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In the beginning, consumer packaged goods companies did all of their own Research and Development work. That has now changed. So has the role of R&D and seemingly their outputs.
Care to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
Is CPG R&D Experiencing An Identity Crisis?
A Lesson In Supplier Aided Innovation
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Companies frequently call upon their inner circle of suppliers to assist them with technical challenges. If they manage their relationships properly and respectfully, they can expand this circle and uncover valuable capabilities.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
Electroluminescent coating is great for signage, among other uses
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I'm excited to feature a couple of really great technologies that could have powerful applications in your business or in one that you know (so that you can make them aware).
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
A bold prescription for making the most of external inputs
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A new product typically requires two key components in order to successfully make it through the corporate gauntlet: a strong concept and a protective and persuasive product champion. Current corporate external innovation management processes don't cultivate either of these things. Is it any wonder that these programs uniformly fail to generate much heat?
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
Dig deeper and aim higher
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We've all heard the oft cited statistic that 85% of new products fail. Studies show that this is due to a number of factors, ranging from poor execution to not satisfying real consumer needs. I propose a much simpler explanation: a lot of new products are boring.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
Stop Launching Boring New Products
In new product development, sometimes we prematurely jump to conclusions.
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In problem solving, the key is to not prematurely define the preferred solution in terms of a specific execution.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
"You Don't Always Want What You Want"
Whether you call it the "holy trinity" or "3 legs of the stool" your value prop stands or falls based on these key factors
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In new product concept development, consumer insight, technical insight and enabling technology are referred to as "the holy trinity". They are the 3 essential elements that serve as a foundation for new product concepts. Yet, many new product teams struggle to define more than 1 or 2 of these elements of early on, which can stall their efforts. It doesn't have to be that way.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
New Product Development's Holy Trinity
External innovation challenges often can be effectively tackled by a diverse set of collaborators.
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I think that many companies don't yet know or realize that strong creative technology and packaging reinterpretation skills can bring immense power to their company's external innovation efforts. This can require the skills of packaging designers, marketers and others, in addition to technologists. So, if you currently only have scientists on your external innovation team, you may wish to consider some helpful additions....
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
Is The Right Talent On Your External Innovation Team?
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I've found that companies engaging in external innovation can range all over the map in terms of the experience and skills of their external relationship managers. The fact is, many companies don't train their external facing technical personnel as they do their customer service and or sales employees. As a result, and as one might expect, the external party's impressions of the customer resulting from these interactions can vary considerably.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends...
What's Your Company's External Relationship Management EQ?
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I've learned pretty consistently over my years in external innovation that the first solutions uncovered during a search effort are often not the best ones or even the closest fits for my clients' needs. I've also learned that by continuing to ask incisive questions of these solution providers, I can often shorten the path to on-target solutions than simply by continuing to search out additional leads.
Want Better Answers? Ask More Questions!
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Intermediaries have long played a valued role in helping to catalyze pivotal relationships. With online marketplaces becoming increasingly common, are intermediaries still necessary? Do yours add sufficient value?
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends.
Does Your "Matchmaker" Add (Enough) Value?
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Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once famously said, "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take." That is most certainly true. However, Mr. Gretzky doesn't advise us as to how many shots one should be able to take...and how many of these attempts it is okay to miss.
Curious to learn more? Read on, dear friends.
Is it Truly OK to Fail?