My apologies for the volume of blog / rant that I have been spewing lately - have had lots of plane time - ideas tend to form in my head at high-altitude / low-air-pressure (maybe that's a bad thing?)
Some additional thoughts on the innovation opportunities that are staring social app companies like Linkedin squarely in the face (but they don't seem to be doing anything about it)...
I strongly believe these companies could facilitate / spur new idea generation. They could start by launching themed innovation forums which focus on solving "big problems" - these forums could be seeded with existing idea owners that are identified with a sweep of their current users.
Professional facilitators could be brought onboard to hunt for concepts to pursue, monitor the think-tank sessions, and police the "who owns / who contributed what" dynamic. These facilitators could be PT, moonlighting staff - essentially creating a new after-hours / virtual-garage-startup online community. Finding the facilitators could be as easy as targeting the big problem, focus industries within their own existing user community. Measuring their effectiveness would also be simple, think about them like "hedge-fund managers" that chase ideas, find "idea stars" within the community, etc. - metrics related to their idea portfolio and ROI on ideas could be established.
The social net app / company could realize business value by charging idea owners a small fee to launch their concept into the incubator environment; in addition to, claiming a percentage ownership stake in the idea + broker the fleshed out concepts to the VC community.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
We better start texting, and skyping, and heytelling.....our kids
Some more thoughts on the "transition generation" thread ... we're going to have to come up with a concept "bigger" than "multitasking" for the next generation. Much bigger.
My daughter checked in at the homefront during spring break. While she was here, she routinely sat at her laptop, simultaneously accessing her mifi device, watching tv, skyping with a college buddy, monitoring her iPhone for text, email and heytell messages ... all while playing SIMS with a network of friends ... and sort of having side conversations with me. Wow. Made my head hurt. But her and her friends appeared to be functioning at a fairly high level.
As my career has progressed I have learned and heeded the time-honored "focus on one thing, and do it well" personal time management approach. I am not a good multi-tasker. But the younger generations seem to multi-task with ease. They were raised surrounded by "interactive technology" ... and so they just might be able to get more from the use of these devices than the generations before them.
Should we expect the next generation to bring a new core capability of being able to effectively focus on more than one thing at a time? How can we best leverage this new capability? What existing organizational management processes will need to change? Maybe we should send all of us "old MBAs" back to school for a refresher on what these "kids" are going to be capable of...
My daughter checked in at the homefront during spring break. While she was here, she routinely sat at her laptop, simultaneously accessing her mifi device, watching tv, skyping with a college buddy, monitoring her iPhone for text, email and heytell messages ... all while playing SIMS with a network of friends ... and sort of having side conversations with me. Wow. Made my head hurt. But her and her friends appeared to be functioning at a fairly high level.
As my career has progressed I have learned and heeded the time-honored "focus on one thing, and do it well" personal time management approach. I am not a good multi-tasker. But the younger generations seem to multi-task with ease. They were raised surrounded by "interactive technology" ... and so they just might be able to get more from the use of these devices than the generations before them.
Should we expect the next generation to bring a new core capability of being able to effectively focus on more than one thing at a time? How can we best leverage this new capability? What existing organizational management processes will need to change? Maybe we should send all of us "old MBAs" back to school for a refresher on what these "kids" are going to be capable of...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Innovation Life Cycle / ROI Approach
Wondering 'out loud' why more orgnizations fail to realize real value out of their R&D investments. I developed the following life cycle graphic to illustrate a simple approach to innovation ROI planning. I believe that it is possible to bring some ROI thinking to R&D initiatives and not kill innovation with the process. Could org's use this process to ask questions during the innovation process that prompt thought regarding OH allocation and priorities? Perhaps develop a portfolio of solutions and corresponding business maturity schedules for each? Ultimately of course, the goal would be to achieve a better understanding of opportunities to enhance share value...
The "Y" / Time axis will depend on several factors:
How long will it take to develop the innovation? (Idea/Innovation)
How long will it take to deploy the innovation? (Idea/Innovation)
What is the capture maturity schedule for the projects/initiatives where you intend to use the innovation? (Idea/Innovation + Usage Growth)
How long will it take for competitors or interested external org's to copy you? Above factors 1-3 will determine. (Usage Maturity + Need Decline)
How do you determine Innovation Differentiation Value (DV)?
