At the end of June I was at the World Expo in Milano, Italy to lead a couple of sessions for executives and guests of Dassault Systèmes. Each VIP participant received a gift packet containing a copy of my Slingshot book. And thanks to the event, I had the opportunity to get to know DS and how they help organizations around the world to imagine the future.
In my book ‘Slingshot’, one of the case studies presented is about Tata’s Nano – which aimed to attract a significant customer base in India. The idea was to make the world’s most affordable car, and capture the upwardly mobile Indian population that was transporting their families on mopeds and motorcycles. The implementation of this bold idea failed to gain traction since Nano’s debut in 2009, due to a string of miscalculations and mishaps. The Nano’s journey is a strong reminder that a good strategy is only as good as its implementation. But Tata has not given up.
In September 2009, the Economist Magazine launched its Schumpeter column on innovation, a regular feature of the magazine since. The column is in recognition of the visionary Austrian economist, Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), who correctly predicted the major forces driving the business world today, such as entrepreneurism and continuous innovation.
What might the kitchen of the (near) future look like? In what way will it be more convenient, eco-friendly, and fun to use? How will it turn current pain points into points of infatuation? Ikea is providing us with a tantalizing peek.
Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, talks of his journey and lessons learned in his book ‘Things a Little Bird Told Me’. Along the way, he touches on the vital importance of continuously applying our creativity: