The world 10 years from now according to Microsoft

What Microsoft thinks the world may look like a decade from now, in 2019:

http://digital.venturebeat.com/2009/02/28/this-is-the-microsoft-i-want-to-see/

Vote for the best 'how to start-up a business successfully' idea

The suggested answers in the poll in the right panel are taken from the 'how to start-up a business successfully' innovation session held last week in Sofia.

Vote for the 1 critical factor that makes the difference between start-up success and failure.

Introducing ideas-bg - and how we use ideas to make thing better

A few words about ideas-bg.

We're focussed on facilitating innovation, so that's innovation as a process.

This is really about creating environments that are open to ideas on getting new things started or making existing things better.

It's about organisational creativity, creative problem solving, professional brainstorming, ideation or innovation facilitation. Ideation...innovation...?

Basically:

- Ideation = Generating ideas

- Innovation = Turning ideas into profit

Considering the creative solving of problems or challenges, and how best to capitalise upon opportunities there is a well established body of knowledge that says:

- separate the problem solving process owner from the content owner. i.e. use a process facilitator, who is not the problem owner / decision-maker.

- get a group of stakeholders in the challenge together to work on getting some new perspectives

- give them some dedicated time to generate a large quantity of ideas on addressing the challenge, without too much discussion or debate

- allow all ideas to be positively received, encouraged and built upon

- use some creative problem solving techniques to push for many perspectives on the challenge

- by pushing for a volume of ideas you greatly increase the chance of finding a good one

- get the stakeholders views on the more interesting or intriguing ideas generated, and on how those may be developed

And there are three ways that we are creating and facilitating these 'ideas rich' environments:

1. One-off ideation brainstorming events: Generate alot of new perspectives and ideas around a client problem or challenge, prioritise them, and start to develop some of the best ones. Outputs stay with the client.

2. Ideate-Innovate-Implement (3 i's) strategy development service: We'll hold on to the (ideation) outputs and come back another day to help develop the new thinking into actionable strategies and solutions (innovation), and can assist, as required, with delivery (implementation) phase of new initiatives.

3. Live and Breathe Innovation in your organisation: We'll engrain a culture of innovation by setting up an idea management system, facilitating regular innovation events, and embedding innovation skills with key management and staff.

Another good innovation read - 'Sinnovation'

Appeared in Business Week, in October:

The 7 deadly sins of the innovator:

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/oct2009/ca20091020_948077.htm

More decent 'crisis relevant' innovation reading

What If's guide to innovating when your company is 'on a diet'.

'Skinny Innovation'

http://www.whatifinnovation.com/SkinnyInnovation/

Essential innovation reading! - 'Imagine'

The Synectics bible:

'Imagine'

http://www.synecticsworld.com/index.cfm?pagePath=Imagine_Form&id=16971

How to get the best possible start to 2010 for my team or organisation?

If you are based in or near Sofia I still have some available dates for running a Christmas Innovation Session with your team or organisation, based around a wish you have for next year.

It could work well on the day of or even the morning after!!! a Christmas party.

We'll brainstorm for and develop ideas with your team, around your wish, in a fun environment but with some serious benefits.

Allow 2-4 hours.

Full details: http://www.ideas-bg.com/3.html

Contact: niall@ideas-bg.com

How to start-up a business successfully...

1. 'Enjoy yourself''

2. 'Get the right people in the team and around you'

3. 'Just start!'

It's a good time to start this blog since I have something to say about starting businesses.

This follows an innovation session we ran in Sofia earlier this week, where we asked a diverse, substantial group of Sofians for their ideas on:

'How to turn start-up ideas into profitable, sustainable businesses'.

You can find a summary report here: http://www.ideas-bg.com/resources/How+to+be+a+successful+Start-up+Innovation+Session+Outputs+OVERVIEW+091124.pdf

The most popular ideas clustered around two themes:

'Emotional' ideas, namely: 'just get started!'; 'make sure you enjoy what you do!'; and 'believe that you can do it!'

Then the 'People' ideas, namely: 'Get the right mix of expertise and the right dynamic in the team'; 'get the right experts and experience around the business'; 'know that you have the right people in and around the business'

We developed the thinking on getting the right team composition and team dynamic. The main barrier to building a successful team: 'conflicting egos'!