What are the total costs to develop the innovation?
What are the total costs to deploy the innovation?
What is the size of the "market" that you are chasing?
If supporting an already defined initiative, what increase value will the innovationg bring?
As the solution matures, what are your total costs to maintain the environment?
What is the probability that competitors will develop a similar innovation?
What is the probability that an external org will develop a similar innovation?
At what point in your ILC will a competitor or external org introduce their innovation; and how could this impact your DV?
The "Y" / Time axis will depend on several factors:
How long will it take to develop the innovation? (Idea/Innovation)
How long will it take to deploy the innovation? (Idea/Innovation)
What is the capture maturity schedule for the projects/initiatives where you intend to use the innovation? (Idea/Innovation + Usage Growth)
How long will it take for competitors or interested external org's to copy you? Above factors 1-3 will determine. (Usage Maturity + Need Decline)
How do you determine Innovation Differentiation Value (DV)?
What are the total costs to develop the innovation?
What are the total costs to deploy the innovation?
What is the size of the "market" that you are chasing?
If supporting an already defined initiative, what increase value will the innovationg bring?
As the solution matures, what are your total costs to maintain the environment?
What is the probability that competitors will develop a similar innovation?
What is the probability that an external org will develop a similar innovation?
At what point in your ILC will a competitor or external org introduce their innovation; and how could this impact your DV?
As usual, please contact me if you decide to use ... I would be curious to hear examples / ideas (shaag)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Business + Social Networks (Dis)connect
Like a growing number of business professionals, I have incorporated the use of Linkedin, Twitter, etc. into my work-related networking activities. I typically spend up to 30 minutes a day maintaining/updating my network. As my "circle" grows, I can't help but think that these companies are missing a really BIG opportunity to spur innovation and new business growth, while dramatically enhancing their own earning potential...
One of the primary reasons that I participate in these business-focused networks is to find/monitor trends, "launch" ideas and get feedback from like-minded professionals. It would seem logical for the companies that own these solutions to offer "innovation forums" that actively bring users together to collaborate on idea/widget generation. A process for sniffing out users that might be able to contribute + documenting threads for IP purposes + launching the idea to a broader audience for criticial feedback would not be that difficult to develop. The idea owner(s) would likely even pay a small fee for this support.
But the big payout would be if these companies acted as virtual VCs - owned a % of the concept on top of any facilitation fees they could capture. Consider the possibilities.
Obstacles would be minimal. EULAs that enforce idea ownership and establish a wall between the user and his/her employer should be simple to implement. "Community" ownership of the concept should also be easy to orgaznize and oversee.
I have seen a few web sites/organizations that have attempted this community idea development concept ... but none with the reach of Linkedin, Twitter, etc.
As usual, I appreciate the interest if you have read this far, and I would appreciate involvement if you take this concept and run with it (both as a user and an owner) ... I'm talking to you Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook.......
One of the primary reasons that I participate in these business-focused networks is to find/monitor trends, "launch" ideas and get feedback from like-minded professionals. It would seem logical for the companies that own these solutions to offer "innovation forums" that actively bring users together to collaborate on idea/widget generation. A process for sniffing out users that might be able to contribute + documenting threads for IP purposes + launching the idea to a broader audience for criticial feedback would not be that difficult to develop. The idea owner(s) would likely even pay a small fee for this support.
But the big payout would be if these companies acted as virtual VCs - owned a % of the concept on top of any facilitation fees they could capture. Consider the possibilities.
Obstacles would be minimal. EULAs that enforce idea ownership and establish a wall between the user and his/her employer should be simple to implement. "Community" ownership of the concept should also be easy to orgaznize and oversee.
I have seen a few web sites/organizations that have attempted this community idea development concept ... but none with the reach of Linkedin, Twitter, etc.
As usual, I appreciate the interest if you have read this far, and I would appreciate involvement if you take this concept and run with it (both as a user and an owner) ... I'm talking to you Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook.......
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Not your typical 2011 top tech "trends" list...
