The Jazz of Innovation

From our experience with The Brainzooming Group and ongoing business innovation research, there are fairly common situations blocking business innovations across companies, irrespective of corporate culture. Not all ten of these challenges to business innovation in organizations exist everywhere, but the presence of just a couple of innovation barriers within a corporate culture will scuttle even modest dreams of implementing business innovations expected to create value for customers.

US Airways and Kimpton Hotels both compete in very crowded market spaces where price can make the difference in a consumer’s final selection.  But one of them knows how to move beyond price to compete on experience and the other doesn’t.

A recent trip to Italy meant my first visit to Florence, home of my youngest daughter’s favorite pizza and my oldest daughter’s new leather purse.   For me it was the discovery of something much different, I think Florence is where innovation was born – and perhaps an inspiration for your business to get unstuck.

About twelve months ago I gave up drinking pop for the third time – or soda, if you’re like my wife Nancy (if you’re from the US, check this out for why this is such a point of contention).  The previous two times I stayed off the wagon for as long as nine months, then fell back into the habit.

I'm happy to let you know I've been selected as an "influential" voice - by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).  The folks at the ASQ assure me they understand that I'm focused on innovation rather than an expert on quality, and are even ok with the fact that sometimes quality and innovation don't see eye to eye.  My goal is to write occasionally about quality from an innovation point of view.

Superman as an entrepreneur? Not exactly, but you just may walk away from Man of Steel with inspiration for your business.

Over the weekend my wife and I and a friend saw Man of Steel--the latest reboot of the Superman franchise. Note: Spoilers below! If you haven't seen the movie yet, you might want to stop reading. But then again, it's Superman. You probably know the story already.

Necessity once was thought to be the mother of invention. Why? Because it makes us want to innovate – or actually, need to innovate. However, most of us are already motivated. As workers in the Age of Ideas, we love to innovate, right? What we need is an environment where innovation comes naturally, where there are no unnatural blocks to our urge to create.

Your power to innovate and succeed is no longer merely a matter of research and development, but who you can inspire to join your cause.

Yves Behar has worked with technology entrepreneur Jason Johnson to develop the August Smart Lock, which is opened and closed using a smartphone app.

The lock can be installed over existing deadbolts, and uses a Bluetooth connection with smartphones to allow people to lock or unlock doors.

Knowledge is the key resource in the modern economy, the economy of knowledge. It is the resource, which ensures the innovation and competitiveness of the company.

The Local Government Management Agency is using free and open technologies to advance public sector change

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.