Introduction to Brainstorming Brainstorming as an approach or technique can be an effective way of generating many ideas on a specific issue which can then be filtered and reviewed to determine which idea or approach is the most appropriate.Brainstorming as a technique is most effective with groups of between 8 and 12 people performed in a relaxed environment. History of Brainstorming Brainstorming is a technique often used by groups, but can be done alone (although this is not as … [Read more...] about Brainstorming technique for innovation, creativity and problem solving – a business strategy
Entrepreneurial Innovation – Fad or key to success?
Entrepreneurial Innovation - Fad or key to success? The world economy is changing… are we reacting fast enough?For many entrepreneurs innovation is just not happening fast enough according to recent articles and research from Boston Consulting Group’s annual study on innovation. Many organisations know that in order to survive and then to grow they need to innovate. In recent years the focus of innovation has been on creativity and the innovative process, but the lack of results show that … [Read more...] about Entrepreneurial Innovation – Fad or key to success?
Cut or increase innovation in a recession?
Innovation, is it a burden or opportunity when things are difficult?This morning I was reading an article in Business Week about the need for organizations to cut back on innovation (article). The article starts with the opening line "When times get tough, one of the first things we do is think about what we can do without, like cutting latte consumption from five a week to two" with which I totally agree. However an assumption in the article drives the reader to believe that INNOVATION … [Read more...] about Cut or increase innovation in a recession?
Black Swan events – or unknown unknowns
Black Swan events - or unknown unknowns #BlackSwan #InnovationIt was once believed that all swans were white, because until that time the only swans had been seen (northern hemisphere) were white. It was believed that all swans were white and that black (or any other colour) could not exist.The belief was destroyed when a Black Swan was discovered in Australia. Hence the term “Black Swan” became used for unpredictable or unforeseen events - the unknown unknowns...As the changes … [Read more...] about Black Swan events – or unknown unknowns
Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
Introduction to the Ansoff matrix Igor Ansoff is known as the father of strategic management. He was a mathematician and business manager. In the 1950s his work was developed and eventually published providing managers and the marketing world with a simple, practical tool that is in use 50 years later.In essence the Ansoff product/ market matrix is a tool that helps businesses decide their product and market growth strategy.Ansoff's product/ market matrix suggests that a business' … [Read more...] about Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
Innovation creating an organizational wide culture of executive innovation
Executive innovation – creating the culture Ever heard your people say…“What we need in this organization is innovation” or “Creativity will give us the edge”.Executives and leaders often utter these words with little realisation of the difficulties of bringing about a fundamental shift in the behaviour necessary to create an innovation culture across the organization. “We can empower people to bring new ideas, we’ll run some workshops on creativity” if only it were that simple. But … [Read more...] about Innovation creating an organizational wide culture of executive innovation
Innovation – Individual or team effort – “Collective Leadership”
Today I read an interesting blog article on Innovation which starts with:"To generate creative business ideas, breakthrough innovators must be fiercely tested and wisely deployed (…) Truly innovative people are rare. Perhaps, 5% or 10% of the high potential managers within a company at any given time have the skills and attributes to become innovators.”Read Jeffrey Cohn, Jon Katzenbach, and Gus Vlack’s paper, “Finding and Grooming Breakthrough Innovators,” on HBR." The author … [Read more...] about Innovation – Individual or team effort – “Collective Leadership”
Disruptive innovators – Can your organization cope?
Wanting change is one thing but can your organization cope with disruptive innovators? We often hear that businesses and organizations of all sizes crave to be more innovative. They certainly do not want to be 'out of date', and want to keep providing customers with the products and services they need. But do we really understand innovation and the costs? Do we really want innovative companies? Are we prepared to disruptive our whole industry, and put some of our cash cows to bed?There … [Read more...] about Disruptive innovators – Can your organization cope?
Leadership & Innovation do we really learn?
Growth and development are critical for all parts of the world. Developing infrastructure is a key solution for long term sustainability and growth. Hot in the world news at the moment is the need for India to have a more structured financial system, for more of its population to have bank accounts, and yet only a small percentage of the population does. To meet this goal the Indian government is currently offering licenses to open new banks, and the requirement of being granted the license is … [Read more...] about Leadership & Innovation do we really learn?
Eight Orientations of #Innovation
What Is Your Creativity And Risk-Taking Orientation? Measuring the creative sense and risk-taking orientation of individuals in organisations helps to explain why one organisation (or team) stagnates and dies, another takes excessive risks and lands in bankruptcy, and yet others are moderately to extremely successful. Understanding the eight orientations of innovation can help improve performance and change.As the Creatrix model suggests, your creativity and risk-taking orientation can be … [Read more...] about Eight Orientations of #Innovation
What is Business Transformation?
