Better Business Results

Sustainable Innovation: the Key to Steve Jobs' Icon Status

It’s been less than a week since Apple Inc. released the iPad tablet computer, and the amount of press it has engendered is impressive indeed. Whether it is hailed as yet another stroke of technological genius, for a questionable foray into the ill-fated land of tablets, there’s no doubt that this latest launch further establishes Steve Jobs has an enduring icon of innovation.

Today, the Washington Post asked this question of its readers:

“Not every product the Apple CEO has introduced has been a hit. So what accounts for the aura of incredible success that surrounds Steve Jobs? Why don't others who are possibly just as successful become cult figures like he has?”

Here are my thoughts on the puzzle, as posted along with the other responses to the Post’s question:

A key element that has made Steve Jobs a cult figure of innovation has been his ability to sustainably tap into consumers’ hidden aspirations and enjoyment of useful devices that are easy to use and just plain “cool.”  Lots of companies have made products that were successful for a while but then lost out to the next cool thing.  Job’s distinction is that for over 30 years he has been consistently able to think about what people do in their everyday lives that they could do easier and better, then morph existing technology into a cool, sexy form that does the job well.

 This single-minded focus on the customer and the marketplace is not easy to maintain, as illustrated by the dismal performance of Apple Computer in the years between the time that Steve Jobs was forced out of the company and subsequently brought back to revive it.  Clearly, coasting on success while losing focus on the evolving market and customer expectations very nearly did Apple in before they brought Jobs back as their nexus of inspiration.

 However, the ability to create exciting new products and continue evolving from a customer-centric focus is only one part of the consistency that has made Steve Jobs an innovation hero.  Another, perhaps less obvious aspect of his genius since his return to Apple has been his ability to keep the company aligned on his vision of the user as the center of the company’s efforts.   Although there have been ups and downs, it’s clear that more often than not, all parts of the company from R&D through marketing, sourcing and production are aligned and focused on designing, producing, and marketing the next cool thing in a consistent, but flexible manner.  This aligned support from the top on down is critical in creating and maintaining a high performance organization that is capable of developing and implementing flexible processes and systems that support a consistent stream of business results.

Just as the Rolling Stones’ four decades of ability to successfully tap into the public’s rock consciousness will mark them as cult musical icons, Steve Jobs’ sustainable ability to inspire joy and satisfaction with cool, highly functional products and services places him securely and enduringly in the innovation Hall of Fame.

D. Scott Harper, Ph.D. is Sr. Partner and COO of Business Advancement Inc. (BAI).   Since 1991, BAI has enabled companies to sustainably unlock innovation and dramatically increase market leadership. For more information, visit our website to see how we can help you Increase innovation and competitiveness

An Innovative Vision of Innovation:
In a January 27, 2010 speech, the prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said that the perception that innovations and creativity only belong to the scientists, technologists and highly qualified intellectuals is totally inaccurate, according to a Malaysian national news agency press release. (see  "Innovations And Creativity Belong To Everyone, Says Najib" )

 Putting forth the belief that innovation belongs to and is the responsibility of all groups and individuals in the society, Najib said, "I want to see innovations not only confined to the computerisation system, but also covering all delivery systems, public services and customer touch-points so that they are more innovative, efficient, swift and effective."

We find it fascinating and inspirational that a world leader could put forth so vividly a vision of societal innovation that we have long felt could so strongly benefit businesses, yet sometimes seems to be overlooked in an emphasis on new technology and new products as the principal advancing forces in a company.

It is undoubtedly true that innovation in technology and marketing can truly be enormously invigorating and bring benefits to a company's prestige as well as top and bottom line. It is also true that tangible, technological innovations can have highly significant impacts on society and commerce far beyond an individual company’s return on investment. Just witness all of the excitement that today's launch of Apple's iPad tablet computer is generating, and the speculation that it could change the face of publishing and how people interact with the written word, video, and goodness knows what else. However, if we as leaders embrace Najib's message to the people of Malaysia and apply it to our companies, the reach and impact of innovation could be unaccountably greater and more beneficial.

