Category: innovation

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what is green IT?

TB

In recent times everything that sits around the corner is ‘green’. Concerning IT we could see many headlines about Green IT. The main point is that Green IT is not just the savings in Data Centers. The topic of Data Center savings is well covered and it’s widely known that this ‘works’.But, what is with other aspects of using IT innovations to generate savings & reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption?First, the public transportation is used enough in some countries (certainly in Croatia) – with innovations in that sector this could be changed, specially after the rise of oil prices … Continue reading what is green IT?

innovation, management, SMELeave a comment

big and small companies & innovation

TB

As I work in the big company with it’s own innovation process and climate I often think how this process and specially climate, can be established in small enterprises.First, the contact person for innovations has to be known by everyone – Innovation Manager or simply one ‘special’ person who will know how to handle each proposal. If the firm is close to technology changes, this person must be sent to special patent(intellectual property) training.Next thing is establishing of innovation metrics, which must be transparent so that employees will know what they can expect, if their idea will be accepted. It … Continue reading big and small companies & innovation

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50 most innovative companies in the world

TB

New list with the world’s 50 most innovative companies done by businessWeek and BCG, link Only surprises in top10, are 6th and 7th placed TATA Group & Nintendo. Apple is holding number 1, Amazon.com and IBM are out of top 10. 3M is only 22nd and Siemens only 38th. Looking through regional perspective doesn’t give too many changes link Continue reading 50 most innovative companies in the world

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4 types of innovators

TB

I differentiate 4 types of innovators: 1. Radical innovator – creates or adds new technologies or systems. Often in chance for invention. 2. Value-add innovator – brings new additions on market with connection to customer. Possible inventor, too. 3. Adapter – adapts the product to customer wishes – incremental ideas – no clear chance for invention. 4. Special adapter – adds solutions to markets on which he spots a niche – focused on end-customer. Continue reading 4 types of innovators

book, idea, innovation3 Comments

how to publish a book?

TB

That’s a question that I’ve been asking myself last four months. I’ve contacted the most probably interested publishers in Croatia, but they are not interested to publish my book about innovation management.The country is small, so even if I find a publisher, the edition will be over 1000 copies. Maybe there will be more chances if I translate the book on english and try to publish it in UK or US. But the problem is the lach of time to do that.I’m really dissapointed because I wrote it to help small and medium-sized firms to start with innovation climate. This … Continue reading how to publish a book?

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percentage for own projects

TB

Interesting article in Harvard Business Review about Google. The part about innovation in job description. Google budgets 20% of employee time for their bottom-up projects. The part from article: Technical employees are required to spend 80% of their time on the core search and advertising businesses, and 20% on technical projects of their own choosing. As one new Google engineer put it in a blog: “This isn’t a matter of doing something in your spare time, but more of actively making time for it. Heck, I don’t have a good 20% project yet and I need one. If I don’t … Continue reading percentage for own projects

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innovation brainstorming workshops

TB

Last month, I had four innovation workshops with brainstorming sessions, and what I learned is that in each group I can expect allways different situation. I had groups with 7-17 participants, they were from the same technical field and have the same techical knowledge. What was common in all 4 workshops is that the boss is always the leader with most ideas(that’s good), other innovative people from past are followers, but some of participants haven’t contribute at all. I reach some of them, with showing the benefits of ideas to indivudual(incentives+glory). Important is to notify about successful ideas from their … Continue reading innovation brainstorming workshops

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the myths of innovation

TB

I saw an interesting article on IdeaConnection. An Interview with Scott Berkun, author of the book: The Myths of Innovation.Here is the set of Myths:1.The myth of epiphany — there is no eureka moment, ideas never stand alone2. We understand the history of innovation — we have simplified legends3. There is a method for innovation — there are infinite paths to innovation4. People love new ideas — most people fear change5. The lone inventor — all innovation is bound to what came before6. Good ideas are hard to find — humans are built for creative thinking7. Your boss knows more … Continue reading the myths of innovation

architecture, future, innovation, megacities2 Comments

super tower in london

TB

In recent times I se more and new architectual wonders that will be build in next years. Both these big buildings are always part of the projects in South-East Asia, or Dubai. This time the location is Europe – London. A big tower that will change the landscape of English metropolis. This buidling will provide space for 100.000 people. That’s almost the population of my home town 🙂 Innovation that lies in-here is the idea who to provide the space for town expansion without touching it’s historical parts.Link Continue reading super tower in london

