Is COVID19 the best time to innovate? I would love to answer that with a resounding ‘yes’, but looking at previous research the answer seems to be more nuanced. Yes, necessity is the mother of invention. And yes, external events trigger innovation. However, uncertainty impacts how we make decisions and if you have never brought […]
How do you do customer discovery during COVID19? How do you test your ideas in these uncertain times when everyone works from home and nobody wants to meet you in person? In this blog a few tips and tricks, and a list with online resources on how to do customer discovery during COVID19. The essence […]
To come strong out of the coronavirus crisis, businesses must keep their innovation activities going. However, that is easier said than done. On Wednesday April 15, I gave a webinar on Innovation During COVID19 for the Virginia SBDC that addressed how to innovate as a small company with limited resources in a time like this. The […]
To survive the coronavirus crisis, you must adapt to the new normal. To thrive, you will need to create new opportunities that address the new normal. You probably know this. Yet, it is so hard to do. In a moment of crisis like this, you cannot afford to spend money on risky bets. Therefore, it […]
Innovation tactics help organizations and project teams to deal with uncertainty. And because nothing is normal in this coronavirus crisis, many skills that you need to manage an innovation project or portfolio will come in handy. The 5 innovation tactics that will be most useful: Focus on the problem, have your strategy guide your actions, […]
Everyone in your organization is probably focused on dealing with the Corona-virus crisis. However, there is evidence that this is the moment to innovate as well. You may wonder how you can pull that off. What if I tell you that the only resource you need is time, at this moment?
Bringing an idea to practice requires you to make a time commitment, often in personal time. Successful innovators find ways to prioritize their innovation project, regardless of how busy they are. Whereas lack of time commitment is one of the most common reasons innovation projects fail. Blocking off time in your calendar to devote to […]
Recently I received a cry for help. “How can I fight the spreadsheet managers in my organization? They are killing our innovation efforts!”. So how do you win the battle for funding with these spreadsheet managers? One thing is for sure, if you play by their rules, innovation will lose out. Instead, try to use […]
You need speed when innovating. Nothing is as deadly for an innovation project as just inching forward each week, as that kills momentum, enthusiasm, and thereby the likelihood of success. How do you keep speed in your innovation project, especially if you are executing it part-time? Below 5 tips to keep your innovation project running […]
Innovation is a process. Like it or not, you won’t get results overnight. It can take months or years to bring an idea to practice, depending on its complexity. In this blog post, I will explain why the innovation management process cannot be seen separately from its context, the roles to play, the methods available, […]
Imagine if the outcome of innovation projects could be predicted with accuracy, wouldn’t that be great? However, no plans or budgets are going to make an innovation project any more certain. So how best to deal with the uncertainty of innovation projects? Ignore uncertainty Most innovation pitches sound too good to be true. The possibilities […]
Innovators are curious and passionate. They are also easily bored and dissatisfied with the status quo. How do you get the most out of their drive and creativity, keep them productive in their job, and tied to your company? In other words, how do you keep innovators motivated, while not estranging other hard-working employees? In […]