Innovation doesn’t have to be a mystery featuring secret words, cryptic corporate alchemy and magical thinking. It can be as simple as ATP: ‘ask the person’ doing the work. Communication is vital in every aspect of our personal and business lives, for collaboration, alignment and creating value—so why not when it comes to innovation? A […]
innovation
Innovation: It’s Not Just “More” or “Faster”
There are many paths to innovation. But far too many think it’s about just doing “more” of something. Or doing something “faster.” KLM understands the spirit of innovation is in thinking differently rather than trying to just improve an existing process or product. This YouTube video shows how the customer service team is innovating when it comes […]
The Changing Process of Invention
A recent Economist article explores how process of invention is changing. Think back in time. Invention used to be more singular and more “heroic.” Inventors such as Stephenson, Morse and Goodyear were the “shock troops” of the Industrial Revolution, helping to bring “humanity from agrarian poverty to manufactured plenty. These days, though, inventor-superstars, while not absent, are fewer […]
Outsource Magazine — May 2015
Deirdre McCloskey: Are Markets Moral? Column by Kate Vitasek published by Outsource Magazine on 14 May 2015. Economist and philosopher Deirdre McCloskey has some thought-provoking and highly nuanced takes on innovation and ethics in the commercial arena. How about this for starters: capitalism is innovation, in her estimation… Here’s the link: http://outsourcemag.com/deirdre-mccloskey-are-markets-moral/
BPI Network — April 2015
5 BIG QUESTIONS ON INNOVATION Q&A with Kate Vitasek published by the Business Performance Innovation Network on 14 April 2015 Here’s the link: http://www.bpinetwork.org/game-changers/insights/25
Outsource Magazine — February 2015
John W. Henke Jr. and Chun Zhang: Increasing Supplier Trust and Innovation Column/blog by Kate Vitasek published on by Outsource Magazine on 24 Feb. 2015 The tricky question that most if not all companies face on a constant basis is how to get their suppliers fully engaged and committed to – and even be instrumental […]
Conjoined Twins: Opportunity and Risk
I have written about the nature of risk and how taking a risk averse approach to business relationships is common, but not the best path for long term innovative success. I was reminded of this idea once again following my recent appearance on Jon Hansen’s BlogTalkRadio show with Phil Coughlin, who is President Global Geographies and Operations […]
Transforming the Workplace
In a previous post I talked about the importance of aligning company cultures in order to be successful. There’s an equally important cultural corollary: aligning and modernizing the workplace to join the 21st Century. Guy Laurence, former CEO of Vodafone UK Ltd., talked about the “death” of the traditional workplace in a talk he gave […]
Forbes — January 2015
Innovation and Collaboration: It’s Not An Either-Or Proposition Column/blog article by Kate Vitasek published 13 January 2015. Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/katevitasek/2015/01/13/innovation-and-collaboration-its-not-an-either-or-proposition/
Va. Dept. of General Services: Forum 2014 — November 2014
Leveraging the Power of Procurement Panel discussion from the conference, featuring Kate Vitasek speaking at Virginia’s largest event for state and local procurement professionals and supplier partners, held Nov. 16-19, 2014. Forum 2014 was sponsored by the Virginia Department of General Services. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47RZYvJuPYA#t=23
