Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jan 18, 2011, 2:13 am
It’s a new year, and that means everyone’s looking forward to the exciting things they plan to accomplish in 2011. At futurethink, we’re thrilled to share some changes we have in store for this year. First on the list: launching our blended learning innovation curriculum along with our complet... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Dec 20, 2010, 1:53 pm
At futurethink, we are as dedicated to understanding the trends in corporate training as we are to being experts in innovation. This being the case, we often examine the upcoming trends and implications in the Learning & Development industry. If someone told you that in the future, a company’s #1 ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Dec 16, 2010, 12:55 pm
The New Year is just around the corner. While we at futurethink tend to look towards the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, in December it’s always nice to stop and reflect. Now is the perfect time to look back on the past year and think about what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve learned... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Dec 8, 2010, 11:45 am
I often find myself lost at the local grocery store, or on the pages of soap.com, shopping list in hand, wondering how to choose between the plethora of kitchen towels, detergents, or bath products available. Better yet, how does a company like Proctor and Gamble get me to purchase their particular ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Dec 2, 2010, 10:15 am
As you look to develop and grow your innovation team, take a few moments to define your ideal innovator. There is no one “type” that defines an innovator. Many are creative, flexible, collaborative, entrepreneurial, analytical, strong leaders, etc… However, the specific combination of skills t... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Nov 22, 2010, 3:29 pm
Innovation Cubed Conference
Have you ever wondered how to better make use of emerging social media tools to discover new internal process or product innovations? As new communication tools gain popularity, we are seeing an increasing number of internal and market driven innovations brought to life.... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Nov 18, 2010, 11:17 am
Disruptive innovation is exciting. Big breakthroughs like Netflix, Zipcar, and the iPad, generate big headlines. However, it’s important to recognize that many of the most profitable innovations aren’t disruptive at all.
A classic example of non-disruptive innovation is the addition of wheels t... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Nov 11, 2010, 11:52 am
Look at any industry that has been disrupted over the last half-century, and you’ll discover foretelling data in the years prior to the disruption. In the early part of this millennium, the USPS saw a declining growth rate of the volume of mail it delivered despite steady revenue. The same is true... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Nov 5, 2010, 11:09 am
One common characteristic of exceptional innovators is that they constantly reach outside their immediate circles to make new connections with interesting people. Fortunately, this is easier to do today than it ever has been before.
Think of an author who inspires you, or a business leader from ano... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Oct 29, 2010, 5:26 pm
Adapted from Amazon.com
Here at futurethink, we’ve been researching various smartphone applications to feature in our newest resource list on mobile tools that can help support your innovation strategy. These applications focus on features ranging from capturing ideas on the go, connecting and co... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Oct 27, 2010, 11:48 am
Forward-thinking companies use social media for more than just creative marketing campaigns. These companies harness the power of social media to promote a culture that fosters innovation, empowers effective collaboration with customers and partners, and streamlines idea development channels. B... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Oct 25, 2010, 5:12 pm
If the smartphone hasn’t already taken over your life, chances are, it soon will. According to a 2010 Gartner report, by 2013 mobile phones will overtake PC’s as the most common Web access device worldwide. In fact, the install base of smartphones by the year 2013 is projected to be 241.8 millio... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Oct 20, 2010, 10:09 am
Innovation efforts that aren’t supported from the top are often doomed to fail—senior managers must commit to support innovation efforts in order for those efforts to really take off. Ask your team to collaborate on drafting a “Leadership Contract”—a brief summary of what leadership will c... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Oct 13, 2010, 10:06 am
One of the biggest problems with brainstorming sessions is that as a technique, brainstorming is overused. After years of open-ended brainstorming sessions that have gone nowhere, people are skeptical of their efficacy and probably tired of the exercise altogether.
Remember that there are many meth... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Sep 27, 2010, 11:42 am
At this fall’s New York Fashion Week, the most interesting trends were happening off the runway. While models were showing off new looks, designers and their retail partners were demonstrating innovative ways to connect with today’s shoppers.
