Pineapplegirl

From Innovationclass

Pineapplegirl

Class Summary 2/19 Well class, for all of you who did not come on Tuesday, you missed a lot. We set up our new class Wiki page. We created screen names, and sort of learned how to work and navigate through our new portal. We were taught that a culture of innovation is one in which encourages: changes, mistakes, trial and error, ideas, and risks. We need to begin studying, Ideo. This company is extremely innovative in their products, design, and organization. The company is on the innovative high road, and it is our job to study them, learn from them, and eventually be innovative.

IDEO It seems to me that this company does it all. They draw from all sorts of backgrounds, education, expertise, and cultures. They are an organization that helps other companies/brands grow, and identify opportunities to reveal people's needs, behaviors, desires. They design new, innovative products that solve a problem; they identify what is missing and provide the solution. They transform culture to innovate. Ideo has specific "teams" that they divide up in and these teams focus and prodive expertise and insight in one area (ex. Engineering or Psychology). They use many areas, to combine knowledge and information to attack a problem in a new way; they know everything about anything and they use this to colaboratively to help and guide the organizations. It's kind of the idea, "Two heads are better than one!!" This company looks at problems with open doors, they have no walls, no limits, no rules, and everything is fair game. This company uses ethonography; they actually go out, observe, and immerse themselves within the culture/target they are studying or the project they are working on. Ideo is innovative, because they know how to use their resources, and are not afraid to take a risk.

Innovation blogs

http://blog.futurelab.net/2008/02/nielsen_buys_into_neuromarketi.html Nielsen Buys Into Neuromarketing This is extremely interesting and innovative. I can't believe that we are able to measure peoples reaction to stimulus this way.

http://blog.futurelab.net/2008/02/five_magazines_you_have_never.html I thought this is great. I just goes to show that if you have a passion for something and you are innovative about it you can create something new and different, possibly even be successful in doing so.

http://blog.futurelab.net/2008/02/alan_cooper_best_of_market_tru.html This mentions everything we have brought up in class. It simply states that the first to market is not always the best. Some great things/innovations take time.

http://brandchannel.com/start1.asp?fa_id=407 Customized Branding: Consumers Get Creative Control This is smart innovation; personal branding. Any company that puts the consumers in control has the right idea and will be successful.

http://brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=404 Innovative ideas come from anywhere, the sky is the limit. The most average and typical practices have room for innovation, such as: agriculture and farming.

http://brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=387 This is about how technology is quickly changing and increasing. The technology within the photo category is phenomenal. It has gone from polaroids to online printing in only a few years.

http://brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=323 The "Go Green" trend was innovative at first, but this made me wonder if it has lost its innovative title?

http://brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=309 This is a cool idea, however this does not classify as innovative to me. I view this as smart consumer research.

Company Choice I am still deciding between a few companies: Coca Cola, Disney, and Nike. These are all extremely different, yet they all appeal to me. I feel that for both Coca-Cola and Disney, any company that can be around for as long as they have and still make the "Top 100 Most Innovative" list must know what they are doing. I also like Nike; I think the idea to associate the brand with icons, and their new customization are both great ideas. Anyways, these are the ones I am considering.

My Innovative Organization As we all know, typical work atmospheres are often times boring and unmotivating. Innovation in the workplace is a necessity. For my organization of twenty-five people I decided to change the atmosphere and therefore change the mood. My organization is a sports equipment manufacturer. All my employees have a passion for sports: they played them, watched them, coached them, and love them. Our small size allows the organization to function with team-like cohesion. Our office space is designed to resemble a technically equip health club. Fitness and healthy living is a priority to my employees, therefore every desk is easily converted into a treadmill. The treadmill unfolds from the desk and ultimately allows the employee to work while working out. Their computers are accessible at all times, standing (walking) or sitting down. We hold board meetings in a team- like fashion in the locker room. Communication will be upfront and productive. Within the office we will have a message board with equipment updates, reviews, questions, announcements, and comments. We also house a full workout center, weight room, and spa within the office space for the convenience of the workers. The employees will go to work and feel comfortable and excited to be there. When beginning the business I took into consideration the needs and wants of the hired employees. Satisfied employees, lead to satisfied customers, which in turn leads to a successful business. Business is conducted in plays; each play has a specific projected outcome and a plan to accomplish the goal, ultimately scoring the deal. This innovative way of controlling the business allows the employees to experience and participate in their passion at the office, every day. Because the organization will function as a team, they will have to maintain and support each other in order to succeed (there's no "i" in team). To sustain innovation the office equipment will be continuously changing and each employee will have to complete and present their "play book" for potential clients at the end of the quarter. All employees will have to work together to push one another and to uphold innovation. Teams seem to function with a sense of perfection; for that reason I figured if the office and the employees could work as a team, the business could too be perfect.