Ideate, Collaborate and innovate — all in one software.

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

Recent Posts

mobile-logo

Author: Virginia Bush

26 Jun

Technology Scouting Must Have — Auto-Populating User Profile

by Virginia Bush
in Collaboration Software, Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Open Innovation, Technology Scouting
Comments

Welcome to our “Technology Scouting Must Haves” mini blog post series. For years, businesses have had to perform Technology Scouting the same old way, with a long drawn-out, and very manual, process. Year-over-year, we talk to hundreds of R&D and Innovation experts across multiple industries and we want to share with you what we hear, time-and-time again. During this mini blog post series we’ll introduce common pain points experts talk about often. We’ll identify the technology scouting must haves and the new solutions that exist today....

Read More
disruptive solutions mindset 101 coffee break game changers
15 Aug

Disruptive Solutions Mindset 101

by Virginia Bush
in Collaboration Software, Cyberscouting, Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Open Innovation, Technology, Uncategorized
Comments

Upcoming Radio Show Event - Disruptive Solutions Mindset 101 on Coffee Break with Game-Changers Radio LIVE Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 8 am PT / 11 am ET. Disruptive Solutions Mindset. Listen live. Please join us as Denise Fletcher, our Chief Innovation Officer, will be a guest speaker on the Coffee Break with Game-Changers radio show, hosted by Bonnie D. Graham. ...

Read More
open innovation corporate culture
31 May

Open Innovation: A Major Change in Corporate Culture

by Virginia Bush
in Open Innovation, Uncategorized
Comments

People are territorial by nature, protective of their homes, job duties, and relationships. We don’t like others infringing on areas we have claimed as our own. Companies are organizations of people working toward a common goal. As a human endeavor, the corporation’s culture embodies human traits including a suspicion of outsiders and fierce protectionism of its entrenched systems. Unfortunately, these typical business characteristics inhibit the organization achieving true open innovation.   The Open Innovation/Traditional Corporate Culture Clash Traditional business culture is founded on specific beliefs:   No one can do it better than we can. Everyone has a job and job title and need to stay within their roles. Data silos organize information and protect sensitive information. With few exceptions, how we’ve always done it is just fine so why change it. Our processes are secrets to be protected from outsiders. Innovation and market response is important, but it’s more important that we control...

Read More
17 May

Encourage Innovation Through Competition

by Virginia Bush
in Innovation, Open Innovation
Comments

Innovation Through Competition: Effective Innovation Systems Encourage Ideation Whether the focus is on product development, service delivery, customer satisfaction, or market share capture, competition drives a company to improve its performance. Taking this to the next level, effective competitive systems encourage outstanding innovation, by allowing the best and brightest to tackle an organization’s biggest challenges. Internal Competitions Creating an internal competition is an excellent way to motivate your workforce to develop innovative solutions and new business opportunities. The most common structure is to form teams which compete to develop concepts, often working with mentors who provide guidance as needed. The teams present their projects to a panel of judges who select the best innovations for implementation. This process has the advantages of: Encouraging teamwork; Demonstrating trust in internal expertise; and Developing pathways for employees to participate in innovation regardless of job title or department. The significant downside of this process is that it keeps...

Read More
08 May

Enterprise Level Innovation

by Virginia Bush
in Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Open Innovation
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Enterprise level innovation is the practice of looking beyond the organization’s R&D systems and past its discrete departments, to connect with global collaborators and improve business agility. This practice harnesses the benefits of open innovation to achieve specific enterprise-level goals. Why Enterprise Level Innovation (ELI) Matters The lifespan of large, successful companies is shrinking, and this trend is expected to continue. In 1965, the corporate lifespan of those listed on the S&P 500 was 33 years. By 1990, it shrank to 20 years, and it’s expected to drop to 14 years by 2026. Some of this change is due to mergers and bankruptcies, but a leading cause is market disrupters and innovators. This is a stark reminder of a simple truth: A company will not enjoy longevity in the marketplace without reinventing itself. The reason most businesses fail at this process is that they are not built for delivery or business agility,...

Read More
05 May

Do’s and Dont’s of Open Innovation

by Virginia Bush
in Open Innovation
Comments

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Open innovation allows organizations to harness the creative efforts of others, both across the globe and in the office down the hall. The OI process is one that inspires and engages creative thinkers and transforms them into collaborators. While many corporations are establishing OI programs, not all find success. We offer these dos and don’ts as guideposts, avoiding common pitfalls and finding the path to effective OI. DO: Set Goals. Know why you are establishing an OI program and what you want to achieve. Define the problems you want to solve or advancements you want to realize and develop an OI program that supports these goals. Invest in Creativity. Break down internal organizational silos, including job descriptions and departments, and allow meaningful contribution to your projects, regardless of their source. Follow those same principles and engage outside collaborators by looking at the value of the information received rather than who contributed...

Read More
26 Apr

Ezassi CIO Denise Fletcher Attending FEI Boston 2017 Conference

by Virginia Bush
in Conference, Innovation
Comments

The FEI 2017 Conference will be held in Boston May 8th through 11th, and Ezassi's CIO, Denise Fletcher is participating as a panelist. We are thrilled to have Denise representing us at this exciting and informative event.   Denise is one of several internationally renowned innovators who will be speaking at the conference on a wide range of topics that address issues of:   Startups and Innovation Consumer-driven Innovation Disruptive Trends and Technology Innovation and Culture Change Experts and Innovation   While Denise will have speaking duties at FEI, she would love to meet with people who are excited about innovation as she is, so don’t be shy. If you see her in the hallway, at the receptions, or waiting for a session to begin, come up and introduce yourself for some informal one on one time with this accomplished innovation expert.   Registration is open, and the agenda is filled with great opportunities to learn, share experiences, and create...

Read More