Systematic Innovation (public)

FACT: Both extremes are

inefficient and ineffective!

There IS an "optimal amount" of balance and structure for everything!

So, how does "Systematic Innovation" work?

and where does it come from

Once we understand the customers requirements and the "key opportunities" from the VOC Opportunity Matrix, Situation Analysis helps us further understand the "problem and solution space" available for each targeted opportunities. This is done by creating a "Function Model" of the "problematic or opportune situation".

His point is to understand your problem very well before generating any solutions!

One way we do this is by building a "Function Model" of the situation.

We discovered many situations that call for inventive thinking, here are some of the more common ones . . .

A tool we often suggest is the Pugh Concept Evaluation technique . . .

In this step, to increase the likelihood of acceptance of new ideas. Several guidelines and tactics are explained on how to "sell" your ideas to improve the likelihood of acceptance to internal and external "Customers".

Step 1 of 8: Understand your Customers better than they understand themselves!

Without Customers you do not exist!

Since Customers (internal and external) are why we exist and the beneficiaries of all innovation, this critical step helps us begin to understand the customers' requirements by not only using conventional Voice of the Customer (VOC) methods, but also by recognizing the fact that customers, especially external, are simply not effective at articulating all the requirements that will win their future business. Special tools must be used to go beyond classic VOC.

We start with The Kano Model to help us understand 3 different types of needs that are critical to success.

Several Tools used in Step 1

• Several Classic VOC tools,
• The Kano Model,
• The CAGE Model,
• Latent Needs Discovery Tools,
• AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process),
• VAST (Verbatim Analysis Sorting Tool) Process,
• The VOC Opportunity Matrix,
• QFD's HOQ (optional),
• Level 1 SA Modeling (optional),
• and a few more . . .

After this customer research, we thoroughly document the requirements and strategically prioritize opportunities using a tool called the "VOC Opportunity Matrix"

The "CAGE Model"

Step 2 of 8: Situation Analysis

Step 8 of 8:

Integrate and Standardize Lessons Learned

We also recommend the CAGE Model which clearly shows you why typical Voice of Customer activities only show you part of what is needed for success. Search "CAGE Model" on YouTube for a 6 minute animated video tutorial to learn more.

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Be careful, you might get some bikini models in CAGEs in your search results! :)

The Function Model

Understandin the "situation" very well

Function Modeling helps us with 4 main things:

Understanding the Problem & Solution Space

1) Clarify the Project Scope

Describing the "functional" physics of the system, it's environment, and interactions helps the team reach agreement on the problem and solution space.

2) Surface "Standard Problems"

DEFINITION: A “Standard Problem” is a problem which is described (or characterized) into a format that has been seen and solved somewhere before. Leverage existing knowledge!

3) Identify "Reformulated Problems"

DEFINITION: A “Reformulated Problem” is a problem that has been elaborated to the point that allows for a completely different solution path than the original problem statement.

4) Surface "Future Problems"

DEFINITION: A “Future Problem” is a problem that the Customers don't recognise yet OR believe is impossible to solve so they don't care or talk about them.

The last step is retaining and integrating the key lessons learned in all 8 steps is essential to maintaining the gains on future projects. In this step we reflect, communicate, and standardize on the best practices and tools used in each step of the project.

Tools used in Step 2

• Function Modeling
• GTI RelEvent Diagrams
• RCA (Root Cause Analysis)

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One of Einstein's classic quotes was:

"If I were given an hour to solve a problem my life depended, I would spend 55 minutes studying it, and 5 minutes solving it."

Step 7 of 8: Communicate Value to the Customer

Step 3 of 8: Select the appropriate "Idea Generation Tool" for the job!

In the next few minutes we hope to ...

The following is a brief and "virtual conversation" about .

• engage your mind,
• enlighten your curiosity, and
• enhance your knowledge of INNOVATION "Best Practices"

think so!

Many people

info@c2c-solutions.com

Training, Coaching, Workshops, Project Facilitation, On-Demand Webinars, Train the Trainer

What IF. . . ?

Thanks for watching this brief INTRO! There's MUCH more detail on each of these 8-Steps! Contact us with questions OR to learn more:

What's in it for ME?

Common situations that call for "Inventive Thinking"

One last point: You should consider these 8 Steps as a "Menu of Tasks." Use only the steps/tasks that are needed for your project or situation!

If having the right tool(s) depends on the situation, what are the situations that call for "inventive thinking?"

...but isn't "Systematic Innovation" an Oxymoron?

• even odds
• jumbo shrimp
• cheap gas
• instant classic
• perfect idiot
• civil war
• false fact
• short distance
• a fine mess
• almost pregnant
• modern history
• old news
• constant change
• mud bath
• crash landing

• quiet noise
• rock opera
• elevated subway
• fresh frozen
• free credit
• science fiction

• valuable junk
• sanitary sewer
• tragic comedy
• resident alien
• solo concert
• boneless ribs
• stationary orbit
• paid volunteer

• You want to "WOW the customer” and differentiate your offering from our competitors,
• You have a tough technical or customer problem to solve,You need to reduce cost or complexity of our product or service,
• You need to resolve a conflict (improving one thing degrades another),
• You need to circumvent a competitor's patent,
• You want to increase the top line revenues by offering new products or services,
• You need to make sure we are solving the "right problems",
• You need to better understand "future” customer and market needs,
• etc.

Innovation could be

"On Demand" and "Systematic"?

Any new Innovation/Idea will die on the vine if your customers (Internal and/or External) don’t understand and buy into the idea’s Value Proposition. Why? . . .

We often ask people which tool in your house is the best? Common answers include the hammer, screw driver, or duct tape. The correct answer is "It depends on the situation". The same applies for Idea Generation & Problem Solving tools.