High-end fashion houses including Gucci streamed... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Sep 23, 2010, 10:19 am
As an innovation leader, you need to help your team understand the role of innovation in executing specific corporate goals and strategies. Employees can become distracted by irrelevant ideas when there is no guidance on the strategic outcomes that your organization values.
To help your team better... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Sep 9, 2010, 1:30 pm
Through working with over 200 global organizations, we know that change initiatives will wither or thrive based on what we, as leaders, do to create a climate that encourages and supports positive new behaviors. How leaders engage employees is a critical factor that determines the work environment. ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 27, 2010, 10:29 am
“Our model is to increase employee freedom as we grow, rather than limit it, to continue to attract and nourish innovative people, so we have a better chance of long-term continued success.”
– Netflix CEO Reed Hastings
To become more innovative, companies need to cultivate the key elements ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 26, 2010, 4:34 pm
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Cascade Mountains, this year’s 10 Conference promises to bring together an extraordinary group of people to explore some of the most important ideas shaping the future of business and society. Participants include scientists, educators, artists, economist... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 13, 2010, 3:22 pm
With an impressive array of business, credit, metro, and various loyalty cards bursting out of our expanding wallets, a move to digitize plastic cards may come as a pleasant reprieve to many.... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 12, 2010, 10:25 am
How are you ensuring that your team members are building the skills they need to innovate? As you begin planning for 2011, consider how you’ll help your team of innovators accomplish their goals.
Take some time to map out your innovation objectives and challenges. What skills does your team need ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 6, 2010, 11:14 am
Discover how Fortune 500 companies such as P&G, Unilever, Cisco, and AT&T have successfully integrated open innovation strategies to help them improve R&D and augment their business strategies. In a world where knowledge is widely distributed, organizations can no longer afford to simply look within... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Aug 5, 2010, 9:43 am
The more we study the brain and evolution, the more we’re discovering that the idle brain is more likely to come up with new ideas. Yet we’re conditioned to be focused, efficient, and task-oriented. Yes, focus and efficiency are important in terms of executing ideas; but when it comes to ‘thin... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jul 30, 2010, 12:47 pm
Is your company too big to innovate? For some organizations, size and structure can stifle employees’ creative spirits. That’s why many large organizations are turning to start-ups for training in innovation, agility, and how to think like an entrepreneur.
Here are a few lessons that... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jul 20, 2010, 3:50 pm
Whether you are looking for innovations in technological developments or better business processes, seeking help outside of your organization in the form of contests has proven to be an effective way to discover new and novel ideas. Public challenges and contests have enjoyed a long history, from th... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jul 14, 2010, 12:45 pm
Some of the best ideas can come from your customers. To better tap this wealth of possible innovation, set up a channel through which you can communicate directly with them. A blog, for example, is a great way for you to post regular updates about what’s happening at your organization. Invite cust... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jul 8, 2010, 12:00 pm
Are you moving fast enough when it comes to testing and building your ideas? The best innovators know that prototyping and piloting ideas are critical parts of the innovation process. These steps lead to new learning and insights, and result in a better final product. But too many organizations plac... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jul 7, 2010, 2:02 pm
Photo Credit: Penn State Department of Public Information
The world’s greatest athletes and business leaders rely on coaches to maximize their performance, so imagine how much more creative and productive you could be with a little outside support, motivation, and accountability.
