Should you centralize or decentralize our innovation efforts? When the innovation process is not performing as expected, this question tends to come up. So, what is better? The answer depends on what you are trying to achieve with this change. In general, for professional service organizations, decentralized innovation efforts combined with centralized oversight is the […]
Obviously, a new service is not the same as a new product. Yet, explaining the difference between a product and a service is not always that straightforward. Does McDonald deliver services? Is AmazonWebServices a service organization? Nowadays, the distinction between services and products becomes more and more blurred. However, that does not make that service […]
Recently, Jim – not the real name of one of my mentees – asked, “Why can we not just outsource all the development to a tech company and have them develop our platform. I don’t want to have to bother with all those nuts and bolts. I read online though, that you cannot outsource innovation. […]
Uncertain projects are notoriously difficult to manage. Ambiguous projects are deemed impossible to plan. Early stage innovation projects are uncertain and full of ambiguity. So how do you plan and manage that in your innovation project? When planning for an innovation project, you basically have three options, Waterfall, Agile, and Discovery-Driven planning. Three project management […]
When I was doing value engineering workshops and other idea generation exercises for the projects of Fluor Daniel in the Netherlands, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I am sure it feels the same way for many innovation managers, till reality hits. While there were plenty of opportunities, I had no budget, […]
The world is full of opportunities, especially nowadays. Your talented and ambitious employees know that. When they approach you with one of their ideas, how do you know they are on to something or chasing just another shiny object?
Recently, I coached three participants of the New Business Development program at the Rotterdam School of Management. These participants worked respectively for an architecture, a law, and an IT firm. Three totally different professional service providers, yet their new business development challenges were remarkably similar. The business development function They all work for firms that […]
The third of the PDMA essentials was published at the PDMA 2018 conference. It addresses constrains in the new product development process. The context in which innovation projects are executed create constraints that make best practices ineffective. The book provides recommendations of how to address and overcome these constraints.
Does it matter how often you launch a new service offering? The answer is yes, it matters. Recent research from Georgia State University shows that the pace, rhythm, and scope of new market introductions have a big impact on the market value of pharma companies. What does that tell service firms? Finding the perfect pace […]
The world is changing rapidly with regards to technology, security, international agreements, and national laws. So plenty of work out there to keep lawyers busy. However, that does not mean you can neglect the growth and future of your law firm. Who is going to make sure you stay on top and keep up with […]
Lawyers, clinicians, engineers and other professionals have a few things in common. They are all smart, busy, and have super specialized jobs. What they also have in common is that their services need modernizing. That is, they need to incorporate new technologies and service models that clients have come to expect in the 21-st century. […]
“Don’t ask what technology can do for you, but ask what you can do with technology.” This is the marketing slogan from Microsoft for their Artificial Intelligence platform. This commercial ends with the question: “You have the power of technology at your finger-tips. What will you do with it?”. Technology at your finger-tips Indeed, you […]