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

Using a design firm model to foster a culture of innovation in your organization. “But any company could create the conditions for maximum innovation, through a design-led realignment of their internal processes and culture.” Read more from INSEAD http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/an-innovation-reinvention-for-incumbents-4012#elLcmjRfMPetzz7f.99

Defining and using product roadmaps. “Product roadmaps are a visual representation of a series of planned product development activities which depict future product releases on either a calendar or rolling-year basis. Given the long duration product roadmaps often span across several future development cycles. The planned work efforts, commonly called releases or epics, typically reflect high-level deliverables.” Read more at http://www.actuationconsulting.com/do-we-really-need-product-roadmaps/

A new marketing era – Personalization of the Consumer – and large organizations are missing it. “The result of the Personalization of the Consumer  is that retailers are now much more willing to put emerging brands on the shelf than they were even 5-10 years ago. Visit Costco, Whole Foods or PetCo to see this first-hand. … Large brands consistently miss new consumer trends, judging them to be fads or small niche plays not worth pursuing.” Read more at Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancaldbeck/2015/05/19/as-young-startup-brands-flourish-innovation-at-large-consumer-companies-is-flatlining/2/

Does real innovation require mavericks? Tomorrowland suggests it does. “To put this in simple terms, the larger pattern that revealed itself when I was writing this book is the undeniable fact that the men and women who have invented the future didn’t come from the mainstream. Not even close. Across the boards, these folks are maverick innovators. They are far more marginal outsider than cozy insider.” Read more at Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2015/05/18/the-dirty-secret-behind-real-innovation-how-our-urge-to-play-invented-the-future/

7 steps of effective product development – the NYX Cosmetics case study. “Developing a successful product line doesn’t have to be a fumble in the dark. Here are seven best practices for bringing your baby to market as efficiently and economically as possible. “ Read more at Entrepreneur http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244616

Examples of how the Internet of Things will improve product management. “In addition, the added data collected is changing the nature of many products. As much as we all like to summon the intuition of our inner Steve Jobs or Jony Ive, things go a lot better when we have data to help us along.” Read more at Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/danwoods/2015/05/15/how-internet-of-things-data-improves-product-development/

What motivation is best at fostering creativity and innovation? “In VF’s journey to be more innovative they are making strong efforts to remove fear from their company culture and one of those strategies has to do with tackling one of our greatest fears: the fear of change. How does a large company like VF maintain positive and frequent change without the added fear that typically comes as a bi-product?” Read more at Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/05/15/how-removing-fear-can-be-your-innovation-trump-card/

How product managers can gain influence with effective feedback. “The first thing to know is that the responsibility of sharing effective feedback should not rely solely on the provider. Feedback should be a two-way dialogue. Expectations should be set to create a collaborative environment open to feedback, and all parties should agree upon the end-goal in mind, as well as everyone’s role in reaching said goal.” Read more at Women 2.0 http://women2.com/2015/05/15/your-ultimate-guide-to-giving-feedback-that-doesnt-suck/?hvid=3VWTPK

Still Valuable – Flash from the Past

Avoiding the innovators bias for a specific solution. “The recommended path for filling out a Lean Canvas is starting with the problem/customer segment quadrant but if you already carry a picture of a hammer in your head, the danger is framing all problems as nails. Today’s post is about avoiding this trap.” Read more at Lean Stack http://leanstack.com/how-to-uncover-the-right-problems-and-avoid-the-innovators-bias-for-the-solution/?hvid=51ACkY