My 10-minute summary of Accenture’s Sustainability 24 online conference that discusses the global agenda, by advancing debate and discussion with clients, local government leaders and stakeholders around the world. 14th May 2013 8:10am – Business Strategy & Stakeholders: Building Trust & Planning for Uncertainty “In hindsight, it is usually much easier to see what business leaders
I recently gave a presentation on Open Innovation. One of the audience made the comment that he thought the role of serendipity was underplayed. This got me thinking about the role of chance in the innovation process. A new book by Matt Kingdon aims to describe how serendipity acts within organizations to create new innovative
Our innovation awards: Call for nominations | The Economist. Regular readers may know I have tracked a number of ideas from the pages of The Economist. The newspaper was established in 1843 to take part in “a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress”. It cites that
This short video recorded for the UKs Institution of Chemical Engineers by the CEO of Dow Chemical, Andrew Liveris, calls for balancing advanced economies in favour of high value-added economic activities. Certainly, in the UK, this is a live debate. While economics explains the natural trends in any economy from basic materials, to manufacturing, to
As with our personalities, we each have a preferred style that we use to innovate. This is useful to know how we tend to operate as individuals and for leaders and managers in formulating or increasing team performance. We are all creative and have an innate ability to solve problems. The work of Kirton observed that individual personalities effect
Well, it depends. There has been a lot of debate over this one both in the general business population and in the academic literature. And I’ll bet you have an opinion on the matter. This article outlines some of the issues and takes forward the situations where small might be better than big, or vice
I heard a story about a management team that was presented with the results of an employee survey that covered amongst other things, the health of innovation in the business. An astonishing thing was that it described every single innovation score as healthy without one ounce of dissent. To many it felt completely off base. Anecdotal evidence showed many innovation projects were
This piece derives from a paper I wrote that invited an exploration for the question – how innovation adds value. I thought it an interesting way in which strategies for innovation can be directed towards the top and bottom line; the price and the cost. What is Added Value? The Financial Type: The classic and
The qualities and characteristics of firms intent on undertaking radical innovation is a subject of great interest. The era of stagnant national economies is upon us, particularly in developed nations and GOVs and firms alike seek solutions and magic pills to create spectacular stories to rival those in the digital economy, elsewhere. Key is the
This piece was inspired by a question posed at a Manchester Business School seminar. It is important because there exists a lot of confusion in the media about innovation (more innovation must be good, right?). I like the question because it explores the different angles to innovation from a technological perspective – and there is