Why is it that the book is almost always better than the movie? Is it because the ambiguity of the text in a book versus the concrete images of a movie allows us to bring more of our imagination into shaping the message of the book? With different contexts influencing us, despite picking up the […]
The Genesis of an Orphan
Orphan product lines can occur for a variety of reasons usually associated with innovation or simply change within your organization. As orphans are an inevitable result of ongoing innovation, it is essential that an innovative organization is able to recognize and handle them efficiently. If you are an organization with an orphan, you likely are struggling […]
On a Parallel Path: Innovation Emerging as an Organizational Competency
As innovation emerges as a new organizational competency, the path it is following is similar in many ways to the one followed by the field of quality many years ago. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, Quality Circles, Total Quality Management, and ‘Quality is Job One’ were the themes and slogans of the day […]
Fixed and Growth Mindsets
A few years ago I was introduced to and read thoroughly about a concept called mindset. Before my foray into the literature pertaining to mindset, I had heard many people use the term. Reflecting on its use in my past, mindset takes me back to my days of playing sports; figuring out ways to enter the […]
Recognizing an Orphan or Non-Strategic Product Line
Most medium to large companies have product lines that for one reason or another have become non-strategic. These “orphans” are not always recognized as such and are typically the result of both successful and unsuccessful attempts at innovation. When a company successfully innovates in one area, it is often the case that some of its […]