Simply asking “what job is the customer trying to get done?” can be a powerful way to enable innovation, because it forces you to go beyond superficial demographic markers that correlate with purchase and use to zero in on frustrations and desires that motivate purchase and use. Seductive simplicity hides a rich, robust set of […]… Read More
There is a lot of hair in India. That was the blinding insight that started our quest to develop a disruptive business in India’s men’s grooming market. Our idea was to port the efficient, affordable QB House model that is popular in Singapore and other Asian markets to India (QB House is detailed in the […]… Read More
Eighteen months ago, a massive earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan. The tsunami it unleashed caused devastating damage whose effects are still being felt. But it could have been even worse. Instead, a mere three seconds after the earthquake struck, a sophisticated early warning system kicked in. The system then triggered a series […]… Read More
It’s a paradox of the information age. The glut of information that bombards us daily too frequently obscures true insight. Intelligence should drive better innovation, but unless it is strategically collected and used, it functions like a summer beach novel — an engaging distraction. Thoughtful companies intertwine customer intelligence throughout the three phases that characterize […]… Read More
Transformational developments are swirling around the banking industry — as they are in nearly every industry. Companies like Citigroup are reimagining bank branches. Startups like Simple are suggesting that it’s time to get rid of branches altogether. Square, Swiff, Silver, and PayPal want to bring payments processing to smaller merchants. Mobile phone companies are getting […]… Read More
Here’s a quick quiz for you. Is it easier to get A: 1% of a huge, established market? or B: 100% of a completely new one? If you work for Apple, you might have picked B. But too often when companies embark on innovation projects, they pick A: that is, they start by believing that […]… Read More
Recently, word leaked out that Intel (INTC) is evaluating whether to launch a new online television service that competes with cable. It will be a bold move for the chipmaker, which has developed a strong brand in the minds of the consumer, thanks to the long-running Intel Inside campaign. Such a radical shift into the […]… Read More
From the bankruptcy at Borders to the further downgrading of J. C. Penney’s stock despite its high-profile re-branding efforts, retailers have been in the news a lot lately—most of it bad. But there’s some good news from one of the unlikeliest parts of the retail sector—groceries, which is known for its razor-thin profit margins. This […]… Read More
I recently participated in a spirited panel discussion with Bruce Brown, Procter & Gamble’s Chief Technology Officer, and Erich Joachimsthaler, Vivaldi Partners’ managing director and CEO. The topic — part of a series on innovation sponsored by Singapore’s Economic Development Board and coordinated by Harvard Business Review — was “What’s the Right Entry Point for […]… Read More
In Fast Company, Robyn Bolton of Innosight shows how Kraft launched a successful new brand for the first time in 15 years–and how you can do the same.… Read More