Author Archives: Bob Donnelly

Innovation Perspectives - Customer Friendly Innovation

This is the third of several ‘Innovation Perspectives’ articles we will publish this week from multiple authors to get different perspectives on ‘What do you consider the most important single development in innovation methodology?’. Here is the next perspective in the series: by Bob Donnelly Historically, most innovations have come from corporate research labs and entrepreneurs coming up with faster, better or cheaper solutions to consumer’s constantly changing requirements. However, today the dynamics of innovation have shifted dramatically from these traditional sources of innovation to what is the most important development in innovation methodology ever – the customer. The internet has enabled customers to now dictate to manufacturers what they need and want, and through their social networks share their experiences with others like them in ways that were never before available. The web and e mail have empowered customers with greater latitude over how they interact and on what … Continue reading

Posted in Innovation Perspectives, Strategy, marketing | 1 Comment

Innovation is one of the most misunderstood concepts; time to clear things up.What is an innovator?Definitions abound by all kinds of academics and business experts, but in reality most innovations are just a new way of doing something.One of my favorite innovations was George Foreman’s lean, mean, grilling machine and all of its recent derivatives. George just developed a way to reduce the fat in grilling. His simple innovation has resulted in about 100 million George Foreman Grills being sold since they were introduced in 1995.In 1997 Foreman entered into a $137.5 million deal with the grill manufacturer for unrestricted global use of his name to market the devices. Not bad for such a simple innovation by a classic entrepreneur who was also the heavyweight champion of the world at one time and who went on to reclaim the title when he was 44 years old.Another part of the confusion … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, Innovation | Leave a comment
How the Mighty Fall

Book Review of “How the Mighty Fall”by Bob DonnellyJim Collins, the well known author of “Good to Great” and coauthor of “Built to Last” has done it again in this book that explains why successful companies stumble, and eventually fail; or are able to recover and continue.His analysis is captured in clear examples of what he calls the Five Stages of Decline. I have been describing the same path to irrelevance in my column, The Entrepreneurial CEO, in CE Online and to many CEOs for many years in a different way, but coming to the same basic conclusion.Collins in his description of Stage 1 of his thesis (hubris born of success) concludes that great enterprises can become insulated by success. He says that Stage 1 begins when management becomes arrogant and regards success as an entitlement. When this happens I have watched one company after another start to “market by … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Leave a comment