Each week I scour articles, wading through the dogs, and bringing you the best insights to help product managers, developers, and innovators be heroes.

Brainstorming the IDEO way in 11 steps. I’m not a fan of traditional barnstorming as there are much more efficient tools. The best way to take brainstorming up a notch is to add individual time to the process to collect information and reflect on it before contributing with others. This is step one in the way IDEO brainstorms. Read all the steps at Brit http://www.brit.co/ideo-brainstorm-rules/

 

How IoT will become an important infrastructure for market research. “While not new to engineers, developers and savvy tech execs, the Internet of things (IoT) is set to become the next big trend for marketers and anyone leading service and support, product management and e-commerce initiatives.” Read more from Read Write http://readwrite.com/2015/09/03/iot-connected-products-customer-engagement-marketing

The corporate innovation dilemma- operations or innovation. “So executives are faced with a dilemma: either use expert external partners who specialize in innovation to create new products and services, or build internal capabilities. Both are ripe with opportunity and risk.” Read more at Innovation Excellence  http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2015/09/03/the-problem-with-corporate-innovation/

The bandwagon is here and it is Open Innovation – the new best practice. “It’s the process of searching outside a company’s walls—and even its own industry—for technology and solutions to keep it at the cutting edge. For obvious reasons, then, many businesses still find OI risky, since it means exposing their goals and projects to public view, including competitors. But more companies now believe those risks are worth taking, and open innovation has emerged as a best practice when it comes innovation.” Read more at Fast Company http://www.fastcompany.com/3050661/hit-the-ground-running/why-more-companies-are-embracing-open-innovation

5 mistakes not to make when asking executives to fund your innovative concept. “Beyond this typical blunder of presenting unbelievable forecasts, here are the five most common mistakes I see innovators make…” Read more at Innovation Excellence http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2015/09/08/five-big-mistakes-even-smart-innovators-make-when-asking-for-funds/

Finding innovative solutions begins by properly framing the problem – 3 ways. “Reframing a problem helps you see it as an opportunity, and Seelig offers three techniques for finding innovative solutions…” Read more at Fast Company http://www.fastcompany.com/3050265/hit-the-ground-running/three-ways-to-reframe-a-problem-to-find-innovative-solution

The intersection of content marketing and product management. “Synergies exist in unexpected places. Most Content Marketers would never think to talk to Product Managers about how they work and the processes they use. Some don’t even talk to each other about new products. But the best marketers always look outside their own sphere of knowledge to glean learnings from others.” Read more at B2C http://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/content-marketers-can-learn-product-managers-01321282

If you use idea competitions for ideation, tie them to growth platforms. “Sony’s drive for reinvention is admirable, yet sad. Recognizing that the one-time inventor of massive industries has lost its way, the company has taken to sponsoring massive idea competitions in which hundreds of teams may pitch concepts and ten winners might emerge.  Sony’s search for ideas in a bottom-up way is leading it to process data from drones, build online education platforms, and enter the world of online real estate brokerage. Results? Scant.” Read more at Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenwunker/2015/09/09/growth-platforms-not-idea-competitions-drive-innovation/