(Warning: long-winded on this post)
Like everyone else, I frequently receive / review misc. predicted "top tech trends" lists ... but I believe most IT professionals would benefit more from shared observations combined with predictions on where / how popular tech (both production and beta) will move in the upcoming 12 months ... see my contribution to the discussion / debate below ... probably not as "sexy" as predicting "unmanned flying drone" applications - but the observations are real / my own ... if you're looking for drones, see the existing lists. :)
1. iPad evolves into a dominant business hardware platform. (90% confident) On numerous occasions in 2010 I witnessed peer IT execs surrounded by their users asking for iPads - this user demand combined with biz apps that are starting to surface will win the day for Apple in 2011. Forget the other devices this year, iPad has too big a head start - watch for others in 2012.
2. MiFi devices will impact our communication world much like wireless / broadband did. (50% confident) I have tested several of the new 4G MiFi devices during my road warrior activities - one thing jumped out at me. There really is a need / desire from the user community to leverage mobile hotspots. Haven't figured out yet all of the ways that this will impact the way we communicate, but it will ... I am particularly curious about the younger crowd and phone MiFi use.
3. Skype and personal video-2-video solutions will make another big splash similar to when they were first introduced. (75% confident) Onboard cameras are now standard in most personal devices, so the platform base is in place. But the primary reason that I would point to a big move in 2011 is the use by HS and college students and soldiers returning from deployment.
4. High Definition video becomes pervasive. (75% confident) Might take longer than 12 months due to hardware turnover cycles. But the quality in off-the-shelf, everyday devices is outstanding. We're just now starting to understand what we can produce with that quality. Think about everyday media use by ordinary citizens; security applications that are crowd sourced; real-time asset and operational management by public agencies.
5. GPS apps finally evolve down to the personal, everyday level. (100% confident) With network improvements and societal changes, we are finally starting to see true, pervasive use of GPS. We are staring to see apps that can do much more than provide turn-by-turn directions or assign a coordinate to a vacation picture - younger generations acceptance of "big brother" will drive this change. Inside building directions; find you / find me apps; location-based service offerings ... I can't wait to see what evolves!
6. Onboard automotive technology becomes "real" (25% confident) The beta solutions are out there - but they are still relatively clunky and cobbled together. Will be interesting to see how the public reacts and helps automakers upgrade their early offerings. Would not be surprised if the smartphone platform completely trumped the automotive world and left manufacturers with only an opportunity to provide the best "plug-your-device-in-here" environment.
7. Another, non-platform-specific, app store enters the smartphone app store market. (75% confident) Beta solutions are starting to surface. Dominant providers currently control this space, but that will likely change. Demand for best-in-class apps will force current, dominant providers to work with the new solutions.
Like everyone else, I frequently receive / review misc. predicted "top tech trends" lists ... but I believe most IT professionals would benefit more from shared observations combined with predictions on where / how popular tech (both production and beta) will move in the upcoming 12 months ... see my contribution to the discussion / debate below ... probably not as "sexy" as predicting "unmanned flying drone" applications - but the observations are real / my own ... if you're looking for drones, see the existing lists. :)
1. iPad evolves into a dominant business hardware platform. (90% confident) On numerous occasions in 2010 I witnessed peer IT execs surrounded by their users asking for iPads - this user demand combined with biz apps that are starting to surface will win the day for Apple in 2011. Forget the other devices this year, iPad has too big a head start - watch for others in 2012.
2. MiFi devices will impact our communication world much like wireless / broadband did. (50% confident) I have tested several of the new 4G MiFi devices during my road warrior activities - one thing jumped out at me. There really is a need / desire from the user community to leverage mobile hotspots. Haven't figured out yet all of the ways that this will impact the way we communicate, but it will ... I am particularly curious about the younger crowd and phone MiFi use.
3. Skype and personal video-2-video solutions will make another big splash similar to when they were first introduced. (75% confident) Onboard cameras are now standard in most personal devices, so the platform base is in place. But the primary reason that I would point to a big move in 2011 is the use by HS and college students and soldiers returning from deployment.
4. High Definition video becomes pervasive. (75% confident) Might take longer than 12 months due to hardware turnover cycles. But the quality in off-the-shelf, everyday devices is outstanding. We're just now starting to understand what we can produce with that quality. Think about everyday media use by ordinary citizens; security applications that are crowd sourced; real-time asset and operational management by public agencies.
