Recent Posts

Author: Matthew Heim

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Idea Management: The Strategic Competitive Edge for Transformative Innovation [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]It is undeniable that innovation is likely the single-most impactful means of staying ahead of the competition. However, generating innovative ideas and turning them into actionable solutions requires more than just creative thinking—it demands effective management of ideas, collaboration, and alignment with strategic goals. This is where idea management software and supporting business practices come into play.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="Idea management software is a digital platform designed to capture, develop, prioritize, and implement ideas from employees, customers, or stakeholders." title_tag="h3" width="75%"][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]When leveraged effectively using integrated business processes, KPIs and collaboration, it becomes much more than a tool for idea collection—it evolves into a strategic asset that generates business growth, improves efficiency, and enhances organizational culture. Here’s how and why idea management can be a powerful strategic tool across the entire enterprise.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Idea Management for Innovation:  [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Fosters a Culture of Innovation One...

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Product-Lifecycle Management 2.0 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] A Kaizen Approach to Market-Driven Innovation [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]In today’s competitive business environment, companies are under constant pressure to innovate, streamline processes, and improve product quality. One powerful way to achieve these goals is by applying the principles of Kaizen—the Japanese concept of continuous improvement—to Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). By viewing PLM as a Kaizen loop, organizations can foster a culture of ongoing innovation and refinement, ensuring that products evolve in line with customer needs, technological advances, and market demands. In this blog, we’ll explore how managing Product Lifecycle Management as a Kaizen loop can drive better results, improve efficiency, and lead to the creation of superior products that resonate with customers.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] What is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)? [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]Before we dive into how PLM can benefit from a Kaizen approach, let’s define what PLM is.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="Product Lifecycle Management is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from inception, through...

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Risks of Sole Reliance on LLMs and AI in Technology Discovery: Why Human Expertise is Still Essential [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text] LLMs and AI tools are inadequate as primary technology discovery tools. A human analyst to validate technology search results, conduct crucial subject matter expert interviews, and evaluate unique ideas from experienced, creative employees and stakeholders through open innovation challenges will prove to be the best approach to a fully developed innovation management strategy. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In today’s world of rapid technological advancements, businesses are constantly racing to identify and adopt breakthrough solutions that can give them a competitive edge. AI-driven tools like large language models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful engines for uncovering information, scouring vast data sets in seconds, and generating insights that would otherwise take weeks to gather. However, as efficient as these tools are, they can create a false sense of security in the New Product Development arena. Successful technology discovery demands...

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technology market fit

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Revitalizing Dormant IP: Strategies for Monetizing Overlooked Assets [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text] Get Off Your |IP| Assets and Make some Money! [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]New product research is at the core of all manufacturing companies today, but what most don’t realize is that, regardless of industry, they are sitting on up to 50% of their intellectual property assets with no plans for their use.  This often results when a company pursues technologies specific to one product, and that technology is not a fit, causing it to be shelved with no further plans for its use.  In other words, they are missing out on any opportunity for alternative revenue streams for the company.  Many companies will intentionally sit on their IP assets in order to safeguard themselves from others who may try to pursue similar capabilities, keeping them at bay with the potential for a prior-art lawsuit, but most of these underutilized assets are a result of a...

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Unlock Innovation Now and Implement in 2025 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Maximize Your Year-End Budget with Challenge-as-a-Service [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]As we enter Q4 of 2024, many companies are looking for smart ways to allocate their remaining budget while setting the stage for success in the new year. Ezassi’s Challenge-as-a-Service (CaaS) offers the perfect opportunity to drive innovation and solve pressing business challenges before the year ends. By launching an ideation challenge now, you can gather insights and develop solutions that are ready for implementation in 2025—ensuring that your investment in innovation delivers long-term value and growth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="10px"][qodef_separator position="center" color="#e2e2e2" width="100%" thickness="2"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="30px"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="17607" alignment="right" style="vc_box_shadow_circle"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="3/4"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1727268555103{border-radius: 2px !important;}"]"Launching a new ideation program can be a complex task, but using a Challenge-as-a-Service approach provides a focused, low-risk entry point. It allows companies to test the waters with minimal investment, ensuring they gain both experience and valuable insights before committing to a full-scale rollout." - Dr. Matthew...

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move towards the final quarter of 2024, it’s time to start thinking about your innovation budget for 2025. The coming year promises to be a pivotal one, with rapid technological advancements and market shifts requiring a strategic and well-considered approach to R&D investments. Here are eight critical considerations to guide your planning.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_empty_space height="62px"][qodef_list_ordered] Understand Your Market in the Context of 2025 Trends Align Your R&D Strategy with 2025 Corporate Goals Assess Your R&D Capabilities for the Challenges of 2025 Leverage External Collaboration to Stay Competitive Apply the 80/20 Rule to Balance Risk Plan a Realistic 2025 Budget Explore Global Funding Sources for 2025 Plan for the Future with a 2025 Vision [/qodef_list_ordered][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][tnc-pdf-viewer-link text="8 Essentials Innovation Budget Infographic" file="//ezassi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Preparing-Your-Innovation-Budget-for-2025-Infographic.pdf"][vc_single_image image="17672" img_size="full" onclick="custom_link" link="//ezassi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Preparing-Your-Innovation-Budget-for-2025-Infographic.pdf"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][/vc_column][vc_column width="5/6"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_id="Budget1"]Understand Your Market in the Context of 2025...

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innovation leadership

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Innovation Leadership - Strategies for Executives [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][qodef_blockquote text="Despite a focus on disruptive innovation, collaboration is lacking between business units, and the necessary structures between corporate entities and partners are often missing, causing breakdowns in the innovation process and missed opportunities.   "][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text] The Key to Driving Enterprise Innovation? Strategy and Alignment Starting with Corporate Leadership [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Most companies today consider innovation one of their top-five strategic objectives. The C-Suite holds the key to successful innovation, which can be realized through proper vision and alignment at the top, and then rolled out to the rest of the organization through a coordinated effort.   A sustainable innovation program includes leadership roles (CEO, CTO, CIO, CFO, CMO, COO, CPO, CINO) all dedicated to collaborating and supporting innovational projects across interconnected departments.  Chief Innovation Officer and innovation program strategist, Dr. Matthew Heim, details the priorities of each executive role below.  [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1676652158771{background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}"] Executive Oversight:  Vision, Sponsorship & Accountability [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]It is...

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