What You Will Learn

It’s ironic—most companies have R&D labs and marketing departments that identify unmet needs and develop new ideas for meeting them. But professor Eric Von Hipple of MIT, and other researchers, have demonstrated that this approach is often misguided.

Mountain Bikes weren’t invented by a bike manufacturer, and gas Chromatographs weren’t developed by an R&D lab. Rolling wheels on suitcases also didn’t happen because a company was smart enough to figure it out, no matter how obvious it now seems.

This intriguing webinar is led by noted consultant. Our consultants  will show you that a large percentage solutions and innovations were initially developed by a customer out of necessity. More importantly, Phil will show you how you can reduce the risk associated with developing new products and services by identifying and collaborating with lead users.

BMGI is authorized by IACET to award 1 CEU to individuals who participate in all eight webinars and complete the additional learning activities associated with each webinar.

Learning Objectives
After engaging in this event, participants will:
  • List the sources of innovation and the role of lead users.
  • Describe various collaborative approaches to co-creation.
  • Describe the toolkits for lead users.
  • Describe solution development with suppliers.
  • Discuss the open innovation approach.

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How You Will Learn

This is a highly stimulating workshop in which participants interact with instructors, learn from discussions with each other, engage in hands-on exercises and simulations, break down innovation case studies and otherwise experience what it means to systematically deploy and implement innovation on a broad organizational scale.

One highlight of the workshop is when participants complete a personality profile (Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory, or KAI)—establishing the fact that some people are simply more innovative than others. But the fact of the matter goes deeper: both innovators and adaptors are needed for the successful commercialization of new products and services, and even for making process innovations that are sustainable over time.

Your instructors will facilitate breakout sessions and debrief best practices on idea management systems, identification and execution of innovation projects and what’s involved in sponsoring rapid-innovation events.

Other highlights and modalities include customized consulting and guidance you’ll receive from your workshop leaders, who’ve done the same for hundreds of executives. As with all of BMGIs workshops and courses, this course has a heavy emphasis on practical application and implementation.