In today’s fast moving world of business startups, learning trumps knowing every time. What established businesses know through experience keeps them from looking for the new and innovative ways to do what they do better, cheaper, and faster. I’m convinced that’s why most mature companies are slowing down or buying their innovation through acquisition, rather than building […]
Innovation
Process is the Foundation for Agility/Nimbleness
We want to be flexible, nimble, able to adapt to the circumstances, leap on an opportunity, respond quickly. We abhor process since that constrains our creativity and ability to innovate. Too often, when I talk to leaders and sales people about process, they cite some of the things outlined above as the reason they don’t […]
6 Ways Smart Technologies Are Changing the Conversation About Architecture
More and more, ordinary homes and offices are starting to resemble Iron Man alter ego Tony Stark’s famously futuristic Malibu mansion, tricked out with space-age technologies ranging from remote-controlled video surveillance to robot butlers. Residents of smart buildings already enjoy modern conveniences such as programmable thermostats and refrigerators that can be operated over the Internet. But that’s just […]
10 Key Strategies for Innovation Leadership by Design
As a business advisor, I strongly believe that continuous innovation and design thinking are the keys to long-term viability and success. A recent survey of design professionals shows strong agreement, but 92 percent expressed some lack of confidence in their organization’s design vision. They are always on the lookout for ways to prepare current and future design […]
4 Ways Digital Technology Helps Small Businesses Maximize Bookings
Digital marketing appears to be a double-edged sword for many businesses. It has a much higher ROI than traditional marketing strategies, which should mean that businesses are celebrating it. Unfortunately, 76% of businesses struggle with marketing and cite changes in digital technology as a main cause. Although the benefits of digital technology are clear to […]
How the Right Employees Have an Innovation Advantage
Conventional business wisdom tells us that entrepreneurs are today’s main source of innovation. We see the stories of young founders leaving college with a big idea, going to work in their garage, and building something that changes the world. We hear about corporate employees, strangled by slow-moving bureaucracy, that are blocked from making transformative discoveries. In fact, […]
Australia’s Small Businesses Are Struggling. Here’s How Accessible Financing Can Help
Australian small businesses have been struggling as a result of the struggling macroeconomy. The Coversation’s 2019-20 forecasts predict that economic growth will be at its weakest since the 2008 financial crisis. Many SMEs are experiencing dips in sales, cash flow problems along with an expectation that it is about to get worse. What can they […]
10 Ways to Trample and Smother Business Innovation
Success in any business these days requires a constant flow of new and innovative solutions, to keep up with changes in the market, competition, and to attract new customers. Yet in my role as a small business advisor, I still see a singular focus on achieving repeatable processes and “cookie-cutter” manufacturing. I don’t believe these […]
On Innovation
Innovation is important. We all know there is a limit to doing the same old things, over and over. Even though we may do them in greater volume or greater velocity, over time they become…….well old…..and not very effective. So we struggle to innovate. We think of the great new revolutionary or disruptive idea. We […]
What Does Innovation Really Mean in Business—and How Do You Achieve It?
There are some words that just roll off the tongue in business. Words like “unique” and “tailored” seem to apply to almost every service company, regardless of what they actually do. Phrases like “pushing the boundaries” and “futuristic design” appear to describe even the most generic products on the market. But the most commonly used […]
