the idea factory
Dear Ed,

Understanding 'innovation' in the service sector has yet to catch the imagination of consultants and academics. This "Insights" communication extends The Idea Factory's focus on service sector innovation. Why service sector innovation? A few years ago, I wondered.. if manufacturers have "R&D" processes to look for new ideas, where does the same type of blue-skies thinking happen in our service sectors? The reality is that it does not happen in many organizations.

Consultants are brought in for their ideas. Ideas are copied from competitors or licensed from overseas. What many services organizations do not have is a capacity to innovate that is developed and nurtured.

Enjoy the read,
Ed Bernacki


In This Issue

Is Being Innovative Risky?
Building Innovative Skill Capacities
Suffering from a Skill Shortage?
 
Idea Factory Happenings
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Is Being Innovative Risky?

Much is said about the link between innovative thinking and risk. It's time to challenge this assertion. In manufacturing, a great deal is invested in a new product, which may or may not sell. It may succeed or it may fail and here lies the "risk" - the risk of failure. In the service section, the vast majority of decisions involve improvements, enhancements and the creation of new service approaches. Is innovative thinking risky in the service sector?
read more


Building a Skills Capacity to Innovate

The best way to understand innovation is "building a capacity to innovate". This capacity can be applied to any challenge facing an organization. For service companies this involves improving, enhancing and occasionally creating new services and processes. The notion of idea management is important. This involves a clear understanding of some basic processes for managing of ideas and the skills necessary to do so. Creativity is primarily an individual pursuit. The vast majority of new ideas come from insights created by an individual in pursuit of everyday challenges. There are skills which can be learned, refined and enhanced to find more powerful insights. These skills also reflect a basic idea management process that begins with new insights and ends with actions. Check out the Five key skill areas... read more


Does Your Organization Suffer from a Skill Shortage?

At a practical level, you can test your organization's skill level in managing ideas by looking at some everyday situations. For example, ask yourself these questions... read more

navigator guides workshops
about Ed Bernacki
Product focus -
2005 Yearly Idea Navigator Guide
The Idea Factory decided to tackle the two reasons people give that hinder their innovative thinking: Read more...

Click here to buy the Idea Navigator Guide Right Away!

Happenings at the Idea Factory
June was a busy month for public sector - 10 workshops in all. August kicks off a tour to Australia and New Zealand

Sept 8 – Wellington
HR Institute NZ conference which will use 250 Conference Navigator Guides.

Sept 16 – Melbourne
Presentation to launch an Australian Idea Factory

Sept 22-24 – San Diego
Employee Involvement Association Conference.

Sept 29 – Toronto
Creativity Camp – public event
See www.creativitycamp.ca

The Idea Factory
For information on an introductory one-day workshop Wow! That's a Great Idea! contact Ed Bernacki
613 263 0046 or email
info@wowgreatidea.com


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