
Natasha Friis Saxberg
Founder of Mentory. Partner in Webcom. Affiliated at Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies. Co-author of a Twitter book.
» Innovation
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Rumor has it we have a crisis. Annoying for those who needs to sell their house (yours truly) just now. But I am sure that the folks that have been listening to us bragging about our risen equity for the last 5 years, probably are thinking, ha – now your not so cocky. I met with a (renting) friend who said, “I haven’t been to a gathering for the last 5 years without listening to equity”, so maybe it´s finally possible to talk about something interesting again.
And is it so bad, did it make us/me happy, better dressed maybe. The eager to earn money had a price – on what really matters. And the good thing about down-times are that you have to prioritize whats really important. And the up site to that is that it´s mainstream acceptable to be provident again. All the non-important stuff can be put away, and make some space for good (free) social time with family and friends.
So walking to work in my already old-fashioned boots, it´s somehow the same game that´s going on in the companies. Most companies are dismissing a lot of employees, using the down-times as an excuse. But is it not just a really good chance to prioritize expenses – while it´s mainstream acceptable? You can not open a newspaper without reading about mass firing - I bet it would have demanded a lot more explanation just 6 months ago.
And I actually praise this development, because it´s when you focus on what’s important, potential of opportunity rises – i.e innovation – and who can be an opponent to that?
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by in Danske artikler, Innovation
Onsdag eftermiddag d. 21/11-07, jeg løber ned af Købmagergade til SAS institute. “Der står Transformation og innovation gennem IT” på programmet. Det er egentlig en netværksgruppe for CIO´s, men jeg er kommet med på et afbud fra min chef. Der er 3 indlæg, Rambøll Mangement fremlægger markedsundersøgelser om IT og koblingen til innovation og forretningsprocesser, med afsæt i deres (rigtig gode) IT i Praksis 2007. Dernæst er det IT-direktøren fra Alm. Brand og dernæst CIO fra Vestas. Nå nok om rammerne nu til indholdet. Alle 3 indlæg var ganske fine. Men de indlæg som Alm. Brand og Vestas præsenterede, handlede om at få basis i orden, få dokumenteret sine processer og mange rigtig gode tanker, men det som i min optik handler om drift og en naturlig udvikling og modenhed af ens IT miljø. Der var intet konkret om hvordan man har brugt innovation og om man havde. Innovation var snarere beskrevet i metaforer og betegnet som værende diffust. Jeg måtte spørge, hvorvidt innovation udsprang fra toppen/strategien eller nedefra via processer og optimering (Lean for nogen). Dette kunne de ikke svare på, fordi de erkendte at de ikke var på det modenhedsniveu hvor innovation kan udøves. Selverkendelse er godt, men jeg ville ønske at medicinal eller mobil telefoni branchen var repræsenteret, for jeg forestiller mig at de død pine er nødsaget til at benytte innovation struktureret for at kunne være i konkurrence og eksistere. Et andet spørgsmål jeg stillede tog udgangspunkt i Rambølls præsentation af Doblins 10 types of innovation, hvor de påpegede at der er mange andre indsatsområder end produkt innovation som de fleste relaterer til innovation. Potentialet indenfor eks. proces, forretningsmodel, branding innovation m.fl. er langt større. Tilfældigvis kender jeg modellen og deres undersøgelser påpeger at 2 % af innovationsindsatsen resultere i 90% af det samlede udbytte, og mit spørgsmål lød hvorvidt Rambøll vidste om de 2% tog afsæt i strategien eller kom det nedefra via processerne. Den skarpe læser vil opdage at det egentlig er samme spørgsmål. Rambøll vidste det ikke men de ville se på det. Jeg forlod selskabet lettere opløftet, desværre ikke fordi jeg var blevet klogere på Transformation og innovation gennem IT, men fordi vi sluttede af med et meget konkret og underholdende vin smagningsarrangement leveret af Bo Jacobsen fra “Restaurationen”. Hvad er konklusionen så, er Innovation diffust, kan det bedst beskrives med metaforer og er det vigtigt at det nævnes overalt som et buzzword, for så er man med i eller anden grad. Min holdning er at innovation er et paradigme, som dækker over konkrete værktøjer, det er målbart og det er den bedste metode til at opnå strategiske mål eller løse udfordringer på kortere tid – alt i alt en gevaldig vigtig parameter for at være i konkurrence og vinde kapløbet. Det varer ikke længe før det kan måles hvilke virksomheder der løser manglen på arbejdskraft, dem der tilfældigt får en god ide, eller dem der struktureret fokusere på at løse problemet vha. innovative værktøjer og metoder. Jeg ved godt hvor jeg placere mine penge :-)

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by in Innovation
For some time I have been speculating on what the next step in desktop computing will be. Most of all because I am confused by Microsoft signals compared with Googles increasing market position and ability to innovate. Microsoft doesn’t really show a Internet strategy, they adapt online services but they stay “local”. So my guess is, besides that Microsoft will appear with a new more online strategy also on their platforms, that Google within a year will be a new provider of desktop and software computing. But how will they do it?
The development in Grid computing is now very close to a launch. Using this technology will enable a very cheap hardware platform, and the software is of course provided online. Google already introduced Google Pack. More info http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/make-your-computer-just-work.html. So the next step should be obvious.
When you buy your Grid computer you will be able to get online immediately, and download your simple OS (GooglOS?). Then you are free to choose your Software provider. You will turn to Google who will provide a wide range of common used software. The Software will be a direct competitor to Microsoft, its free, install on-line, no maintenance, you no longer have to worry about updates, antivirus, backup (they store and backup your data), on-line e-learning, overall access to your documents, and I could continue. This will create a revolution on the PC market, comparing the cost and development with the mobile phone industry. Whether Google will develop their own products or determine the use of standards, to appeal to a “best of breed” mindset, is harder to predict. But why shouldn’t they have their own brand. Is a merger with Sun Microsystems and their Open Office a possibility or they will just buy up a smaller company?
The suggestions about Grid computing are that your electric power supplier should deliver bandwidth and Grid services, but my guess is that Google will take advantage of this technology.
Any way, I am looking forward to se if my guesses will come too real.
If they do I promise to be a customer!

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by in Innovation
Innovation has been a buzzword for some time, but is it fully integrated in organizations strategies and goals for profit? In Denmark, witch is my point of view, it is only a handful of companies that has taken this challenge seriously, and the main reason is that their business is to deliver innovative products. But [...]

