Monthly Archives: August 2009
by Idris MooteeApple has a dilemma, should they put out products to push Apple towards the mass to appeal to Window users or pushing the innovating envelope on products that their loyal followers really want, or need? Netbook sales is growing fast particularly in Asia and prices have dropped to US$150 to $250. Meanwhile, Microsoft has said that it would rather not use the Netbook name any more, choosing “low-cost small notebook PC” instead. It is easy to see why.How many years since Apple fans have been begging for a mid-sized, mid-priced upgradeable Mac Pro? How long have Apple fans have been asking for a small footprint $650 range entry Macbook? How long Apple fans have been asking for a $1600 range tablet that works like a big iPod touch? All these things will not likely to happen, at least not too soon. Apple will continue to exercise its …
While the security aspects of intellectual property (“IP”) are often sacrificed for speed to market considerations in today’s world of mash-ups and knock-offs, I believe when it comes to IP it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. The protection of all forms of intellectual property (“IP”) should constitute common sense and require no real explanation, however the courts are littered with case law precedent that has been decisioned against some of the largest and most sophisticated companies on the planet. What should be routine business 101 protocol, can easily turn into major financial and operational debacles if you don’t have a solid grasp of IP law. In today’s post I’ll discuss the basics of identifying and protecting your intellectual property.The issues surrounding IP are basically three-fold:What actually constitutes intellectual property and what doesn’t?What is the best method to protect what is deemed as IPIs intellectual property … Continue reading
Interview – Jeff Lindsay of “Conquering Innovation Fatigue”I had the opportunity to interview Jeff Lindsay, one of the co-authors of “Conquering Innovation Fatigue” about the recession, innovation challenges that organizations face, the role of government in innovation, and needs of the innovation workforce.Looking across the broad range of our conversation, the importance of alignment is probably the thread that ties it all together.My book review of “Conquering Innovation Fatigue” can be found here.Here is the text from the interview:1. What is the biggest challenge that companies face in the Great Recession?Apart from looming external factors beyond their control, I would say that the biggest challenges that they can control are various combinations of fear and pride. Fear of markets, of change, of the unknown, etc., tends to paralyze at precisely the moment when vigorous action is needed. Pride also hinders needed change. When a company has unhealthy optimism in its … Continue reading
by Braden KelleyAbout a month ago I received “Conquering Innovation Fatigue – Overcoming the Barriers to Personal and Corporate Success” in the mail, a 284-page piece co-written by Jeff Lindsay, Cheryl Perkins, and Mukund Karanjikar. Now you might be thinking – Everyone is so excited about innovation, how can anyone get innovation fatigue?Well, while most authors choose to write about the green fields or the blue oceans you can potentially create by pursuing innovation, “Conquering Innovation Fatigue” instead chooses to focus on the things that can wear down the inventor, the manager, and the innovator. The authors classify potential innovation fatigue into three main classes of innovation fatigue:People FatigueOrganization-Level Fatigue (Strategy, Culture, Actions)External FatigueAnd then break down those classes of innovation fatigue into Nine Leading Fatigue Factors:People Fatigue:Theft of the invention and exploitation of inventorsInnovator deficiencies (e.g. unreasonable expectations, impatience, unhealthy pride)The NIH syndrome (“Not Invented Here”)Organization Level Fatigue (Strategy, … Continue reading
According to David Strom, a web/tech expert…”Burger King ran a promotion not too long ago where they asked people to defriend 10 Facebook friends in order to get a coupon for a free burger. They were swamped with thousands of requests, thereby establishing the value of a friend at somewhere around a quarter. That is pretty depressing. I always thought a friend was worth at least a couple of bucks, if not more.”This got me thinking. How do we value friends? And are all friends valued the same way? I have nearly 400 Facebook friends. I try to only befriend people I really know. But admittedly, some are friends of friends and I don’t know them at all. In reality, there are only a handful of people that truly interest me.My experience mimics that suggested in this fascinating article on how the virtual Facebook world mimics the physical world. Although … Continue reading
by Matt HeinzFor many of us, business and life – personal and professional – blur together on a regular basis. But the idea of running your business (or your career) like a life is a good one. Chris Brogan wrote about this in his newsletter this morning, and I’ve included some excerpts below. Worth a quick read:In writing “Trust Agents” with Julien, I’ve been building more and more information up around the idea of being human at a distance, and about the way human-shaped business works. One thing I believe: that lots of situations in business feel a lot like relationships, and vice versa.Think of Everyone as a RelationshipCustomers are a relationship. Prospects are, too. Coworkers are those people we spend more time with than many of our extended relatives. But do we treat everyone as if we’re in a relationship with them? I don’t mean that you have to … Continue reading