You must pick appropriate tools for the job!

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Got the right "tool" for the job?

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The Tool Selection Matrix

Use the best tools for the job! Our unique "Tool Selection Matrix" helps the innovator select the most appropriate "Problem Solving" or "Idea Generation" tool for the "Reason to Innovate" listed on the left (pink) from the over 25 Idea Generation and Problem Solving tools (top yellow). The darker the intersection, the better the tool is for that Reason. (Note: The tools in yellow are the ones we will use in Step 4, Generate Ideas)

Because new ideas disrupt and disturb social and political equilibriums.

It started with the study of great minds like these . . .

To simply summarize:

"Systematic Innovation" is a process and set of continually evolving tools will improve YOUR ability to:

... by creating New Value for your Customers!

and thousands of other "not so famous", but equally brilliant inventors and problem solvers!

Now here's the really cool part . . .

Many people believe Innovation is something only "the special" can do ...

In the next step (Step 4) we learn and use the 25+ tools shown on the top (yellow) of this "Tool Selection Matrix"

. . . and at the risk of over simplifying things, these "Principles and Best Practices" have been stripped of their subject matter, generalized and structured into a format that can be used in ANY industry.

Hundreds of these "Inventive Principles" and "Innovation Best Practices" have been extracted from the work done by these brilliant minds!

People don’t want their “boat rocked”

and Innovators do exactly that by upsetting the delicate balance.

New ideas are very often resisted!

Want to learn more?

... they think you're either born with it, or not!

There are many people that experience difficulty when tasked to "innovate" and think "outside the box"?

Dough!

Continue (watching or clicking) for a brief intro to EACH of the 8-steps in the "Systematic Innovation" Process

"Got any new ideas?"

"??"

Step 1: Understanding your Customer(s)

Step 2: Situation Analysis

Step 3: Select the Right Tool for the Job

Step 4: Idea Generation

Step 5: Concept Evaluation and Selection

Step 6: Detailed Design

Step 7) Communivcate Value

Step 8) Integrate and Standardize Lessons Learned

... but there are also numerous companies (and individuals) that consistently generate great ideas!

It's time to show you!

... could adding some "structure" improve the Innovation Process for those who have difficulty?

Yes, but TOO LITTLE structure is even worse than TOO MUCH!

... but we all know TOO MUCH structure can stifle Innovation and slow things down.

TOO LITTLE

TOO MUCH

One of them is an 8-Step Process called "Systematic Innovation".

OK, even if Innovation could be appropriately structured, can it be taught and learned?

... and it's a LOT MORE FUN than the 12-step process for recovering alcoholics!

ABSOLUTELY! There are many things that are being taught and learned that can SIGNIFICANTLY increase your individual and corporate "Innovation IQ"

Step 6 of 8: Detailed Design

Step 4 of 8: Generate Ideas

Left & Right Brained Idea Generation & Problem Solving Tools used in this Step 4

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"Left brained" tools based on Science and Technology

Right Brained tools based on Psychology

This is another critical step after the front end of Product Development. Most organizations have adequate expertise and tools to support it. Many of the tools described in Step 4, Concept Generation, may also be utilized when doing the detailed design, especially when technical problems are encountered.

This is the "HEART" of the Systematic Innovation Process. It's the main step where new ideas are born and problems are solved.

A diverse subset of "Innovation Tools" exist to generate new ideas and solve problems along the way.

A comprehensive and diverse set of Idea Generation and Problem Solving Tools

Over 30 uniquely effective techniques are used. Some are simple and can be learned in minutes, others are more complex and take time and practice to master and effectively use. Each of the tools have their own applications and unique benefits.

Common tools in this step

• Biomimicry
• Blue Ocean Strategy
• Brainstorming
• Brainwriting 6-3-5
• Can’t fix it, Feature it!
• Customer Modifications
• DeBono’s Methods (6 Hats)
• Ethnography
• Function/Situation Analysis
• Holistic Cube (11 perspectives)
• Ideality and the Ideal System
• Inventive Principles (40+)
• Lateral Benchmarking
• Lead Users / Early Adopters
• Morphological Tables
• MSE (Memorable Sensory Experience) Effect
• Pagoda Effect

Step 5 of 8: Evaluate, Synthesize, and Select the best Concept

• Systematic Innovation Step 4 Problem Solving Tools,
• Axiomatic Design,
• Robust Engineering,
• DFX (Design for X),
• DOE (Design of Experiments),
• FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis),
• Subversion Analysis
• and several others . . .

• Painstorming
• Patent Analysis
• Patterns of System Evolution (19+)
• Resources (5 categories)
• The “Right People”
• Scientific Effects (over 8500)
• SCAMPER
• Separation Principles (4)
• Subversion
• Super Lateral Benchmarking
• Trend Analysis
• TILMAG
• Trimming Technique
• TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving)
• Unexpected Uses
• Value Innovation
• and several more . . .

The decision made in Concept Evaluation is an essential and nontrivial part of all design projects. Teams that make too quick of a decision on the “best concept” often have it come back to “haunt” them.

Pugh Concept Evaluation

. is a method for evaluating concepts. The power of the Pugh technique is in having a comprehensive list of objective criteria to evaluate the alternatives.

There are several ways to "modify" concept evaluation techniques to get rid of some of their inharent weaknesses.

Other techniques are used here to enhance the evaluation process.

Several methods for Concept Evalustion and Selection exist ranging from throwing darts, to simple multi-voting techniques, to sophisticated mathematical methods that take into consideration multiple opinions, confidence levels and risk.

Which one to use depends on the risk of making the wrong decision.

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could be

info@c2c-solutions.com -- www.c2c-solutions.com