Creating something new, like a client portal, is not hard. Creating a client portal that your clients will use is much harder. Most difficult, is creating a client portal that your clients want and are willing to pay for. Take for example a company that wanted to develop a client portal as part of its […]
“We don’t put any bureaucratic tape around ideas”, “We give people the opportunity to take action”, “Anyone can bring up any idea in their BU or practice group”, sound like best practices for innovation to thrive. However, from our 20 years of research and experience, we know that is not how organizations should go about […]
I am not joking when I say that, pre-pandemic, the most common practice to provide support for innovation teams was to have a conversation over a cup of coffee. Checking in once every 2-3 months to ask how things are going certainly makes work fun. However, it is not a very scalable approach. It is […]
When it comes to innovation roadblocks, one of the biggest problems I see firms cite is a shortage of new ideas. In my experience, however, there rarely is a shortage of good ideas, but rather a problematic set of criteria used to identify them. When looking for ideas, management tends to look in the wrong […]
All organizations need a plan B for 2020. The pandemic impacted everyone, there is no way around it. The question is now, what do you make of this plan B? Will it be a shorter and reduced version? Or will you be looking for new opportunities and perhaps turn 2020 in the best year ever? […]
While COVID19 has made life challenging for millions of people, it also offers many new opportunities. How do you know yours is the right project at the right time? Is this the time to invest in a new COVID19 practice group? Is this the time to make your telemedicine clinic a permanent feature? Is this […]
Thriving in uncertainty is what I am good at. It is my job as an innovation expert. Yet, even I find myself being pulled in all directions at the moment. So, I went back to the basics. You have two options when things are uncertain, wait or act. Acting makes me feel better, because waiting […]
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 […]
This sale offer has expired We have a Black Friday sale offer for you! Do you need a little push to test that new business idea? Has it been on your to-do list for most of 2019? Making time is often the biggest hurdle to innovation. While for some it is a busy […]
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 […]