Entrepreneurship Archives

What Are the 5 Discovery Skills? (The Innovator’s DNA)

How can the five Discovery Skills make you a disruptive innovator? Is it necessary to master all five? What’s the most important one? Creative thinking is crucial to innovation. The authors of The Innovator’s DNA describe five behaviors and skills—what they call “Discovery Skills”—that are most likely to generate creative ideas. These are associative thinking, questioning, observing, idea networking, and experimenting. Keep reading to learn the five Discovery Skills, a couple of important considerations about them, and tips for practicing each one.

How to Use Catalytic Questions to Disrupt the Status Quo

Does your product or business need a breakthrough? How can you find new doors to open? Disruptive innovators ask disruptive questions. In The Innovator’s DNA, Hal Gregersen, Jeff Dyer, and Clayton Christensen argue that anyone can learn to innovate by practicing the five skills of the most successful innovators in the world. One of those skills is asking questions that disrupt the status quo. Read more to learn how to use catalytic questions to unleash your inner innovator.

Idea Networking: How Disruptive Innovators Mingle

What’s idea networking? How is it different from traditional professional networking? Disruptive innovators don’t just network; they network for ideas. Idea networking is one of the five Discovery Skills that the authors discuss in The Innovator’s DNA. They explain what it is, and they outline three ways you can cultivate this effective practice. Keep reading to learn how to mingle like the world’s best innovators.

What Is Associative Thinking? The Core of Creative Innovation

What is associative thinking? How can it help you succeed in business and other endeavors? Innovative businesses change the world. The world’s most innovative business leaders develop their radical and creative ideas by practicing five Discovery Skills. The chief among these skills is associative thinking. Learn what associative thinking is and how you can develop this world-changing skill.

How to Create Demand for a Product (More Than You Can Meet)

How can you take advantage of the law of supply and demand? What’s the best way to build brand loyalty? Serial entrepreneur Daniel Priestley begins his business guide Oversubscribed with an unusual premise: Get more people interested in your product or service than you could possibly serve, and don’t start selling it until that happens. He discusses practical ways that you can generate that interest. Keep reading for Priestley’s advice on how to create demand for a product (even more than you can meet).

The 7 Steps of Innovation: Vijay Kumar’s Process

What is Vijay Kumar’s 7-step innovation process? How do these seven steps lead you to the big picture? In 101 Design Methods, Vijay Kumar describes seven steps you must take if you want to keep churning out innovative products. From brainstorming to implementing the solution, the process is a recipe for success. Continue reading for more information about the seven steps that will keep your business in innovation mode.

How to Build and Encourage Startup Teams in 5 Steps

Are you managing a startup company? How can you make your startup team successful? Startups have a lot of pressure on them to make it to the top while also coming from almost nothing. While finances and marketing are core factors to consider, the true backbone of a startup is its team. Without a cohesive team, your new business will likely crack. Let’s look at how you can encourage your startup team and lead them to success.

The 2 Best Innovation Management Tools for Projects

What are the best innovation management tools? How are maps useful for keeping track of products in progress? In 101 Design Methods, Vijay Kumar discusses many specific tools and techniques that can be useful for completing an innovation project. Two especially helpful tools are cluster maps and comparison tables. Let’s dive into these innovation management tools so you can use them for your next project.

Product Comparison Table: How to Make and Use One

Why should you use a product comparison table to beat out the competition? How do you create this table? Product comparison tables are helpful for any business owner who wants to be the best in their market. 101 Design Methods by Vijay Kumar explains how you can use this type of table to discover trends, brainstorm solutions, and identify patterns that will make your product better. Check out how to create a product comparison table with Kumar’s seven tasks of innovation.

The 3 Best Innovation Techniques in Business

What are innovation techniques in business that you should use? How do these techniques help you create more ideas and products? Vijay Kumar’s methods for managing innovation projects include impressive techniques that anybody can use in their business. In his book 101 Design Methods, he covers these key techniques. Let’s look at these innovative techniques in detail.