So how do the most innovative companies foster innovation? Google, Amazon and IDEO share their recipes for success here...
Rules of Innovation from the World's Most Innovative Companies
Google, perhaps most famous for its 20% time philosophy, where they encourage their employees to spend 20% of their time on projects of their choice, also has, perhaps less well known, 9 rules for innovation. You'll be surprised to know they are relatively straight-forward and can be easily applied in many settings. For example:
Google's 9 Rules for Innovation
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Innovation comes from anywhere
It can come from the top down as well as bottom up, and in the places you least expect.
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Focus on the user
Worry about the money later, when you focus on the user, all else will follow.
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Aim to be ten times better
If you come into work thinking that you will improve things by ten percent, you will only see incremental change. If you want radical and revolutionary innovation, think 10 times improvement, and that will force you to think outside the box.
You can read the rest of Google's 9 rules for innovation here.
IDEO's Design Thinking methodology
IDEO is using global communities to change the world and leveraging its famous Design Thinking methodology to do it. It's called OpenIDEO, and anyone can join to participate in solving the world's problems. The best part is, you get first hand experience with IDEO's Design Thinking methodology for innovation.
Like us, IDEO believes the best products are created collaboratively. Unique perspectives matter and spark creativity. Choose a challenge you are interested in and start participating.
Amazon's approach
According to Jeff Bezos, Amazon's secret to success includes three main ideas: Put the customer first, invent, and be patient.
"We've had three big ideas at Amazon that we've stuck with over the years, and they are the reason we are successful."
- Jeff Bezos
Sounds simple right? So what's stopping you from being more innovative?
Innovation is the corner-stone of any successful product development effort. At PLAYBOOK we believe teams are most Innovative when:
• Collaboration is barrier free
• Teams hold themselves accountable
• And, innovation is predictable
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Check out Playbook and make fast product development flow for you and your teams. This 9-minute video shows you the real cause of project delays. It's not what you think. Watch part 2 to see how Playbook solves for these issues.
