The art and science of communicating complex ideas
This article is based on a talk I gave at Bristech in December 2018: ‘Talking Tech: the Art and Science of Communicating Complex Ideas’. By all accoun…
Innovation Management
Innovation Takes Time
If you hang out with dreamers and innovators for any length of time, you hear about Edison’s 1000 failures. There are countless anecdotes about the yea…
A new cycle of innovation design
We really do have this compelling need to have a new cycle of innovation design. A more integrated solution that takes our understanding of innovation …
Communicating about innovation: two approaches to understanding your audience
Years ago, I remember reading a short story in which a barrister (I think it was Rumpole of the Bailey) successfully defended a driver charged with dan…
The Future of Work – Can ideas become pervasive?
When we walk into most large, traditional corporate organisations, the one thing they all have in common is the inability and reluctance to change; to …
Lessons learned running corporate teams like startups
Being a strong supporter of Lean Startup principles, I always try to apply them to problem-solving, especially in situations of extreme uncertainty. Le…
Innovation communications: the crucial importance of stories and shared language
Many years ago, when I managed the communications function for a leading digital innovation agency in London, we were engaged on a project for Sony. At…
Applying the Three Horizon Thinking to a Fresh Perspective of Innovation Design
There is huge value in applying the three-horizon framework into your thinking. It is as useful a framework that you can get, to help decide where you …
Innovation Launchpads – the path to connection
The path to creation is through collaboration – that’s the yoga teacher in me speaking, but it’s true and most innovators will subscribe to this perspe…
Moneyball for corporate innovation
The 2011 Moneyball movie starring Brad Pitt as coach Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics is probably one of the most talked about movies in the lean s…
7 Things You Need To Give Innovation a Chance
Do you know the song “Give love a chance” by Cameo? Recently I heard that song and thought to myself - why not “give innovation a chance” as well. For …
The Misuse of Open Innovation within Organisations
Common mistakes and misconceptions There is a growing trend towards companies including innovation in their business processes, which was highlighted …
Experiment Velocity vs. Learning Velocity
I was partially wrong promoting 'experiment velocity' as an important Innovation Accounting KPI. I'm gonna tell you why and what's the fix. But first l…
Innovators and organizational doublethink
Both my grandparents and in-laws grew up behind the iron curtain, and so I would regularly hear stories of the alternate reality they would be forced t…
How feedback opens the door to innovation
The business literature is awash with tales of organizations (and leaders) that struggle to adapt to change. If you boil this down to its very essence…
Innovation is dead, long live innovation
A story for bravehearts, rebels, new kids, pioneers and renegades. There once was a management fad called Innovation. It was beautiful and popular and…