This blog is all about making product developers, managers, and innovators more successful and their organizations successful with them. As I do each week, below is a roundup of articles around the web with insightful product development, management, and innovation practices, tips, and examples – and sometimes controversial ideas.

Around the Web

Company culture: A driving force for innovation. “Whether your company is just starting off or whether your established business needs a new trick and some serious organizational dusting, innovation can be a serious entrepreneurial catalyst.” Read more from Innovation Management http://www.innovationmanagement.se/2014/05/12/company-culture-a-driving-force-for-innovation/

Leadership to create the culture you want – Simon Sinek video. “Research suggests that successful organization transformations are led by individuals who treat all people in the organization with respect ” Read more from John Latham http://johnlatham.me/leadership-inspires-trust-teamwork

From product focus to innovation focus – Ford’s plans.  “What makes a company innovative? How does one innovate? And what kinds of innovations drive success?” Read more at Fool.com http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/05/17/ford-motor-companys-next-ceo-on-how-innovation-dri.aspx

4 steps – European Commission approach to creating an innovation eco-system. “By using a single, holistic approach, the interactions between the various support providers and the SMEs were facilitated. Thus a common national approach is developed.” Read more from Innovation Management http://www.innovationmanagement.se/2014/05/14/developing-a-strong-eco-system-which-drives-innovation/

How design is impacting product management. “Product managers are now expected to understand and utilize design thinking. Engineers need to be conversant in the design vernacular and are becoming increasingly skilled in basic design principles.” Read more from Startup Smart http://www.startupsmart.com.au/planning/the-age-of-holistic-product-development/2014052012342.html

Create a culture of innovation based on these models from nature. “Culture of emergence. Culture of feedback loops and collaboration. Culture of distributed leadership.” Read more from Aeon Strategies http://www.aeonstrategies.com/Blog/2014/05/learning-from-nature-on-designing-organizational-culture-of-innovation/

3 tips for outsourcing your product build. “If you have a limited budget and need help building your product, here are three things we recommend to reduce the overall project cost…” Read more from Chicago Tribune http://bluesky.chicagotribune.com/hub/chi-yec-outsourcing-your-product-build-bsi-hub,0,0.htmlstory

Design For Emotion, Part II: A Big Toolkit Called Emotion. “So, what is it about emotion, and why are so many product developers, service developers, and marketing strategists so focused on it?  From where I sit, emotion as an object of study is undergoing an evolution that resembles the development of consumer technologies.” Read more from Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/giovannirodriguez/2014/05/20/design-for-emotion-part-ii-a-big-toolkit-called-emotion/

Need a more innovative culture?  Innovate your Board. “If boards are viewed as partners with management, not just overseers, innovative ideas are as likely to come from their dozen or so directors — all highly experienced and certainly dedicated to the firm’s prosperity — as any dozen employees of the company.” Read more from Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-21/how-boards-can-innovate.html

High-tech innovation examples from a low-tech grill company. “MAK would essentially share their product vision and then ask “Is this possible?” and pulling in expertise it lacked. If current technology didn’t quite meet their product vision, MAK would either take an interim step toward the ultimate goal or shelve an idea for a future release.” Read more from Tech Republic http://www.techrepublic.com/article/innovation-and-the-internet-of-things

From this Blog – The Everyday Innovator™, official blog of Product Mastery Now

How to Find your Innovation Inspiration: Product Development and Innovation Lessons from the News. “To determine where innovation is needed – change that will add value – you only need to identify problems that have not been solved.” Read the blog post http://www.productmasterynow.com/blog/how-to-find-your-innovation-inspiration-product-development-and-innovation-lesson-from-the-news/