What is Business Transformation? Increasingly in the worlds of project management, change and organizational development the term Business Transformation is being used. But what does it mean? What is exactly is Business Transformation?Is it change re-branded? Is it outsourcing? Is it a way for IT companies to sell additional services?In this unique piece Mike explores Business Transformation and looks at how this approach can be used in your company. He gets behind the hype and looks at what … [Read more...] about What is Business Transformation?
Eight things leaders do…
Eight things leaders do…1. Creates vision and sets direction 2. Focuses on ‘what might be’ 3. Thinks strategically, has insight sees long term 4. Inspires, influences, persuades others to follow 5. Acts decisively, models the way 6. Develops a diversity, competency, empowerment 7. Translates vision and mission into strategy and action 8. Maintains customer focusDeborah Atkinson … [Read more...] about Eight things leaders do…
Innovation – new or coming of time?
Innovation the missed management element? While looking at some references for a post on objectives and objective setting, I discovered an interesting entry by Drucker in his seminal work "The Practice Of Management".In my version (p53 1963 Mercury books ) Drucker identifies eight areas for an organisation to have strategic objectives (in this order):Market standing Innovation Productivity Physical & financial resources Profitability Manager performance & … [Read more...] about Innovation – new or coming of time?
Management model – Trust -v- Risk
Introduction The Trust vs. Risk matrix is a management tool that can help you determine your entrepreneur profile based on your attitude to risk and your attitude to trust.ProsThis simple matrix can give you an idea of the type of innovator you are, and the qualities you need to develop in order to maximize your chances of success.ConsInnovation and enterprises can take various shapes and forms. This matrix lays out a clear hierarchy between profiles, … [Read more...] about Management model – Trust -v- Risk
Eight orientations of leadership in innovation
Eight orientations of leadership in innovation 1. Sustainer 2. Dreamer 3. Challenger 4. Innovator 5. Planner 6. Modifier 7. Synthesiser 8. Practicalizer Byrd & Brown … [Read more...] about Eight orientations of leadership in innovation
Innovation Aim-Assess-Activate-Apply model
4A Model for Innovation- Aim, Assess, Activate, Apply #Innovation and the Creatrix ModelThe Creatrix Model for developing innovation follows a simple four-step methodology: Aim, Assess, Activate, and Apply. This model is the foundation for unleashing innovative capacity for change within individuals, teams, and organisations.Aim: If I say to you, "I want you/your team/your organisation to be more innovative," what does that mean?The word innovation by itself has little value … [Read more...] about Innovation Aim-Assess-Activate-Apply model
Leadership, Management, Business, HR and OD articles
We have many such pages on our site, but until recently have not had a place to install short pieces of information and articles.This section of our site will provide just that - a place for us to put short articles etc.To keep track of articles etc here you can follow us on twitter or follow the rss feed on this page.Thanks for visiting … [Read more...] about Leadership, Management, Business, HR and OD articles
New-consultants-using-the-creatrix-as-a-leadership-development-tool
On Wednesday 6 June 2008 at the IoD in London another group undertook training in use of the Innovation Equation developed by Byrd.The Innovation Equation: INNOVATION = CREATIVITY x RISK TAKING is a behavioural based approach. Under the two main components (Creativity and Risk Taking) are seven behavioural drivers. Using these drivers organisational development specialists can identify current and desired culture and map a change plan to enable the organisation to achieve its goals.The … [Read more...] about New-consultants-using-the-creatrix-as-a-leadership-development-tool
Innovation_before_leadership
Before Leadership - Innovation Before Leadership: Creativity and Risk TakingMore often than not when you read books and articles on leadership, you will hear leadership defined as the ability to create a vision, anticipate trends, walk the talk or be congruent in the way leaders live their values (value-congruence), empower and understand their own impact on others (self-understanding).But before these competencies can be realized, there are two factors that are critical to the reality … [Read more...] about Innovation_before_leadership
team innovation
Developing Innovation in Teams IntroductionEffective teams are to some extent a paradox. On one hand there is a need for diversity, too many with the same behaviours and thinking can allow the work of a team drift, on the other hand the differences between members of the team can be causes of confusion, misunderstanding and conflict.Getting the balance right is critical - its hard work and many teams muddle through it learning to accommodate each other and delivering mediocre … [Read more...] about team innovation
