My nine favourite innovation sayings & actions
November 28, 2008
A Book-launch with a difference
August 6, 2008
My second book, The Idea Accelerator — How to solve problems faster using Speed Thinking (Allen & Unwin) was officially launched last Friday at the Accelerated Solutions Environment of Capgemini.
We did things a little bit differently on the day. Rather than have one official launch after work for example (which we did anyway) we had three workshops throughout the day each of 1.5 hours. Our aim was to talk briefly about the book but more importantly to give participants a speed thinking experience they would remember and talk about. There were 25 people in each workshop, containing a mixture of Capgemini consultants, clients and my clients.
We also video taped the sessions and you can see the result by clicking on the link below:
http://www.thespeedthinkingzone.com/speed-thinking-workshop.html
Some feedback from the session is as follows;
I swear we were thinking faster and more creatively. It was a good time too. Thanks Ken. Yes, it was a hit so congratulations. Natalie, Dell.
Ken - thank you so much for the invite. I learnt so much in 120 seconds!!! Certainly has opened my eyes even further, having just finished the book "Blink" all about thin slicing. Definitely a learning tool (speed thinking) we should be investigating further for our sales teams here at Dell. Chris, Dell.
Ken has created Speed Thinking as a resource to help anybody or team to unlock creativity and solve problems. Agency people will love it and will be able to apply it to their jobs and with clients.
Enough, he’s a bloody genius but fortunately his manner and modesty means everyone is engaged, energized and enlightened by his work. Ian, Proto Partners
To experience Speed Thinking and see how it can befit you and your team please email or give me a call — i would love to hear from you.
Ken Hudson
Design Thinking at P&G
July 31, 2008
Just read a wonderful story about what P&G are doing with a concept they are calling Design Thinking — http://business.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=132008SO98PC
The highlights of this new type of thinking are as follows:
1. It is transforming their culture. Design Thinking at its essence is about creating new possibilities (much like Speed Thinking) then working backwards and forwards in an iterative fashion. It is used in a visual, tactile way using half-formed prototypes to co-create new solutions with consumers.
2. Design Thinking is used in the product development process and also strategy sessions, building retail relationships and to address operational issues.
3. There are 100 internal facilitators with over 40 design workshops being held this year.
4. Like Speed Thinking, it must be experienced. It is not an academic, objective, detached process but a hands-one, playing around, fully immersed experience.
5. This new way of thinking encourages managers to bring their whole brain not just their analytical left one. The aim is to encourage managers to use the principles every day.
6. One design principle could be test faster, fail faster and learn faster (sounds like Speed Thinking).
Ken Hudson
The Two Minute Competitive Pitch
June 12, 2008
I have just finished a project working with a media company and in particular ways they might increase their chances of new business success.
One of the tools we used with great effect is what I call the Two Minute Competitive Pitch. In this case we nominate some people to become the client (these were people outside the business) and the remainder of the group are broken up into smaller groups each representing a particular competitor.
The challenge then is for each group to present their competitive pitch in two minutes to try and win an imaginary piece of business. This process is quick and powerful because it gives everyone an insight into what the competitors might say and where they are strong or weak relative to your business.
Competitive analysis done in this way is often more revealing and dynamic than the traditional longer, more formal review of the market-place.
It will often unlock new market-place growth opportunities.