Archive for February, 2010

Innovation Trend Spotting: Shepherding a Team of Opportunists

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

When an entrepreneur creates a new product or company, the result usually is borne by spotting an emerging trend, conceptualizing an innovation, or seizing an opportunity unmet or consumer behavior emerging in the marketplace.

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Experimentation + Risk (+ Failure) = Improved Environment for Innovation

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Thomas Alva Edison was a failure. It has been said that he “went back to the drawing board” more than 6,000 times before finding the right plant to produce a carbonized filament for his incandescent light bulb.

Six thousand times. Do you have that kind of innovative stamina?

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Reward Tips

Monday, February 8th, 2010

The fruits of your team’s labor benefit all. These successes must be rewarded – and in the appropriate manner:

  • Innovation and ROI: true Innovation results in value creation for all stakeholders – in terms of financial return, increased market share and enhanced profitability; this is the ultimate goal of your sustainable Innovation program.
  • The Right Rewards: rewards and recognition systems can take many forms, from a bonus percentage based upon new product sales to peer acknowledgment and awards.
  • Recognition: Pride…a thorny problem solved…the personal satisfaction of a job well-done – these are some of the intrinsic motivators that make creative people tick.

Why Results Require Rewards: Encouraging Action With Incentive

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Imagine a company that has taken the time to consider the role of Innovation in the corporate mission. Employees were encouraged to be part of the innovation process but their reward was compensation linked strictly to output.

Does that encourage value-added thought process? In my mind, it encourages work, which should need no encouragement at all.

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