Quality no longer differentiates

In the 80’s and 90’s product quality provided the differentiation to fuel growth and succeed in the market. Today quality is expected; the market is filled with high quality products and services. The bar has been raised.

How do you stand out and become noticed by your customers? By providing innovative products and services and innovating the delivery process.

Innovation is required in today’s market; it’s not a “nice to have”. Where are you on the Innovation Maturity Curve?

Stage 1 Sporadic and unpredictable innovation…accidental.

Stage 2 Defined Innovation, some standards in place with inconsistent results.

Stage 3 Managed Innovation, tools and methods in place…some projects well executed.

Stage 4 Optimized Innovation, resources aligned, market differentiation.

Stage 5 Sustained Innovation, open innovation, real competitive advantage.

Companies should determine where reside on the Innovation Maturity Curve and where they want to be or need to be in order to survive. Then begin doing something about the gap.

Contact me if you would like additional details or a copy of the Innovation Maturity Curve.

Creativity on the decline?

The latest Newsweek, July 19, had a piece called The Creativity Crisis. The author cites research that says even though kids are getting smarter (IQ scores), their Creativity Quotient (CQ) numbers are falling…significantly. Now hold that thought and consider the recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future. How do you make that equation balance?

Fortunately, research suggests that it’s not too late to become creative. “Creativity can be taught” says James C. Kaufman, professor at California State University, San Bernardino.

Who should address the gap? Industry and trade organizations? Each company growing its own creative workforce? Government? Is there an opportunity to collaborate between all these groups and if so, who would coordinate.

I would typically suggest define a goal and then begin with motion in that direction. If the future of your company or career depends on innovation and having a creative workforce then begin to do something about it.

It won’t happen by accident. Successful organizations will create a innovation strategy requiring a disciplined execution plan. A plan that can be measured with real business metrics.

Is it strategic planning or strategic innovation?

A recent IBM survey of more than 1,500 CEOs from around the world revealed that more than half are struggling with the quickening pace of globalization, technology, the economy, customer expectations – everything is more complex these days. IBM CEO Study, 2010.

If that’s the case then we have to question the 50 year old practice of the annual strategic planning process (which for many is beginning about now). The typical process involves mind numbing spreadsheets and historical data analysis designed to predict the future. How about inventing the future?

Today’s leadership team that becomes adept at gathering and analyzing current data and applying it to the future- wins! Current data comes from trend spotting, voice of the customer, crowdsourcing, open innovation, scenario planning, ethnographic research, social media, technology roadmaps. It’s about uncovering this data and quickly developing new products, services, processes and even business models.

The reality of 2010 involves spotting trends with all methods possible and quickly executing a revised business strategy….not based on any strategic planning calendar.