Innovation and Operations – Where Innovation Really Matters
The real business value of innovation comes from improving processes that lead to systematic efficiency, cost savings, and competitive advantages
How Should a CEO Lead Innovation?
Innovation is one of the more important challenges for a CEO. But, it is unlike any other business function they lead.
Growing a business from niche to mainstream doesn’t require innovation
Growing a business from niche to mainstream requires a unique approach to brand and product development; one of assimilation instead of innovation. In general, a niche product is successful because 1) It has a feature or attribute can’t be found in any other product, and 2) That feature or attribute is much more important to its customers than any other of the category. When looking for growth many niche businesses fail to accept […]
When Marketing Complex Systems, Keep it Simple
Marketing a new product is always a challenge. Marketing a new to this world multipart system, like a “Keurig” for cocktails, water, ice cream, etc. is exponentially more difficult. These pod-based systems require consumer education, explanations of the value proposition, translations of technical performance, communication of its competitive advantages and more. Even if prioritized, the […]
Creating Competitive Advantages Through Reduction; Simplicity as a Strategy
Simplicity can be a competitive advantage. But can established companies leverage simplicity or does it need to be a fundamental principle?
When it is better to buy or build innovation?
When large companies need to solve a consumer problem often the fastest route to market, with the lowest risk, is to buy a company that already has a solution. However, when consumer behavior has changed rapidly and getting to market with the right solution is critical, I believe building innovation is the better choice. There […]
Why it takes data, design thinking and Agile to innovate
For as long as someone has created a breakthrough innovation there was a process proposed for replicating their success. But three innovation systems stand out to me because I’ve found that they are especially effective when used in combination. Using these tools I recently launched a breakthrough product a year sooner than expected and with a customer satisfaction rating of 94%.
Why Adopt Agile over Waterfall for Developing Consumer Products
My company transitioned from a classic waterfall to Agile for a three important reasons. 1) Prioritizaion and focus, 2) Transparency and communications and 3) Team development
Effective Agile for Hardware Development
I’ve spent the last three years adopting Agile / Scrum to hardware. Agile’s promise of twice the work in half the time can be achieved. But, the version of Agile I evolved to required thinking beyond the limited precepts of the Agile Manifesto.