On December 7, 2009, Rita McGrath appeared at the invitation of the ISPIM at their New York City meeting. Jack Hipple reporting on the meeting on his blog, wrote: “Dr. Rita Gunther McGrath from the Harvard Business School [sic] discussed Growth in Uncertain Times. She made a very interesting presentation on thinking ahead in starting up a new business–asking the important questions first and looking at upward integration for value, which is not a new concept for those familiar with this line of evolution in TRIZ thinking. She illustrated this point vividly with the example of Build-A-Bear, a toy store company (and also on line now) in which a shopper chooses a “basic” bear and then outfits it with whatever clothes, ribbons, etc. that wants, in the store.” To read more about Rita McGrath’s presentation, other speakers, and the ISPIM, click here.