Book Summary101 Design Methods, by Vijay Kumar

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of 101 Design Methods

Professor Vijay Kumar observes that many businesses claim to value innovation, but few succeed in consistently bringing innovations to market. The reason for this, he says, is that many companies don’t understand how to manage innovation—some don’t even realize that innovation can be planned and managed like other types of projects. To solve this problem, he lays out a systematic approach to innovation management in his book, 101 Design Methods.

(Shortform note: In the title, Kumar appears to be using the term “methods'' similarly to how it’s used in computer science, rather than in common speech. [In object-oriented programming, a “method” is any action or...

101 Design Methods Summary How to Manage Innovation Projects

Kumar explains that there are a few general principles you need to follow for your company to consistently produce successful innovations.

First, you need to understand that you can plan and manage innovation projects. If you don’t believe that, you’ll probably end up either shying away from innovation projects or letting them run without enough structure to make them successful.

Second, Kumar says the structure and culture of your company need to promote a free flow of ideas throughout your organization. Different departments like marketing, finance, and engineering need access to each other’s expertise, and workers on the floor need to communicate with executive decision-makers.

This is because innovation is inherently multidisciplinary: Products and services are never used in total isolation, so you need to consider the whole system of interconnected products, services, and relationships that affects your users’ and other stakeholders’ experiences with your product.

Further, everyone brings a slightly different perspective to the table, so you need everyone’s insight to find the opportunities for innovation that others have overlooked. Kumar also says that successful...

101 Design Methods Summary Tools to Use on Innovation Projects

Kumar discusses many specific tools and techniques that can be useful for completing each of the seven tasks of an innovation project. In the remainder of this guide, we’ll present some of the more broadly applicable tools and techniques, how they’re useful, and when you would use them.

We’ll start with some graphical tools in this section and then cover techniques that Kumar recommends using in the next section. Note that Kumar sometimes presents slightly different variations or applications of the same tool as separate “methods,” but we’ve combined them in our discussion.

Two-Factor Cluster Maps

Arguably Kumar’s favorite tool (based on how many variations of it he presents and the scope of what he applies it to) is what we’ll call the two-factor cluster map. To create this map, label the two axes of a scatter plot with properties you want to compare. Then, mark on the plot where different products or services you’re researching fall. This may reveal important relationships or opportunities if you find that the dots cluster together in some areas while other regions of the plot are empty.

For example, you might make a two-factor map comparing the price and user base of...

101 Design Methods Summary Techniques to Use on Innovation Projects

As we’ve discussed, Kumar’s “methods” include both tools and techniques. We’ve covered some of his key tools. Now we’ll examine some of his key techniques.

Monitor Key Media Sources

Kumar advises you to stay informed about new developments—not only in science and technology, but also in culture, politics, and other current events—by monitoring media sources and synthesizing relevant information from them. As you summarize key information from the media, periodically discuss this with your team, and keep your media synopsis files in a database or shared folder where everyone can access them.

This is most useful during Tasks 1 and 2, where you’re identifying trends, choosing a direction for your innovation project, and researching your operating environment, but the repository of information that you create will become a valuable reference throughout the project.

Kumar notes that different media sources are good for collecting different kinds of information. Popular mass media tends to focus on current social and political events. Social media shows you what people are talking about and how they feel about issues or products. Scientific journals and other professional...

Shortform Exercise: Apply Kumar’s Innovation Strategy to Your Project

In this exercise, you’ll consider how you might apply Kumar’s principles and methods to a personal or work project that involves innovation.

Briefly describe your innovation project. What problem are you trying to solve or what opportunity are you trying to exploit?