News

Fri, Apr 15th 2016
customer insights for innovation form in the brain.

Qualitative, quantitative, big data... With so many customer data sources to draw on for your innovation programme, things can start to feel overwhelming.

You want to review the data and make use of it, but your don’t want to get ‘analysis paralysis’ or slow your innovation process down unnecesarily. Above all you crave ‘insight’ – not data.

With this in mind we’ve put together 5 tips to speed you on your way.

Tue, Nov 13th 2012

The PEST framework helps business planners and innovators identify opportunities for innovation and change in the macro environment. It's a tool that enables a systematic exploration of how political, economic, social and technological factors may impact on the business - sometimes expanded to PESTEL to include legal and environmental.

Typically, business planners will identify the specific trends in each of these areas, and then identify how they might be a threat to the business or an opportunity. But are all these factors equal? Do they deserve the same amount of attention?

Mon, Nov 12th 2012

We need more creative ideas! Yes that sometimes how it seems. New ideas for new products or process improvements or cost savings.

Think again. Do you need more creative ideas or do you need to hear the ones you’re given?

Sun, Nov 11th 2012

Corporate Entrepreneurship – “How to create a thriving entrepreneurial spirit throughout your company.” is both a guide to understanding corporate entrepreneurship and also a handbook to help organisations succeed with it.

Sat, Sep 15th 2012

You’ve probably heard it before. How large organizations will need to become nimbler, more responsive, and more entrepreneurial in order to stay ahead.

Do you nod your head?  “Well about time too! Things might move faster round here.” Or do your hackles rise because you don’t want to work for a start-up?

Fri, Sep 14th 2012

How close are you to your customer or consumer? Could you get closer? Would you be prepared to spend some time in a fat suit? And old–age suit? The relevant simulation for your industry - to experience what life is like for people with those characteristics? How valuable would an experience like that be to you?

Thu, Sep 13th 2012

The authors of Brand New have identified an ‘Innovation Paradox.’ Their research shows that the high failure rate of new product introductions (currently nine out of ten) has not improved in the last thirty years. What’s more, companies know innovation is important to share price and company performance, yet many accept they do not devote enough resources to it. Finally, they found that companies do not focus efforts on improving their innovation performance with the same zeal that they might focus on other under-performing aspects of their businesses.

Fri, Jun 15th 2012

A recent article in Forbes magazine predicts a time when Facebook and Google will have been superseded by new technologies that satisfy better what we are looking for from social media and search.

Fri, Jun 15th 2012

A recent report by consulting firm PWC warns mainstream financial lenders that UK customers are increasingly being drawn to ‘payday loan’ providers and away from credit cards. One extreme scenario they have considered is that ‘payday loans’ overtake credit cards. How can a 'niche opportunity' grow so big?

Thu, Jun 14th 2012

Design thinking has been an innovation buzz phrase for the last few years.

Designing for Growth promises to ‘demystify design thinking by translating “design” from an abstract idea into a practical tool any manager can profit from’. The authors also promise that they will use ‘business language to unpack the mysterious connection between design thinking and profitable growth’.

Mon, Apr 16th 2012

Why is it that some good innovations don’t take off at launch but then take off later?  And how can you ensure you are doing all that's required to launch the right product at the right time?