Innovation @ Merage - UCI Paul Merage School of Business : Technology

Do You Matter? How Great Design Will Make People Love Your Company

Lynda Lawrence — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:30:00 GMT

By: Robert Brunner and Stewart Emory, FT Press (2009).

If you know anyone in love with an iPhone, you may understand the feelings that Brunner and Emery describe. According to them, this fierce devotion extends past the product to the company, and enables Apple to charge higher prices and be forgiven for any mistakes.

Does this apply to companies that don’t make the latest must-have gadget? Only if you concentrate on designing the customer experience as carefully as Apple has designed the entire experience of an iPhone purchase: the meticulous product design, the anticipation, the storytelling, the retail stores full of techies to answer questions, the exquisite packaging, the intuitive interface, the geniuses who do the set up, the follow-up emails, and the easy (and often free) downloading of thousands of apps you never realized you wanted.

If, and only if, you create a company that is focused on creating better-than-expected customer experiences, you can reap the benefits. That means top-down permission to play, no cutting corners, no incremental changes substituting for innovation (think Razr phones), quick prototyping, and even quicker response to the market (think GM).

While the recommendations are easier to apply to a product-focused company, they will apply to services. If you’re in charge of a small company that needs to innovate, or in charge of design and need to sell your ideas company-wide, this would be a good book to use.
I’d give it an 8.5 on the LL innovation meter—not a lot of new insight, but a persuasive argument.

Innovation Trickles in a New Direction

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:55:00 GMT

Abstract: General Electric, Nokia and other companies are creating entry-level products for emerging nations and then repackaging them for more affluent countries in a process known as trickle-up innovation.

Published: March 9, 2009

Authors: Reena Jana

Link: BusinessWeek

TED Conference Videos: “Ideas Worth Spreading”

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:42:00 GMT

Abstract: The annual TED conference brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less). This website makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free. More than 300 talks from our archive are now available, with more added each week.

Published: Ongoing

Authors: Hundreds of the world’s top thinkers covering subjects categorized into dozens of themes.

Link: TED

The Best Inventions of 2008

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:37:00 GMT

Abstract: From a genetic testing service to an invisibility cloak to an ingenious public bike system to the world's first moving skyscraper — here are TIME's picks for the top innovations of 2008

Published: October 2008

Authors: Jeremy Caplan, Kristina Dell, Andrea Dorfman, Laura Fitzpatrick, Justin Fox, Sean Gregory, Lev Grossman, Barbara Kiviat, Jeffrey Kluger, Richard Lacayo, Michael Lemonick, Lisa McLaughlin, Jay Newton-Small, Alice Park, Mark Thompson, Bryan Walsh and Rebecca Winters Keegan

Link: Time

The New Age of Innovation: Driving Co-created Value Through Global Networks

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:34:00 GMT

By C.K. Prahalad and M.S. Krishnan; McGraw Hill 2008

At the Merage School, we think of strategic innovation as a way to drive sustained growth, and we use collaboration, analytics and IT as tools. Four years after we formed this framework, Prahalad and Krishnan have written this tactical manual based on the same strategy.

They use two formulas to describe the theory. N = 1 is their shorthand for selling unique products to individual customers, pretty much the opposite of Ford’s Model T that came in any color so long as it was black. R = G is the way they describe resources as global, from the component parts to assembling the talent to create, manufacture and sell products around the world.

They use current examples, like Li & Fung and Facebook, to explain their very detailed gameplans. In fact, if you want a template for how to restructure in a global economy, they’ve detailed it down to specs for IT systems and review councils. For the most part, they emphasize incremental innovation and focus on huge multi-nationals.

While there are really no new insights, if you’re a manager trying to restructure in a constantly-evolving competitive world, this could give you the structure and many of the working details you’d need. For me, it was a bit wonky—an 8.0 on the LL innovation meter.

Lynda Lawrence is an innovation consultant with Ideaworks Consulting. She teaches Strategic Innovation and Design Management at the Merage School at UCI, and is an advisor to the Beall Center.

What is Biomimicry?

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:40:00 GMT

Abstract: Mother Nature is the surprising source of inspiration for a host of innovations. Engineers, scientists and product designers are taking cues from nature to solve the toughest design problems.

Published: September 2008

Authors: Hillary Woolley

Link: BNET

The Innovation Imperative

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:30:00 GMT

Abstract: KM World Magazine interviews John Kao, author of Innovation Nation. Kao talks about innovation and its importance to our nation's future.

Published: July 11, 2008

Link: KM World Magazine

Hydrogen-Powered Cars: Brew Your Own

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:44:00 GMT

Abstract: Home-brew kits for hydrogen may bring it back into contention as a vehicle fuel.

Published: July 30, 2008

Link: The Economist

Making Mobile Networks Cheap and Green

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:26:00 GMT

Abstract: Innovative base station designs will enable those at the far reaches of the world to have cell phones.

Published: August 4, 2008

Author: Jennifer L. Schenker

Link: Spiegel Online International

Where Google Isn't Goliath

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:32:00 GMT

Abstract: Russia's Yandex search engine, which is expected to go public on Nasdaq later this year, is using innovation to hold onto its lead.

Published: June 27, 2008

Author: Jason Bush

Link: Spiegel Online

Speaking of Change

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:55:00 GMT

Abstract: GMnext.com invited Dr. Chris Borroni-Bird, Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts at GM, and BoingBoing.net founder and technology evangelist Mark Frauenfelder, to speculate on innovation, technology, energy, environment, and their impact on the future of the automobile. Highlights of that conversation are included in a series of five videos, each focusing on a different aspect of the future of transportation. ***Update: GM has moved this content to http://wiki.gmnext.com and only one video is currently available titled "Speaking of Change".

Published: July 2008

Link: GMnext

The Next Step in Open Innovation

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:56:00 GMT

Abstract: Increasingly companies are using input and feedback from online communities to help with the creation of knowledge, products and services. Though the practice is in its earliest stages, there have been notable successes. This article from The McKinsey Quarterly examines the benefits and challenges of open innovation.

Authors: Jacques Bughin, Michael Chui, and Brad Johnson

Published: June 2008

Link: The McKinsey Quarterly

Silicon Valley Launch: A Visit to the Bleeding Edge

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:42:00 GMT

Abstract: Innovation by promising startups wins the best a shot at success. Silicon Valley Launch gives entrepreneurs ten minutes to make their case to venture capitalists, talent scouts from major companies and fellow entrepreneurs.

Published: June 16, 2008

Author: Charles Babcock

Link: InformationWeek

Wall Street Turns to Video Game Technology to Speed Analytics

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:07:00 GMT

Abstract: "Wall Street's thirst for faster processing speeds and low-latency analytic computations is turning into a game, of sorts. Graphics cards that are used to power game consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox are turning up on quantitative trading desks, where they're being used to calculate options analytics."

Published: June 18, 2008

Author: Ivy Schmerken

Link: Wall Street & Technology

2008 IDEA Awards

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Abstract: BusinessWeek reports that while the U.S. held first place, Asia, South America and Europe offered stronger competion than ever. Students also had a strong showing, winning 16% of the awards. Click the link below to view the best design ideas for 2008.

Published: BusinessWeek, July 17, 2008

Author: Bruce Nussbaum

Link: BusinessWeek