New Podcast about Business Models
In this podcast, I discuss issues regarding business models, with examples ranging from firms such as Kodak, CEMEX and Bose. Have a listen! Feedback always welcome.
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- Posted Rita McGrath on December 03, 2010
The Bose VideoWave knocks my socks off!
I was recently privileged to have a demonstration of the Bose Video Wave System and was completely bowled over. We have been struggling for years and spent a lot more money than I care to even think about to get a decent sound system in our living room. Bose has really cracked it - it's simple, it's elegant and the sound is awesome.
Bose is a very interesting company - they really stick to their guns on pursuing innovation that makes a real difference to customers in a way that clearly sets them apart. Of course, I may be biased as I think I have something from Bose in about every room in the house.
Now the problem - what do I do with all that stuff I've been accumulating to try to accomplish the same thing for years?
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- Posted Rita McGrath on October 06, 2010
Discovery Driven Planning Makes an Impression on CFO’s
A few months ago, I had the pleasure to give the keynote speech at the annual CFO "Core Concerns" conference published by CFO Magazine. The topic - how can you invest in growth, while containing risk - seemed to resonate with the folks gathered there. You can read the lead story in CFO Magazine by clicking here. I found it most gratifying that several CFO's and other business leaders that I've been working with were finding the discipline of DDP useful, particularly when it comes to redirecting or shutting down projects.
The article provides examples from Air Products & Chemicals, Innosight and other firms who have been applying the technique.
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- Posted Rita McGrath on September 01, 2010
Sagantia Innovation Boot Camp - Kick Starting Innovation
Sagantia is a UK based technology and product development company that I've been studying as part of the research for a new project. Among the many interesting things they do is run an innovation boot camp (click on the link to download a case description), which has many characteristics in common with other innovation sessions that I have organized myself. It's got a lot of similarities to the driving organic growth and innovation program that Bob Cooper led for some time at DuPont and for other companies. Among the salient features:
- Rock-ribbed senior level commitment from the top to provide resources once an idea is endorsed
- Time to focus on ideas that could lead to possible business, rather than shoring up existing businesses
- Facilitation by experts with a process architecture (in the Sagantia case, it's a three week intensive process; in the Market Driven Growth case it involves several iterations over a few months)
- Input from external experts and customers as well as insiders
- Clear decision points and clear decision criteria
- Generation of lots of ideas to get to a few that might be worthwhile
- A process of true engagement, not just an 'event' or lip service
We've all been part of those horrible 'no idea is a bad idea' brainstorming sessions where everyone has a good time and nothing ever happens. Case studies such as the Sagantia example can help us from getting off on the wrong track.
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- Posted Rita McGrath on August 13, 2010
Discovery Driven Growth - Mistakes Companies Make
CIO Magazine's recent blog post features a summary of some of the principles of Discovery Driven Growth, and links the idea to concepts of IT agility. Wouldn't it be great if CIO's and CFO's could embrace discovery-driven principles?
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- Posted Rita McGrath on August 03, 2010