The Interna... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jun 23, 2010, 4:57 pm
Innovation is the lifeblood of many industries, but few depend on it as much as the video gaming market. At this year’s Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3), the gaming industry’s annual trade show, game designers and hardware companies were out again in full force to show off their latest ga... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jun 11, 2010, 10:16 am
Last week Fast Company published an article about Jeff Weber finding opportunity in the $320 million dollar market of crutches. Weber is one of the designers responsible for some of the renowned... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Jun 2, 2010, 5:43 pm
The running industry is no stranger to innovation. In the past few years, running gear has gotten more and more specialized, catering to the different needs of different runners. Today, in honor of the second annual National Running Day (a “holiday” created by running associations nationwide to ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 26, 2010, 11:42 am
When we think about government these days, “open” and “collaborative” aren’t the first words that come to mind. Bureaucracy is typically a hindrance to innovation—both in the business and the public sectors. Forward-thinking government agencies, however, are seeing... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 24, 2010, 2:32 pm
There has been a lot of recent innobuzz about crowd-sourcing and looking outside for innovation. Both techniques have their place in idea generation, but what about the people who know your products the best? You know, your employees. Now, I am not saying you need to launch an innovation center li... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 18, 2010, 10:21 am
Discover how “open-innovation” can improve R&D productivity at NextLevel Pharma’s Open & Collaborative Innovation in Life Science R&D conference. This event, which will be held in Munich, Germany from May 25th-26th, will allow attendees to gain an understanding of how open-innovation has w... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 11, 2010, 12:03 pm
I got off the Subway a stop early this morning to see a new installation in Bryant Park. The exhibit, Walk the Walk, consists of seven women all dressed in the same yellow dresses, walking around on an elevated yellow platform. The women shuffle around with indifference to their routine, expressionl... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 10, 2010, 4:52 pm
The seventh annual iteration of the Boston Consulting Group and Businessweek’s Global Innovation Survey presents us with some interesting trends in innovation. As BCG so eloquently puts it, a new world order is taking hold. While no drastic disruptions have occurred this year, there are signs ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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May 5, 2010, 3:50 pm
As part of our ongoing Innovator Interview series we interviewed John Jackson, President of the Police Futures International (PFI) and a member of the Houston Police Department. PFI is an organization whose mission is to prepare police forces for the long term via planning and foresight tools. (how ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Apr 29, 2010, 11:51 am
The annual Front End of Innovation Conference is kicking off next week in Boston, and looking at the agenda, we’re reminded of how organizations of different shapes and sizes all fuel their innovation programs the same way—by broadening perspectives and pushing employees to connect the dots.
In... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Apr 28, 2010, 3:54 pm
Companies of all sizes and from all industries can innovatively define a path for their organization’s future by broadening perspectives and pushing employees to generate forward thinking ideas. Many tactics and techniques can be used to inject forward thinking behavior, such as including inviting... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Apr 23, 2010, 5:24 pm
In honor of Earth Day, the futurethink team took some time to evaluate our own carbon footprints. Using Global Footprint Network’s eco footprint calculator, we each answered a smattering of lifestyle-related questions and a few minutes later, ended up with an estimate of how many planet earths i... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Apr 7, 2010, 1:04 pm
Developing employees’ innovation skills is a key part of most organizations’ efforts to drive innovation forward. Whether leveraging internal resources to train innovation teams or looking to bring in external expertise, it’s helpful to have an understanding of the key players in the Learn... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Mar 29, 2010, 3:23 pm
futurethink is launching another round of innovator interviews to share insights and best practices from leading innovation practitioners. All of these interviews are free to download once you’ve registered on futurethink‘s website.
Our first interview in this series is with Tony Toma... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Mar 25, 2010, 2:38 pm
Looking for ideas outside your organization can be a way to drive innovation or even more, find a new idea to bring to market. LG continues to be a pioneer in open innovation and crowdourcing through their Design the Future Competition.
LG Mobile Phones, Autodesk and crowdSPRING are ringing in ... Comment - Like
Joshua K. posted an article on
futurethink's innovation weblog
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Mar 24, 2010, 2:51 pm
Perhaps one of the most common pitfalls of would-be innovators is that they try to build an innovation program in one fell swoop. Innovation, like any other business competency, has many discrete parts that must ultimately be successful in order for an innovation program to really take off.
As the ... Comment - Like
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