- Continue to deliver products and/or services that are valuable to your customers
- Establish yourself as a market leader
- Build a more vibrant and engaged workforce
- Become an expert at identifying and acting upon great ideas
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Encourage brainstorming and idea generation
Innovation is essentially the introduction of something new - the concrete result of creative ideas. With the right tools, everyone can be taught to think creatively.I recommend: Ten Ways to Spark Creativity will help you jumpstart the process. Go to Invention-Help.com for some simple brainstorming tools. Go to Innovation Tools for creativity software reviews. To download free creativity software, go to Download.com. For fun and insight, take an innovation quiz on Innovation for Dummies. Try a creativity coach: check one out at Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching.
Listen to your customers
Your customers are often your best source of new ideas. Ask them how they'd like your product or service improved, but also master the art of observing them. Look for trouble spots; they're your opportunity for innovation.I recommend: Follow the steps in Turn Customer Input into Innovation.
Develop systematic methods for evaluating new ideas
Consider all ideas, even the ones that seem a little crazy. But make sure you evaluate them objectively before investing time and money bringing them to market.I recommend: For step-by-step advice on assessing ideas, go to Planware.org. Also check out The Innovation Managers Check-List.
Protect new inventions
Great ideas breed copycats. First, do a thorough patent search to make sure you're not infringing on anyone else's territory, and then register your own patent or copyright.I recommend: If you have an idea for a new product, see The Inventor's Handbook to find out whether your idea is patentable. Go to The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to do trademark and patent searches. Access patent application forms on this page of the USPTO site. File a USPTO trademark application here.
Reward success (and failure!)
Employees need to feel invested in innovation, so reward them for suggesting great ideas that fly and for "failing fast" with ones that don't quite get off the ground.I recommend: Follow the University of Washington's Principles for Successful Employee Recognition.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Customers can't always articulate their needs, so instead of asking them about your product or service, watch them using it and look for trouble spots.
- Educate employees about the rules of engagement for brainstorming (i.e. no negative comments!).
- If you've invented a new product, seek legal advice on patents and trademarks immediately.
- Great innovation breeds copycats, so stay one step ahead of the competition by innovating continuously, not just once.
- Prototype new ideas as quickly as possible to give them form and substance.
the Creativity and Innovation page at Business.com
Windows Server® 2008 R2 - Free Download
Reduce Costs & Increase Efficiencies Across Your Enterprise. Download Today!
Try It Out | Read White Paper | Get Cost Savings | Learn More
Microsoft.com/WindowsServer2008
Reduce Costs & Increase Efficiencies Across Your Enterprise. Download Today!
Try It Out | Read White Paper | Get Cost Savings | Learn More
Microsoft.com/WindowsServer2008
Business On Main: Online Community
A Community of Business Ideas, For & By Business Owners. Join Today!
www.BusinessOnMain.com
A Community of Business Ideas, For & By Business Owners. Join Today!
www.BusinessOnMain.com
AT&T Business Solutions
The Information You Need to Start, Manage, Move & Grow Your Business.
www.att.com
The Information You Need to Start, Manage, Move & Grow Your Business.
www.att.com
Earn From 2.00% to 2.30%
With AA+ Rated GE Capital Corporation. Not An Offer Of Securities For Sale.
For Businesses | For Investors
www.geinterestplus.com
With AA+ Rated GE Capital Corporation. Not An Offer Of Securities For Sale.
For Businesses | For Investors
www.geinterestplus.com
Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
