This blog is all about product managers, developers, and innovators enjoying more successful careers. As I do each week, below is a roundup of articles around the web with valuable product development, management, and innovation practices, tips, and examples.

Product Innovation Tips Around the Web

13 laws of innovation to get to tomorrow – based on Steven Johnson’s new book. “Mr. Johnson entertainingly describe the lives of unsung heroes of entrepreneurship and in doing so, he cleverly highlights thirteen attributes common to most significant innovations. Today’s entrepreneurs should take these historical commonalities to heart, as a means of predicting the future.” Read more at Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngreathouse/2015/01/11/predict-the-future-with-these-laws-of-innovation/

The one thing that is really responsible for big businesses failing at innovation. “You might even find an innovation officer or an office of innovation.   Most of these efforts or initiatives will be managed and structured in ways that are similar to other external supplier relationships, even if the office or initiative dedicated to innovation happens to be  internal.  That is, what you’ll find is that in all of these cases, innovation is being delegated, or outsourced, or in some manner separated from day-to-day operations, as if innovation is something that happens there, but not here.  The challenge of course, is that here — inside the organization’s culture — is exactly and precisely where innovation will occur.” Read more from Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrydoss/2015/01/12/why-big-business-fails-at-innovation/

How the best product managers and innovators use storytelling. “A good story contains a protagonist, a challenge and a narrative point of view. The rare exceptional story has the ability to unite and inspire people, hitting us at our core with mesmerizing and memorable insights. Think Alexander the Great, Winston Churchill and Steve Jobs.” Read more at Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soren-petersen/the-power-of-personal-storytelling-in-design-and-innovation_b_6448912.html

7 innovation risks and how to avoid them – #6 change management. “It is critical to be honest about the fact that there are risks in innovation and they will hurt us if we don’t prepare for them. However, that’s not to say we shouldn’t innovate by any means – when it comes to today’s technology-driven world, the risk of standing still is far greater than the risk of innovating for the future.” Read more at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-top-7-innovation-risks-justin-hughes

Technology innovation trends for 2015 – a view from CES. “It’s official: Another CES is in the can. And with two show floors, it was more packed than ever before. So what did we learn from the show? And what does it mean for tech in 2015 and beyond?” Read more at CNET http://www.cnet.com/news/ces-2015-the-final-word/

Thinking of transitioning from product manager to founder – 9 funding stories. “So you think your business idea is dead because you can’t find an investor? Most new entrepreneurs feel the same way.” Found at Entrepreneur http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241022

Do product managers really play the most valuable role in an organization’s growth. “The driving force of a product/category is its strategic direction and framework. For your company’s innovation/new product development efforts this includes the set of Product, Platform, Market and Technology strategies, as well as Product and Technology Roadmaps.” Read more at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-product-managers-worth-weight-gold-mary-drotar

‘One-off’ product development efforts dilute progress and hinder innovation. “The net result is that as the business grows, product developers are left with a set of parallel overlapping product developments that lead to duplication of work and contention for scarce resources. The knock-on effects can cause a delay to the first product launch and a domino effect on the rest of the emerging portfolio. This trend is particularly common in product sectors where high levels of technology and functionality bring bigger risks and uncertainties in product roadmaps.” Read more at Aptonova https://aptonova.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/serial-killer-the-perils-of-one-off-product-development/

Polaroid brand gets repositioned as a technology curator – a brand equity example. “Instead of a company that researches and designs cameras and other gear in-house, the new Polaroid is setting itself up as a lifestyle brand, working with outside designers and other partners to put Polaroid’s iconic branding on products that match the company’s ethos—which CEO Scott Hardy described to TIME as being about fun, share-ability, ease-of-use and affordability.” Read more at Time http://time.com/3662144/polaroid-ces/

A new breed of offshoring product development is coming. “While the approach to address the new type of requirement; participating in the innovation cycle ground up, is not entirely different what was done in the early days of offshore, the companies have tweaked the model and have rather adapted to a boutique version of engagement instead of the cookie-cutter model.” Read more at Silicon India http://www.siliconindia.com/magazine_articles/Outsourced_Product_Development_OPD__Driving_Innovation-KTYH178552779.html

Still Important – Product Management Flash from the Past

15 phrases successful product managers don’t say – ‘I did everything on my own’ should be number 1. “If you want to become more successful as an entrepreneur or in your career, you can start by making a habit of talking and thinking more like the people you know or read about who are already successful.” Read more from Entrepreneur http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238537

 

Moving into a product role or need to know more about product development and management – learn what you need to know

An easy-to-understand foundation in product development and management concepts is what you get with this book.   New product team members, managers, and innovation professionals will quickly access a concise, easy-to-follow guide that shows how successful teams develop new products that consumers love. Read more about the book and purchase it at Amazon.