Archive for Innovation
Sure It’s Innovative, but would You Eat It?
by guest blogger Debra Jennings, Innovation 360 Marketing Manager
The other day, my friends and I were discussing the innovative merits of a new product called “Candwich” — a sandwich that comes in a can. We all agreed it was innovative, though for different reasons. One person liked the innovative packaging, which allows Candwiches to be conveniently dispensed from vending machines, just like a soda can, for busy people on the go. Another called out the innovative preservation techniques that allow the sandwiches (even the BBQ chicken variety) to stay fresh inside the can for up to a year, without refrigeration. Finally I had to ask: But would you eat it? Read the rest of this entry »
Why Smart People Sometimes Make Dumb Predictions
by guest blogger Debra Jennings, Innovation 360 Marketing Manager
I recently came across an amusing list entitled “15 Failed Predictions About the Future.” It wasn’t surprising to find the much-quoted statement from Thomas Watson, the chairman of IBM in 1943:
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
More interesting were predictions like this one from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher:
“It will be years — not in my time — before a woman will become Prime Minister.”
And this gem, attributed to associates of Edwin Drake, a petroleum engineer who in 1859 suggested an unorthodox method for uncovering crude:
“Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy.”
Although these examples are funny now, they demonstrate how a closed mind and negative thought patterns, like the ones below, can lead to such failed predictions. Read the rest of this entry »
20 Phrases That Kill Ideas and Innovation
When it comes to innovation and sharing our creative ideas at work, we all know to be wary of negative bosses and co-workers who shoot down every idea. These people can be a deterrent to change and innovation, but if we’re persistent we learn how to go around them to get things done.
The real people to be wary of are the ones who seem like they’re open to new ideas, but always have some reason the idea won’t work or shouldn’t be implemented yet. They are masters of “killer phrases” that masquerade as knowledge or experience, but many times are not justified and simply stand in the way of progress. Read the rest of this entry »