5. GPS apps finally evolve down to the personal, everyday level. (100% confident) With network improvements and societal changes, we are finally starting to see true, pervasive use of GPS. We are staring to see apps that can do much more than provide turn-by-turn directions or assign a coordinate to a vacation picture - younger generations acceptance of "big brother" will drive this change. Inside building directions; find you / find me apps; location-based service offerings ... I can't wait to see what evolves!
6. Onboard automotive technology becomes "real" (25% confident) The beta solutions are out there - but they are still relatively clunky and cobbled together. Will be interesting to see how the public reacts and helps automakers upgrade their early offerings. Would not be surprised if the smartphone platform completely trumped the automotive world and left manufacturers with only an opportunity to provide the best "plug-your-device-in-here" environment.
7. Another, non-platform-specific, app store enters the smartphone app store market. (75% confident) Beta solutions are starting to surface. Dominant providers currently control this space, but that will likely change. Demand for best-in-class apps will force current, dominant providers to work with the new solutions.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
We better start texting our kids...
I used to preach that 10-20 years from now, society was going to undergo a tremendous change related to the maturation of today's young people and their propensity to use new / digital communication forums + their logical ascension into management roles in our businesses, schools, government = a completely different work structure that would allow more individuals to work remotely, log in to work communication sessions, etc. In the near future today's young people will be calling the shots on management decisions = to "...do we allow our workers to telecommute?..." They will be more comfortable with remote communication methods. The average worker will not tolerate the commuting lifestyle that we tolerate - and their new boss will allow them much more flexibility than we see today.
Think about the 'OH' ramifications - could we start competing again with China and India in support industries based on new efficiencies? Think about displaced senior workers - sunsetters will have to adopt new communication skills to stay plugged in. If we could train these valuable legacy employees enmasse, we could have the perfect storm of highly knowledgeable workers, operating at peak 'OH' efficiency and in abundant supply. Companies will be eager to realize efficiencies and supplement senior, more experienced staff with capable younger staff - who will bring these ideas along with them. I have no doubts that the communication industry giants / widget manufacturers will speed this process along. And with the current economic conditions, this whole dynamic will likely happen sooner than I thought.
Think about the ramifications and the opportunities?! Certainly the U.S. can lead this revolution globally...
Think about the 'OH' ramifications - could we start competing again with China and India in support industries based on new efficiencies? Think about displaced senior workers - sunsetters will have to adopt new communication skills to stay plugged in. If we could train these valuable legacy employees enmasse, we could have the perfect storm of highly knowledgeable workers, operating at peak 'OH' efficiency and in abundant supply. Companies will be eager to realize efficiencies and supplement senior, more experienced staff with capable younger staff - who will bring these ideas along with them. I have no doubts that the communication industry giants / widget manufacturers will speed this process along. And with the current economic conditions, this whole dynamic will likely happen sooner than I thought.
Think about the ramifications and the opportunities?! Certainly the U.S. can lead this revolution globally...
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
We can do better than air vents...
Spend a lot of time on planes - often 'frying' on a runway or 'freezing' at altitude - had an idea the other day about how we might fix this...
Why not utilize the window shades to regulate the temperature of the cabin??
My idea revolves around the concept of incorporating a solar powered, heating/cooling element in the window shade itself combined with a circulation fan/vent. The shade could be "smart"; incorporating onboard temperature and altitude logic - might activitate itself only when pulled down.
An airplane cabin is a small, controlled space, so not every shade would need to be replaced (?) Older planes could easily be retro-fitted. The dollars saved in fuel costs while planes sit on a runway would likely pay for the one-time widget and installation costs.
Why not utilize the window shades to regulate the temperature of the cabin??
My idea revolves around the concept of incorporating a solar powered, heating/cooling element in the window shade itself combined with a circulation fan/vent. The shade could be "smart"; incorporating onboard temperature and altitude logic - might activitate itself only when pulled down.
An airplane cabin is a small, controlled space, so not every shade would need to be replaced (?) Older planes could easily be retro-fitted. The dollars saved in fuel costs while planes sit on a runway would likely pay for the one-time widget and installation costs.
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