Monday, March 28, 2011

The Great Innovation Lie

Part of the challenge with supporting (and implementing) an innovation framework is how do you put systems around what seems to be a process that thrives on freedom from such systems. Jeffrey Baumgartner on the Blogging Innovation website writes about the prevalence of innovation consultants wanting to place systems around innovation and he outlines the basics required to maximise innovation such as:
  • trust
  • management buy-in
  • budget
  • tools
  • evaluation methods
  • facilities
  • time
Click here to read the full blog.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Why failure drives innovation

Attached is a brief article from Professor Baba Shiv of Stanford School of Business. He has an interesting take on the approach to failure within the innovation space and even highlights rapid prototyping as an essential part of the process.

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Silicon Valley is populated with people who fear only sitting on the bench while someone else scores with a great idea, says Professor Baba Shiv. How people approach failure is a key to success, he argues.

STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS—"Failure" is a dreaded concept for most business people. But failure can actually be a huge engine of innovation for an individual or an organization. The trick lies in approaching it with the right attitude and harnessing it as a blessing, not a curse.

I've coined two terms that describe how people view failure: the type 1 mindset, and the type 2 mindset.

Click here to read the full article.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

IBM's 100 years in 100 seconds

IBM is turning 100 in 2011 and the company is having an awesome time celebrating its longevity.  From technical advances, the Apollo program to blazing trails through race and gender equality, IBM has and IS doing the job for all of the world.  The company has changed in so many ways and has to adapt in ways only IBMers can but we have survived and thrived. 

Find more information about our centennial celebration
here

Click here to see 100 second video of all IBM's achievements over the last 100 years.
To see the longer versions detailing each achievements over each of the 100 years click here.

Decline in US manufacturing attributed to 'killing' schools

Wow what an interesting article. The article highlights the demise of trade schools in the US that were key enablers in feeding an engaged and sustainable manufacturing workforce.
Also very interesting is the embedded ABC discussion on "Made in America" drawing comments from journalists and industry on how to fix America's manufacturing woes.