from time to time falter, however it is highly unlikely that all of your competitors will choose to stop innovating until conditions improve. Continue reading...

Innovate to Overcome Buyer Apprehension

Buyer apprehension, is the nemesis of every sales organization. There are many causes of buyer apprehension, but nowhere is this customer behavior more visible than in the high tech sector and rightly so. Technology is changing so quickly that products are literally becoming obsolete by the time they hit the sales floor. Continue reading...