Quick Analysis of Open Innovation “Artifacts”

Probably like most people who are interested in developments in innovation strategy, I have several Google alerts set to flag “artifacts” concerning the topic.  I use “artifacts” a phrase dear to Tin Whiskers co-author Dave Fazzina, because it is more than a simple web hit.  Any web hit can be weighted up or down in an artifacts measurement.  For instance, a major corporation adopting a new O.I. strategy is important while another do-nothing conference with the same people talking about the same thing as they did 3 years ago rates pretty low.

 

A must read for innovators: 3M in recessionary times

I love this article:  At 3M, Innovation Comes in Tweaks and Snips (WSJ)

The article discusses 3M CEO George Buckley’s approach to driving innovation during a recession.  I’m impressive by his observations because they are devoid of the drivel so common among executives when asked about innovation. 

 

Backlash against transactional open innovation

A good article that sites the backlast against transactional models of open innovation:    Bloomberg article.

 

Steve Jobs and gadgets: Learnings for innovators

It has been a while since a new technology product hype equaled that of the new IPad announced last week from Apple. In all of the presentations by innovation consultants, pundits, and talking heads that I’ve been privy too over the years, no doubt Apple/Jobs has been cited more than any other as an example of the best of every type of innovation (open, closed, customer-driven, consumer-driven, Blue Sky,  and every-flavor thereof.) Everyone is eager to morph the Jobs message to mesh with whatever they are hawking.

Not to be outdone…. 🙂

 

Friedman Article in NYT that Gub’ment focus on Innovation

This op-ed piece in the NYTimes by Thomas Friedman will be interesting to those interested in innovation.

I’d say Friedman is right in that President Obama should focus on job creation through innovation and revitalization.  But Friedman ignores a problem:  government will see the problem as “what should government do?” rather than “what are we doing to impeded business that we should stop?”

 

Can adademic studies propel a career in innovation?

Recently a friend’s college student daughter asked me how they might adapt her college courses for a “career in innovation.”  Having read my posts on Tin Whiskers, and aspiring to a top MBA program, she assumed I might have an inspired answer.  I did not.  And since I usually have a pat answer to questions about the hysteria around innovation (and open innovation in particular), I was a bit more surprised by my blank stare than was this starry eyed student.  That always causes me to reflect.

 

Open Innovation and in re Bilski

In my earlier career as an engineer, I encountered the patent process.  I’ll admit I wasn’t impressed.  I recall a meeting in 1989 where I described the invention (a software method for detecting the speed of wheels for anti-lock brake purposes) to a lawyer from GM’s patent office.  He claimed he was an engineer, too, but he certainly spoke a different language than I did.  He wrote up the patent application and asked me to read it.  I tried but couldn’t understand it.  I still can’t.  But the invention worked, I got a plaque and a hefty financial reward for it.

 

Temporary Employees: Good or Bad for Innovation

The December jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics repored the first drop in the unemployment rate since the beginning of the recession, from 10.2% to 10.0%.  As might be expected, economists the world over poured over the details of the report to see if is the start of a positive trends that will lead to higher employment levels and an accelerated economy.

 

The Role of Innovation Scouts as Reverse Mentors

I’ve had the good fortune of serving on the Board of Trustees for Millsaps College for the past nine years.  Like most such  boards, its members are mostly older business executives who have given their time, talent, and treasure to the college.  And, of course, have a high-likelihood to provide for the college in their wills.  (Which lead one long-time member to comment that when he was young, he strolled around board meetings checking the health of elderly members but, now that he has had by-pass surgery, he strolls around wondering who is looking at him!)

At one particular board meeting, a sophomore Co-Ed detailed a special study abroad program in which she participated.  Rather than spend a semester at a particular foreign college, students board a modified cruise ship and spend a semester traveling between ports in Asia while attending classes on-board.   Sounded really cool; but of interest to the Board (and hopefully to my readers) was her recount of her social schedule during the trip.  Before boarding, she already had defined her friends, outlined their tourist schedule at each port, and become reasonably acquainted with other students (from other universities that they didn’t know) enough to define a solid social circle for the experience.

The study abroad program didn’t organize this socialization.  The students did it organically.  All through Facebook.

 

Adjacency Guides – what you should know

In a previous Tin Whiskers post, I briefly introduced the concept of an adjacency guide.  This post is an expansion of that concept. 

In previous professional life, I sold software to many different industries.  I recall attending two executive offsite events that, on the surface, seemed similar.  But, in reality, were quite different.