The power of (a shared) Purpose

Two similar companies separated by their mission

Adidas: The Adidas Group strives to be the global leader in the sporting goods industry with brands built on a passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle.

Nike: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. *"If you have a body, you are an athlete."

So what's the difference?

Nike offers to do something WITH it's customers.

Adidas merely offers to do something for ... it's shareholders?

"How can you create shared purpose? It's simple, but not easy"

Source: Purpose is Good. Shared Purpose is Better (Harvard Business Review)

Innovation lost in time?

Lack of freedom can stifle innovation

3M is ranked the third most innovative company on the planet after Google and Apple.

But the leader of the Post-It note initiative, Geoff Nicholson, says they are seeing problems in innovation.

The 3M ambassador suggests some key points to watch out for:

• Don't ask for multi-year plan
• Don't use the process heavy plans to test a new idea
• Do praise new ideas and ask what else a solution could do
• Nurture creativity and new ideas

"... provide the leadership and then people know that they can practise innovation"

He thinks that processes such as six sigma can have unintended consequences. Actually inhibiting innovation. One thing that 3M is doing to try and raise the level of creativity is allowing employees to spend up to 15 percent of work time to conduct research beyond their normal focus areas.

"failure is a learning experience"

He also worries that organizations are worried about failure. In his mind, failure is a way of learning. Learning what works, what doesn't work, and potentially get some ideas on how to improve it.

For more, listen to the interview conducted by ZDNet
http://www.zdnet.com/six-sigma-killed-innovation-in-3m-7000012593/

Keep up with change by aligning your IT Agenda

A New IT Agenda

In it's recent research, The New IT Agenda, Booz and company advocates that IT teams focus on capabilities the business needs the most, aligned with the core of how the business creates value. 

Their recommended approach has 3 steps

1. Analyze current value that IT provides to the business
2. Better understand the business' strategic direction
3. Develop agenda to maintain strengths AND enhance new areas

Do you really know Your business?

Does your company have a clear purpose and mission? As an example, Tom's Shoes does. After visiting Argentina the founder, Blake Mycoskie, realized that availability of shoes was a real problem. For kids, having shoes affected their ability to get  to school, getting foot infections and being able to work.

Their mission is simple. One for One. To provide one item for free, for every item purchased. This started out with shoes, and is now expanding into glasses.

Has your IT got an agenda?

After understanding your core capabilities in IT, that the business relies on, develop an approach that retains he core and enhances areas that would enable the business to implement it's vision faster and better.

To keep it simple, Booz has identified 5 types of agenda

1. Value driver - simple, basic, cost effective services
2. Operator - high quality, scalable, and risk free
3. Technology leader - leading edge support for innovation and differentiation
4. Service broker - consistent integrated services at scale
5. Capability builder - strategic partner to CEO and business team

What are you playing at - Get Aligned!

Based on Tom's strategy, an aligned IT function could well be a "Value Player".

• Service standardization at lower cost and minimize risk.
• Basic enabling services for efficient business function.

Can ONE coin Make or Break the Bank? YES

“If ten coins are not enough to make a man rich, what if you add one coin? 

What if you add another? 

Finally, you will have to say that no one can be rich unless one coin can make him so.”

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-happiness-project/201303/do-you-make-excuses-yourself

And Yes - ONE more Application or Change can affect IT budget!!!

Innovation @Facebook

Signed up for the new timeline - can't wait to see it

The hints at design work look tantalizing

Want to know their keys to innovation ... try this for size

1. Involve everyone
2. Core and Context
3. Yes - your work environment matters

Read more at blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/03/inside_facebooks_internal_inno.html

Big data. Huge results. 70yrs ago

Patrick Blackett used Operations Research to analyze raw data resulting in

- Reduced shots required to down a bomber - from 20000 to 4000

- Estimated time for aircraft to mount an attack after U-boat detected them - 15 seconds

- Optimized setting for depth charges - 25 feet

- Fewer serviceable airplanes and keep them airborne

- Increased convoy size from 24 to 45 - reduced sink rate 50% to 1.1%

- Moved armor to untouched areas of bombers which DID return

Not to be outdone - BestBuy changes Work@Home

http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/05/technology/best-buy-work-from-home/index.html

What's most interesting is that this is a cancellation of their pioneering Results Only Work Environment.

Under this model employees were paid for results (output) rather than specific work hours.

Unlike Yahoo's complete cancellation of work from home, some Best Buy employees may still be able to telecommute - but now they have to do it with manager approval.

It's all hands on deck at Best Buy to drive collaboration on how to improve the business.