Global Warming Spurs Innovation

It is hardly news that the global warming phenomenon is spurring innovation across the board. It ushered Al Gore into the documentary film-making realm, and has prompted widespread changes in other unexpected areas as well. In one recent development, several companies have promised to fight global warming by fertilizing the ocean with iron shavings. In theory, these shavings will spur a bloom of algae which absorbs carbon dioxide as is undergoes photosynthesis. Despite concerns about the science behind the idea, as well as the ability to measure its effectiveness, this is a prime example of the free market spurring innovation. Given that our planet is composed of 75% water, could this innovative idea actually yield significant results? For more details, see “Fertilizing Oceans to Save the Planet”.

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Service Innovation – The New Business

While most everyone is familiar with product innovation, few are conscious of service innovation. However, the latest statistics from Peer Insight, a service-innovation research firm, reveal that service industries are rapidly overtaking product industries as the most prevalent and profitable forms of business. As the service industry grows, so to do consumer expectations. Increasingly, customers weigh the services that come along with products they purchase, such as the ‘Geek Squad’ support that comes with many products purchased at Best Buy, when deciding whether or not to purchase more expensive products, such as homes or electronics.

This change in the market’s attitude has drawn the attention of executives at IBM, who organized the SRI Initiative; a consortium of academics and executives from both the public and private sector, who gather to consider the effects of service innovation on the broader business community.

For more information on service innovation and SRI’s vision statement, read Reena Jana’s article in Business Week and visit the SRI Initiative website.

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Six Sigma vs. Innovation: Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

A common source of angst in management circles is the pressure from above to operate efficiently, while also encouraging innovation. At first glance, efficiency and innovation appear to be at odds. Efficiency, often driven by outputs of the quality movement such as Six Sigma, demands streamlined processes, continuous improvement, and very few errors. When implemented effectively, Six Sigma greatly reduces risk. On the contrary, innovation often takes a disruptive role, at least in its infancy. In order to innovate, one must embrace change and risk – in hopes of unleashing untapped potential within an organization.

Jeneanne Ray takes a look at how business leaders and change agents can effectively incorporate both efficiency and innovation into their pursuits here.

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How to Make an Idea that Lasts

In their book, Made to Stick, authors and brothers Chip and Dan Heath propose a strategy for making ideas survive and thrive. The book offers six principles: “simplicity, unexpected, concrete, credibility, emotional, and story” that encourage people to frame ideas in a clear and compelling way, and therefore build an idea that lasts.

All too often, great thoughts are overlooked or disregarded because they are framed incorrectly. In order get support, backing, and adoption of their ideas, Change Agents should take the Heath brothers’ six fundamental principles into consideration, frame and idea that others will heed, and therefore facilitate change.

Listen to the NPR interview with Chip and Dan Heath, or read their blog.