Welcome

To the curious

To the recession battered

To those who are looking for a way to expand innovation in their organization

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A special kind of innovation

Innovation is the new long term solution

Not a silver bullet

Definitely one important way to increase success

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Booz Allen

“Of all the core functions of most companies, innovation has the most competitive value—and is managed with the least discipline.”

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Bill Gates on Innovation

“For centuries people assumed economic growth resulted from the interplay between capital and labor. Today we know that these elements are outweighed by a single critical factor: innovation.”

“Innovation is the source of US economic leadership and the foundation for our competitiveness in the global economy.”

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Bill Gates

“Innovation is the source of ___ economic leadership and the foundation for ___ competitiveness in the global economy.”

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Quote fromThe Economist

“Innovation is now recognized as the single most important ingredient in any modern economy”

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Definitions of Innovation

“New products, business processes,and organic changes that create wealth or social welfare.” -OECD

“A new idea successfully implemented in the marketplace.” -James Bright

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Kinds of Innovation

Incremental/improvements Paradigm enhancing Paradigm shifting Exponential/10X Disruptive Verge

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Innovation Territory

Enormous

No prevailing paradigm for doing it

Many successful ways, some complex some simple

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Single Focus

One small area

Largely ignored

Available to organizations of all sizes and purposes

Lower cost and quicker to implement

Copyright 2010, Joel A. Barker All Rights Reserved

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Results

More than a dozen workshops

100% success in findingimplementable innovations

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An Overview

Visit the concept

Visit some examples

Visit some of the rules

Recommend some specific “workshop” activities for doing Verge Innovation

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Definition of Verge

“Where something and something different meet.”

The Verge is a place of stimulus, of opportunity

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A Perfect Archetype

Six Axis, 1000kg manufacturing robot built by Kuka

New applications?

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Image can been seen:

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/05/14/086943.1-lg.jpg

Roller Coasters

Copyright 2010, Joel A. Barker All Rights Reserved

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Robocoaster!

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Credit: Kuka Robotics Group

Image can been seen:

http://www.kuka-robotics.com/NR/rdonlyres/0356D98B-1373-4820-8B6A-F354AA768B15/0/NP_Robocoaster_01.jpg

Two Very Different Ideas

Combinations of differences

Not “natural”

Product adjacency vs.Product discontinuity

Six Rules to help understand

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The Hiding Rule

Great innovations are hidingall around us

We miss them because they don’t make “logical” sense…UNTIL they are discovered

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Five steps: Pick up the container Set down the container on the scale Weigh the container Pick up the container Put it on the plane

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Two Steps: Pick up the container

(weighing it simultaneously) Put it on the plane

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How Long Did It Take?

Hiding right in front of them

How many times did someone suggest it and no one listened?

Totally internally with all the benefits going to Fed Ex until they shared it

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The Low Risk Rule

You don’t have to risk your main business to try out your verge innovation

Different than disruptive innovation which does put the main business in danger

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Mini-Clinic

Simple medical procedures

Location inside the store

Buzzers like restaurants to call you back from shopping

Pre-defined charges

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The Scaling Rule

Changing the scale of one idea can allow you to verge it with another to create an innovation

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Nike Running Shoes

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Boston’sSuspension Bridge

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Super VergesThe Big Four—smart phones

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Image of iPhone

Innovationat the Verge

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Millions of combinations waiting to be discovered

Can be taught and learned

Accessible anywhere on the globe thanks to the Internet

AVerge

Exercise

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Step 1

Start by having everyone review very carefully the concept. Show the video so everyone understands the concept and has examples to remind them of the rules.

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Step 2

Arrange everyone in small groups with as much diversity as possible with a optimum number of 5 in each group. For sure no bigger than 6, not smaller than 3.

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Step 3

Each group generates a list of strengths of the organization. What do they do really well, not just in products, but in processes, in sales and marketing, in internal organization? I want them to think through all their positive capabilities.

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Step 4

Then I put up a list of totally nonrelated companies on the screen and have them respond to the following question:

What strengths might one of these companies have which when combined with one of our strengths, could produce a new product, process or service

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Sample List

Waste management Golf ball company Herman Miller Chairs Mining companies Cardiac pacemaker Baby clothes Gillette razor blades H&R Block Marriott Hotel Eye glasses Paper companies

Stadium seats John Deere Carpet company --

Milliken Cruise ships Sun shades Mayo Clinic Theme parks Cell phones Pencil manufacturer Tea company

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Answers

Spend 45 minutes to come up with potential innovations.

Debrief in round robin—one idea per group—until you have covered the ideas

Don’t be surprised if the debrief triggers more ideas

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Final Thoughts

Innovation at the verge is a great place to play because it is mostly ignored

Great place to start doing innovations because you don’t have to risk your main business to try it

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“At the intersection of differences lies the opportunity for innovation.” -Joel Barker

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Vertical Farms

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Scientific American

November 2009

GeneratorShock Absorber

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Moteur Development International

Ben Baileyof “Cash Cab”

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Klymit ArgonInsulation Vests

Home wine preservation system

Bike pump Medical-grade IV

valves Reebok Pump

basketball shoes $100 cost

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