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

Product Innovation Tips Around the Web

Study of video game success reveals secrets to innovation. “Most people will say friction within a team is bad but what we’ve found from this research is that actually it’s a very good thing for creativity but it needs social structural support to turn it into something productive – that is people who have worked with other people in the team previously. If two people don’t understand each other’s ideas, whilst there is friction, it can be positive and lead to innovation.” Read more at Phys ORG http://phys.org/news/2015-06-secrets-revealed-global-video-game.html

What leaders of the business expect designers to know. “When it comes to implementing design processes, company culture must adapt to the new user-centered strategies. The new breed of designers are equal parts ambassador and problem-solver, helping companies understand that it’s more important to solve the right problem than to design the perfect solution.” Read more at The Next Web http://thenextweb.com/dd/2015/06/18/how-designers-earn-keep-their-seat-at-the-table/

How Johnson & Johnson brings in outside ideas for innovation. “J&J innovation launches 17 collaborations.” Read more from GEN http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/j-j-innovation-launches-17-collaborations/81251373/

A reminder to observe carefully from famous biologist Louis Agassiz. “The art of comparing objects is a remarkably useful strategy in many areas of life.” Read more at James Clear http://jamesclear.com/louis-agassiz

3 adaptations of the attribute dependency technique: passive, active, and automatic. “When using the Attribute Dependency technique, you’ll reach a point in the function follows form process where it’s time to make adaptations to your concept. That’s where you try to improve the concept and put more definition around it.” Read more at Innovation In Practice http://www.innovationinpractice.com/innovation_in_practice/2015/06/the-attribute-dependency-technique-three-ways-to-create-smart-products.html

Fort Collins, Colorado recognized for innovation along side with Silicon Valley. “When Smithsonian Institute curators listed the country’s most innovative places, Fort Collins rose to the top alongside Hollywood and Silicon Valley in California.” Read more at Coloradoan http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2015/06/16/fort-collins-smithsonian/28795357/

The evolving Internet of Things and the IoT Manifesto. “One product of ThingsCon is the ‘IoT Manifesto.’ Written by designers for other designers, it addresses high-level concerns about the IoT in the form of 10 pledges.” Read more at Wired http://www.wired.com/2015/06/homes-become-connected-designers-will-save-us/

The innovation in IT is… adopting agile project management? “You aren’t spending on infrastructure anymore — it’s all in the cloud. You aren’t spending on office space — most people work remotely. You aren’t even spending on software as much — a lot of its SaaS. So what you are spending should go toward making sure you’ve got the right people with the right mindset to work on the right things.” Read more from CIO http://www.cio.com/article/2936312/certifications/why-agile-skills-are-more-valuable-than-certifications.html

The Silicon Valley tech expertise that has gone to Washington to overhaul government. “President Obama has quietly recruited top tech talent from the likes of Google and Facebook. Their mission: to reboot how government works.” Read more at Fast Company http://www.fastcompany.com/3046756/obama-and-his-geeks

7 things your future self wants you to know to be a successful product manager. “I’ve had the good fortune of introducing product management into three organizations. While no easy task, the financial rewards to an organization for implementing rigorous product management are vast. Here are seven secrets to product management success…”Read more at Naples news http://www.naplesnews.com/community/collier-citizen/down-to-business-seven-secrets-to-product-management-success_73105837