ideation in big company

I had a small brainstorming session today, and I have to defend innovation process.

The problem is that some ideas were rejected in the past, but then they can be seen as successful products from other companies today. This situation in not great for morale of innovator who got rejection mail.

But after few minutes of explaining I got this innovator on the track again and I'm expecting new ideas from him.

I've noticed one thing today which can led to more thought or blog posts in future: it's hard for a big company to be competitive in small market with firms of just 2-5 employees. The problem is of course money, smaller firms can be cheaper(sometimes), but the strong possibility for big company to win in example, public funded project is the opportunity to use the knowledge from variety of projects in the past and to offer some features which can't be produced in small firm.

This is also essential when we think 'which idea can be successful in my country's market + my company can do it and be competitive with other 'players'.

50 most innovative companies in the world

New list with the world's 50 most innovative companies done by businessWeek and BCG, link

Only surprises in top10, are 6th and 7th placed TATA Group & Nintendo. Apple is holding number 1, Amazon.com and IBM are out of top 10. 3M is only 22nd and Siemens only 38th.

Looking through regional perspective doesn't give too many changes

link

4 types of innovators

I differentiate 4 types of innovators:

1. Radical innovator - creates or adds new technologies or systems. Often in chance for invention.

2. Value-add innovator - brings new additions on market with connection to customer. Possible inventor, too.

3. Adapter - adapts the product to customer wishes - incremental ideas - no clear chance for invention.

4. Special adapter - adds solutions to markets on which he spots a niche - focused on end-customer.

the business of innovation

The interesting show was broadcasted on CNBC half a year ago - www.innovation.cnbc.com, here is some interesting excerpts:

Companies that are successful innovators and which are able to sustain innovation over time are the ones that create a culture in which innovation can happen at any level at any time. They create a Culture of Innovation.

Paul Saffo of the Institute for the Future says managing innovation “…means cultivating an environment where lightning can strike twice.” So how does a company do this?

What these successful companies discover is that they need to embrace the act of attacking their cherished beliefs and traditional ways of doing things in order to take their products, services and customers to the next level. Saffo says, “Failure is the foundation of innovation”.

Roger Schank: (1)Innovators aren't just innovative about products. They're innovative about every aspect of their lives. They don't live their lives the way everyone else does.// And so, they don't honestly fit in very well.

(2)You know why people don't innovate? They're afraid of being told they're stupid. "You know, what a dumb idea that was." People hate that. So, they have to feel like they're in a comfortable environment to have an idea. And typically corporations are not environments for radical, game changing ideas.