Ideate, Collaborate and innovate — all in one software.

Collaborate across departments and across the globe with ideation collaboration software.

Recent Posts

mobile-logo

Author: Matthew Heim

16 Apr

Business-Innovation Strategy Alignment

by Matthew Heim
in Idea Management Software, Innovation, Innovation Solutions, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Six Steps for Sustained Success [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]In today’s highly competitive business landscape, organizations must constantly innovate to stay ahead. However, innovation for the sake of innovation can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities. To maximize impact and drive sustainable growth, businesses must align their innovation strategy with their overarching business strategy. This strategic alignment ensures that every innovation effort contributes directly to the company’s long-term goals, enhances competitiveness, and delivers tangible business value.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="15049" img_size="full"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Understanding Business and Innovation Strategy [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="A business strategy outlines an organization’s long-term vision, market positioning, competitive advantage, and revenue growth plans. It provides a roadmap for decision-making and resource allocation to achieve specific goals." title_tag="h4"][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="An innovation strategy, on the other hand, defines how a company leverages creativity, technology, and new processes to develop unique solutions, products, or services. It involves research and development (R&D), idea management, long-term horizon research, technology...

Read More
02 Apr

The Five Pillars of Innovation-Driven Consortium Management

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Building Collaborative Success Through Innovative Strategic Leadership [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="18px"][vc_column_text]In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, industries are increasingly relying on consortia- collaborative alliances of organizations working toward common goals. These partnerships are particularly prominent in technology, healthcare, sustainability, and policy-driven sectors. While consortia are often established to address complex challenges, they frequently struggle with bureaucracy, stagnation, and lack of clear impact. To maximize their effectiveness, consortia should be managed as innovation endeavors with clear goals and objectives, rather than traditional administrative structures.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="18px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Nature of Consortia: Collaboration for Change [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="18px"][vc_column_text]Consortia bring together diverse stakeholders which tend to include private companies, government entities, academic institutions, and nonprofits, to tackle systemic challenges. Their mission often includes developing new standards, frameworks, technologies, or policies that benefit an entire industry. However, because they involve multiple organizations with differing priorities, they can become bogged down in slow decision-making processes and conflicting interests. A consortium can be established either as...

Read More
13 Feb

Innovation Resilience

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Future-Proof Your Strategy with Targeted Expertise  [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="16px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_single_image image="19681" img_size="full"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]Did you know?  Companies that maintained their focus on innovation during the 2008–2009 financial crisis outperformed the market by more than 30% during the recovery and continued to grow faster in the years that followed (McKinsey & Company). Resilient innovators don’t just survive downturns, they redefine their industries.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="12px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text]In today’s fast-evolving landscape, innovation resilience isn’t about predicting what’s next- it’s about preparing for anything. Global financial shifts, once-a-century pandemics, and rapidly changing policies have proven that only agile, forward-thinking organizations can thrive through uncertainty. At Ezassi, we help companies build that resilience. Our strategic consulting services empower organizations with the tools, insights, and connections needed to withstand market disruptions and emerge stronger.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_column_text]Let's explore best practices, current trends, and where Ezassi fits as your trusted partner in innovation.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="25px"][qodef_separator position="center" color="#cdcdcd" width="100%" thickness="2"][vc_empty_space height="12px"][vc_column_text] Best Practices for Business Growth in...

Read More
21 Jan

Sustainability Innovation in Agriculture

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A Path to Sustainable Growth:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Conservation and Biodiversity in Corporate Food Production [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]In a world increasingly aware of the environmental impact of human activity, the corporate food industry stands at a critical crossroads. Agriculture and food production are among the largest contributors to biodiversity loss, deforestation, and climate change. Yet, they also hold immense potential to drive meaningful innovative change by embracing conservation-focused practices and prioritizing biodiversity.[/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_1737477443567{border-radius: 2px !important;}"]"Sustainability represents the foremost innovation priority for modern businesses. Even small, collective efforts by individual companies can result in a profoundly significant impact." - Matthew Heim, Ph.D.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/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 width="5/6"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text] Why Biodiversity Matters in Food Production [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Biodiversity is the backbone of our ecosystems, supporting essential processes like pollination, soil fertility, water purification, and pest control. In corporate food production, biodiversity ensures the resilience of agricultural systems, safeguarding crops against...

Read More
10 Jan

Drive Innovation: 8-Steps to Launch and Run a Startup Accelerator

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Your Primer for Startup Acceleration [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]Startup acceleration has been getting a lot of buzz lately in the realm of strategic innovation. Startup accelerators are emerging as almost commonplace with larger companies, and are used to foster innovation, support new, blossoming ideas, and build mutually beneficial relationships with those external entities that promise to bring new disruptive capabilities to market. Companies that cannot set up their own accelerators have access to a number of third-party Accelerators-as-a-Service. Startup acceleration, which differs from startup incubation, is designed to be a short sprint, allowing companies to select a few candidates based on specific needs or domain expertise, and provide the selected startup candidates with resources and time (typically 3-6 months) to develop a proof-of-concept, or pitch, resulting in either a go or no-go decision. Startups that are selected through the acceleration process may either be incubated (typically 1-5 years using various forms of funding), be...

Read More
18 Dec

Strategic Pipeline Management

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you one of the many innovation executives who struggle to determine which projects you should be working on first, and which ones should have the highest priority amongst others?  If so, then you are certainly not alone.  In fact, three out of five executives interviewed find this to be one of their top 5 challenges when managing their innovation pipeline.   Some innovation executives do not have a formal relationship with the business units (BU) or categories and are unable to gain a clear understanding of the potential business impact of a new development requirement.  Others struggle to determine which projects should be prioritized higher than others based on their return on investment (ROI).  Either way, there are a few simple steps that the innovation team can take that will help clarify innovation initiatives, deploy the right resources, ensure proper transitions, prioritize initiatives with the highest strategic impact, and assign...

Read More
16 Dec

Ezassi vs Big 4 Consulting

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Open Innovation
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Big Consulting Houses vs. Boutique Firms for Innovation The Costs and Risks of Making an Uninformed Choice [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]We all know, and possibly worked with the Big 4 consulting houses, which include PriceWaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte. These firms have thousands of consultants and are designed to drive high profits through a Matrixed Organization, as well as what is known as a Leverage Model.  Think of the Leverage Model as a pyramid, with the senior-level partners at the top, managers in the middle and associates at the bottom.  As the pyramid would symbolize, there are many more junior-level resources – in fact, they are designed to hold a ratio of between 12- or 15-to-1. Having worked for two of the four big consulting houses at both junior and senior levels, I know that these firms will claim to be able to produce deliverables on virtually any topic or discipline.  Because...

Read More
20 Nov

Idea Management as an Innovation Strategy

by Matthew Heim
in Idea Management Software, Innovation, Innovation Software, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Strategic Idea Management: Your 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 of...

Read More
13 Nov

Product Lifecycle Management

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services
Comments

[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...

Read More
08 Nov

Innovation Analyst for Technology Research

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Software, Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation, Technology, Technology Landscape, Technology Scouting
Comments

[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...

Read More