Imagine the powerful and undreamed-of outcomes that could emanate from a company's very core if leaders at all levels of business promulgated Najib's vision, supporting through word, deed, and resources the spread of innovation to all corners of the organization from the mailroom to the manufacturing line, from customer service to accounting as well as research and development and marketing. The benefit to the top and bottom line, customers, and all manner of stakeholder this support could engender are potentially mind boggling.

We've seen the power of this kind of viral spread of innovation in some companies, and are always deeply impressed when we encounter it. The scope of the results that come from this sort of company-wide innovative mindset frequently go well beyond what anyone could have imagined. It is this very spread of thinking about and creating new ways to produce value that can drive what we term "sustainable innovation," the ability of a company, or even a people, to constantly reach into its deep reserves of resourcefulness up and down the line to produce remarkable benefits.

We applaud Prime Minister Najib's vision of a country in which innovation is not the property of a select few, but is the lifeblood of the entire nation. We wish to see the same vision lived out in our own countries businesses and institutions as well, and are inspired by this prospect. This vision, and its consistent support, truly represents being innovative about the very nature of innovation.

Since 1991, Business Advancement Inc. has enabled companies to sustainably unlock innovation and dramatically increase market leadership. For more information, visit our website to see how we can help you Increase innovation and competitiveness

Dr. Scott Harper Joins BAI

I am delighted to announce that D. Scott Harper, PhD has joined Business Advancement Inc. as Senior Partner and COO, effective January, 2010.  Scott is an internationally recognized expert in innovation processes and systems with a unique ability to translate technical insights into desired business results.  For more information read Scott’s biography.

Together, we enable companies to dramatically increase market leadership through strategic innovation.   Look for more information and an updated website in the first quarter of 2010. 

Don't Outsource Your Bedtime Stories

Today while I was on the eliptical machine, I tuned into a morning show segment featuring a person who was proudly discussing the fact that he has succeeded in "outsourcing" (as he called it) almost every part of his life, including reading bedtime stories to his young son.

While I'm all for outsourcing non-essential functions,  this is going a little bit too far. Yes, plenty of people hire nannies and babysitters. However at least there is some type of relationship between the caregiver and the child.  Parents still need to find regular ways to personally connect with their children.  Sharing stories from books and from your own experiences is a wonderful way to do this.  Hiring interchangeable story tellers sends many messages, including ones that convey that developing a personal relationship isn't all that important.

If you want to build stronger bonds with others, both in life and in business, keep the bedtime stories at home and maintain essential relationship building activities in-house.  From my own experience as a parent and as an executive, I can tell you that the results are well worth the investment.

How Do You Increase The Success of Strategic Alliances?

Recently, I was interviewed on the "Let's Talk Success" radio show regarding the topic of how to leverage strategic alliances and other third party relationships such as outsourcing, partnerships and other types of collaborations.
BlogTalkRadio.com/letstalksuccess

Looking for more information? Visit BusinessAdvance.com/articles to read "Four Steps to Making Strategic Alliances Work" and "Grow Your Business By Finding Your 'Hidden' Organization."

Get Better Results From Meetings - Open Your Mind

Today I met with someone who had other things on his mind.  Despite inviting me to his office, not only didn't he offer me a place to sit, he also didn't offer to take my coat or go through the ritual of exchanging business cards. The message was loud and clear: "I didn't really want to take this meeting; state your business and get out." Obviously, the meeting ended quickly.
 
I can understand lack of interest.  That's OK.  But don't agree to a meeting if you're going to go into it with a closed mind   In that few minutes, even though this person is a powerful business executive and leader in his community, any positive impression I had of him completely vanished.  It's easy to say that we're all too time-pressed to keep an open mind, but the fact is that it takes only a few more minutes to listen, and the potential for return on investment is high.

If you invite someone to your office, offer him/her a place to sit.  Exchange business cards.  Turn off cell phones, email, and other technology.  Don't let anyone or anything interrupt the meeting during the time you've allotted.  Open your mind.  Listen for new ideas. Ask questions.  Then decide on next steps.  As they say in ads for the New York Lottery -  "Hey, you never know... 

