Innovation at Ford – A Micro-Case Study

Cass Pursell

It’s instructive to take a few minutes every now and then to look back and remind ourselves of what fueled the growth of some of the greatest businesses of the last century. Henry Ford once said, “If I’d asked … Read More

Least Innovative Companies

Praveen Gupta

To solve a problem sometimes we look into successes and failures, do the component search and look for the root cause. While analyzing the Most Innovative Companies of BusinessWeek 2007 a thought came about looking into Least Innovative Companies. … Read More

Process for Innovation Conference

Katie Barry

Taking place August 21-22 in Chicago, the Process for Innovation conference will include global innovation leaders and practitioners. Companies including Unilever, Motorola, DaimlerChrysler and Procter & Gamble will be represented with sessions including “What Is Innovation? Develop A Clear … Read More

Most Innovative Companies

Praveen Gupta

Innovation is looking more and more like a ‘funny’ thing to do, instead of experiencing Eureka moments. Hearing someone’s new idea leads to the feeling of ‘WOW” that is funny! Innovation itself is appearing to be funnier because we … Read More

Think Innovation Is A Numbers Game? Think Again; Change The Rules.

James Todhunter

Here are a few common statements that signal serious problems in a company’s innovation program.

“We have all the ideas we need.”

“We just need to fill the pipeline with more ideas.”

“Open innovation is the answer to all … Read More

Differentiating Among the Five Levels of Solutions

This paper concerns one of the key elements of TRIZ – widely known as the "five levels of inventions." This classification, and especially its numerous interpretations, often lead to confusion. What do these five levels represent, exactly?Read More

Welcome to the July 2007 Issue of The TRIZ Journal!

It’s hard to believe, but it has been six months since we re-launched The TRIZ Journal! We’re pleased to not only have expanded our list of contributing authors but to have welcomed back authors who helped make our first 10 years a remarkable success.Read More

Student Corner: the Principle of Nesting

When Russian nesting dolls became popular, they attracted the attention of inventors and engineers. As a result, all over the world patents based on the "nesting" principle were created.Read More

Effectively Using the Contradiction Matrix

Trying to solve problems with help of the matrix can be useful – matching real system parameters to the matrix’s parameters enables a problem solver to get deeper into the problem and understand it better.Read More

Alternatives for Sequences of Migration in Services

When deploying new service centers (where management, control and billing of systems occur), it is common to develop a sequence of migration and implantation of services, especially for 24/7-services that require a minimum service level to be maintained.Read More

About Commentator: James Todhunter

James TodhunterJames Todhunter works on the front line of innovation and has over 30 years of experience in software technology and management. Jim is a seasoned innovator and inventor. Today, in his role as Chief Technology Officer for Invention Machine … Read More

Failing Upward

Cass Pursell

Learning to ice skate when I was seven, the tip of my skate caught a slight imperfection in the otherwise glassy frozen pond at Cascade Park in Jackson, Michigan. I hit the ice face first, my hands losing the … Read More

Survey Says…

Katie Barry

Thanks to all Real Innovation readers who took our survey last week! The survey has closed and the results are being tabulated. After a quick (and far from complete) look at your responses, you’ve provided some good suggestions and directions … Read More

Your Company Needs to be Durable and Great

Michael Cyger

I posted today on the iSixSigma Blogosphere entitled “Durable and Great.” It has to do with your company becoming both durable (good at execution) and great (good at innovation). The two need to go hand in hand. Read “Durable … Read More

Creating the Impetus for Design for Lean Six Sigma

Michael S. Slocum

Design for Lean Six Sigma (DfLSS) is a phase-gated integration of world-class methodologies that are utilized in a synergistic fashion to convert the voice of the customer (VOC) and/or the voice of society (VOS) into a commercialized product … Read More

Strategy, Discipline and Six Sigma Drive Innovation Effectiveness

Michael Cyger

Those that rate their efforts most effective say they rely on a clear strategy and systematic methodologies, according to a new survey of 1,000 business professionals released in the July/August 2007 issue of iSixSigma Magazine.

The result I expected … Read More

Innovation – Why?

Praveen Gupta

Why Innovation?

Recent buzz has started the launching of a new fad, innovation. Is it really new? Innovation has been with mankind forever, so what is new about it now? Why suddenly are we asking for innovation? In one … Read More

Reader Survey Time!

Katie Barry

Real Innovation began its first reader survey today. Those of you who subscribe to our weekly newsletter have already been sent a notice, but I’d like to encourage ALL Real Innovation visitors to take a few minutes and answer … Read More

Queueing Theory

Katie Barry

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal discusses the importance of queueing theory in innovation – in this case keeping product pipelines flowing in order to not be bogged down by ideas. The George Group (consultants) helped Avery Dennison Corp. … Read More

Chasing Innovation (Your Economic Life Depends on It)

Cass PursellWilliam is a guy I work with. Ever since he drunkenly proclaimed at happy hour that he has royalty in his family tree he’s been known around the office as Prince William.

He’s a bright guy – a business … Read More