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the future in dubai

TB

I share a link to a great web-site which features the newest project in Dubai, which is becoming the architectual capital of the world. Dubai is said to be home to 15% to 25% of the world’s 125,000 construction cranes, and the this is now the end. The newest “wonder” is the resort city elevated 300 metres above Dubai – ‘The Cloud’. My favorite is ‘da vinci rotating tower’ the 250 meter tower which can rotate freely each floor allowing the building to shift its shape. Wind turbines situated between each floor, will allow the building to produce energy. Check … Continue reading the future in dubai

future, innovation, technology1 Comment

one laptop per child

TB

I was on technology summit last week, where the main speaker was a well-known futurist Nicholas Negroponte. He presented his non-profit project “One laptop per child”. It’s a good way to see how technology is becoming cheaper, which allows this kind of projects. Hopefully, this year their laptop could be selled for 100$. This could give (better)education to millions of school children around the world.This is really good example how technology could impact society. I saw the laptop 🙂 It is small and pretty – just like the one that children would like. As far as I’ve seen, the sofware … Continue reading one laptop per child

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what’s the problem with innovations in big company?

TB

Well of course, it’s a big company – people are coming in such companies to be safe and in a mass. They are not keen to make something disrupting. Of course, some employees would be happy to achieve a success with their innovation, but it’s not easy at all – because it’s a big company… Big companies have rules and the hierachy (birocracy), so it’s not easy that the right idea would be heard from right people. Right way is surely building of innovation climate in every department and assuring the continues presence of innovation news to employees. Next issue … Continue reading what’s the problem with innovations in big company?

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cultural map of the world

TB

Inglehart-Welzel Cultural Map of the World marks the nations by 2 main factors. First is importance of religion (traditional/secular-rational values), and second factor is transition from industrial to post-industrial society (Survival/self -expression values). Countries are positioned in a way you can see the difference between certain parts of world, but what more interesting – also beetwen certain parts of Europe. Ex-communist Europe is still glued together, with Chech Rep. and Slovenia (maybe also Croatia) looking good. This Map shows that most innovative countries in the world (also in EIS – European Innovation Scoreboard) are at the top right corner: Japan … Continue reading cultural map of the world

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energy islands

TB

Hexagonal artificial energy islands which could produce energy is a ney concept which will bid for Virgin Earth Prize (searching for idea which will dramatically impact global warming). Each island is on flating platform with a plant at the center which converts the heat from the sea into electricity or drinking water. Below the deck, marine turbined will use the energy of underwater currents. Each island complex could produce 250MW. More info: link Continue reading energy islands

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european inno-scoreboard 2007

TB

The 2007 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) was published today. Inno-leaders are Sweden, Finland, Germany, UK, USA… Inno-followers include Austria, France, Ireland… Moderate innovators are Czech republic, Italy, Slovenia… And finally catching-up countries Bulgaria, Croatia (!), Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia…What’s most interesting is to see how it’s determined, so here’sthe list of Innovation indicators:1.1 S&E graduates1.2 Population w ith tertiary education1.3 Broadband penetration rate1.4 Participation in life-long learning1.5 Youth education attainment level2.1 Public R&D expenditures2.2 Business R&D expenditures2.3 Share of medium-high/high-tech R&D2.4 Enterprises receiving public funding for innovation3.1 SMEs innovating in-house3.2 Innovative SMEs co-operating w ith others3.3 Innovation expenditures3.4 Early-stage … Continue reading european inno-scoreboard 2007

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posters for sticking chewing gums

TB

Artistic way to solve a problem which have all cities in the world – chewing gums on the streets. In this way everyone can stick their chewing gum to poster on wallboard on streets which has coluor palette identified with numbers like in children books. This is idea from Sydney and it’s really more creative then Singapore’s way to solve problem of chewing gums on the streets – by banning chewing gums.(spotted in trendhunter) Continue reading posters for sticking chewing gums