The Keys to Credible Communication

Whether your objective is to be more effective as a leader, gain a promotion, or secure a new position, your ability to communicate with others in a way that they find credible is a critical factor in achieving a successful outcome.

What are the keys to communicating credibly? You can find out live on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, when I'll be interviewed by Sharon Saylor, host of the "Beyond Lip Service" radio show.

How to Improve ROI for Training and Development

Have you ever invested in employee training and development only to see the new knowledge and skills fade away a short time later? If so, you're not alone. I've found the source of this frustrating situation can be traced back to critical strategic and tactical considerations that were overlooked or underestimated when making the training decision.

Find out five guidelines that increase the likelihood that employees will retain what they learned so that you'll have a stronger return on your training and development investment by reading my "Ask the Expert" column in the October 2009 New York Enterprise Report.

How to Make Conflict Work To Your Advantage

Over the past week, I've been interviewed on the radio twice on the subject of fixing conflicts. While I was able to give some pointers that can help in resolving clashes between co-workers, the implication was that conflict in the workplace isn't a good thing.  Actually, I believe that conflict in the workplace has a better chance of producing high performance results than insisting on a "peaceful" workplace.
 
The fact is, we all have different values, attitudes, beliefs, needs, ideas, and experiences.  This rich mix of backgrounds can be the source of discovering new opportunities and innovation. The problem isn't that we have conflict in the workplace, the problem is that we're often not comfortable or skilled at expressing our conflicts, so they get pushed down while being acted out in all kinds of passive-aggressive ways (Example: think about the colleague who says "yes" to a request but is always "too busy" to deliver on the promise; or the person who loudly snaps gum despite your repeated requests to stop).  The reality is that a conflict openly expressed has a better chance of leading to positive outcomes than one that is suppressed to keep "peace" at all costs.
 
So what are the keys to making conflict work for you?  Here are three ideas:
 

• Catch conflict at its earliest stages: Let's face it - someone has to confront the situation, and it's better if it's you because you're taking control over what's happening.  Even if the other person denies the conflict, it's hard for him/her to hide if you identify observable behavior in the here and now.  For example, notice not just what someone says, but his/her body language and tone of voice during the interaction.  Cues such as lack of cooperation with your requests, abruptness in manner, and lack of eye contact could potentially signal that a conflict is building.  Note: These behaviors could also mean something else, so it's important to check out your perceptions with the other person.


• Uncover the underlying problem:  Be prepared for new information to come out into the open.  Usually, there's more to a conflict than what you can easily observe. Depending upon factors of time, your ability to be objective, and the criticality of the problem, a facilitator can sometimes help. For example, when two executives spent time deconstructing the issues underlying their conflict, they realized that they had each been operating under a series of mistaken assumptions about their objective, the timing, roles, and accountabilities.


• Focus on finding a common point of agreement and problem solving:  Even in cases where colleagues simply don't like each other, I've seen tremendous teamwork happen when everyone could agree upon the benefits of an objective.  This led to a willingness to work jointly on coming up with new ways to solve the problems and move beyond the conflict. However, even if you can't find a common point of agreement, knowing about a conflict and where it's coming from can help you evaluate your own options and decide how you'll move forward individually if necessary.

Conflict is natural. While confronting these issues can be uncomfortable, it's definitely safer than stuffing the issues down and watching problems build up until progress totally grinds to a halt.  Let's stop being "peaceful", and start talking about what's really on our minds.

How to Improve ROI for Training and Development

Have you ever invested in employee training and development only to see the new knowledge and skills fade away a short time later? If so, you�re not alone. I�ve found the source of this frustrating situation can be traced back to critical strategic and tactical considerations that were overlooked or underestimated when making the training decision.

Find out five guidelines that increase the likelihood that employees will retain what they learned so that you�ll have a stronger return on your training and development investment by reading my �Ask the Expert� column in the October 2009 New York Enterprise Report.