Ideas are the raw material of innovation. Innovators sift through a lot of dross to discover the ones worth developing. Many that don’t look like much at first, with some explanation and research, are worth adding to the collection. Some glitter and fade quickly on close examination. Some are incomplete. But overall, an innovator needs … Leer más
The fundamental particle of innovation is the idea, but individual ideas are rarely enough to provide value. Things get interesting when ideas are combined, adapted to specific clients, and put into context. Last time, I wrote about needs driving innovation. Water is an idea that satisfies a need, thirst. Job done? Not exactly. While there … Leer más
Throughout my career, I’ve been encouraged to address things in positive terms. Managers, in particular, would insist that I rephrase problems, difficulties, mistakes, and tragedies as challenges, issues, learning opportunities, “what might be improved,” and chances to find the silver lining.
What does it mean when the Internet of things comes home? I’ve been contemplating the idea of a domestic version of RFID shipping, something I call electronic caddies. We already have ships and trucks that use RFID labels (often with the addition of barcodes) to inventory and track cargo. Imagine doing the same for your suitcase before a trip.
As I’ve dug into examples of Frugal Innovation, I’ve been struck by the number of instances where virtual teaming has been an important factor. Since we are surrounded by electronic communications — from email to Skype to shared worlds, it might be easy to shrug this off.
The principles of Frugal Innovation were created in developing companies. Firms like Husk Power Systems were established to operate, in part, to serve communities with few resources. In developed countries, examples like ACX within Amazon.com illustrate how an unconventional approach like Frugal Innovation can be adapted to create opportunities and encourage innovation for clients and vendors who, though operating in rich nations, lack funding and capital. (Amazon.com itself is backstopping this work with its established company and, it appears, primarily is looking to open up a new profit stream, not to lift up impoverished writers and actors.)
«Make the poor your market» is one of the central tenets of Frugal Innovation. I mentioned it in my first post on this subject, and, taken literally, it speaks to humanitarian values. «Serving the poor» is a clear and stark answer to why people will dedicate themselves, even work on a volunteer basis, to succeed … Leer más
Would you buy the record or a sandwich if you were down to your last dollar? This question was the final test for any new song at Motown – The music production company that has been producing hit records for over fifty years.
Last time, I wrote about the implications of automated online trust. So what are some of the biggest ways the world will change if we can automate online trust?
A qualifier: If we could create online trust 100%, with no false negative (I mistrust someone when I shouldn’t) and no false positive (I fail to trust someone I should), it would exceed what we have in the real world. We could use it as the ultimate lie detector. But, even though this is a thought experiment, I’ll keep this within bounds. Let’s just equate online trust with the equivalent in the offline world. (This will also save me from knotty philosophical problems around the definition of “truth.”)
Launching an innovation is an exercise in persuasive communications. Only rarely can someone go from an idea to the marketplace without any help. (And, even then, innovations don’t sell themselves.)
