New Service Offering Idea...
Posted by Paul Williams at 1/21/2008 9:08 AM and is filed under Consulting,innovation management,Idea Log 
I have really been getting frustrated lately with all of the empty talk surrounding innovation. Executives and other C-Level people keep talking about the need to innovate, to differentiate, to ideate, to liberate...ahhhh...now I am irate!!!
So I sat down last night, stared at the wall, mixed a nice strong adult beverage and just let my mind wander. How can I convince organizational leaders to take the next step? How do I get them to believe enough to take some action?
One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind was that it had been awhile since I had done one of these "stare at the wall" sessions. I vowed to do more.
Then, the idea came to me within 3 minutes. Another 3 minutes explored alternatives. Another 3 minutes shot holes in the idea. Another 3 minutes adjusted the idea and started crafting a press release...
*** PRESS RELEASE ***
Think For A Change, LLC. announces a bold new service offering to its clients!!!
In what company president, Paul R. Williams, described as one of the most important breakthroughs in recent innovation management practice, Think For A Change, LLC. will begin offering, effective February 1st, 2008, a new service called, I AM.
I AM, or Innovation Accountability Management, is a very simple, but critical service for organizational leadership as they attempt to leverage the current focus on innovation and growth opportunities. The I AM service essentially forces leaders at all levels of an organization to be held accountable for taking action on fostering innovative cultures, developing new products/services, and engaging customers while delivering upon their innovation promises.
Through an I AM engagement, Think For A Change, LLC., will set up a strategic plan, road map and/or action list with senior executives and constantly track progress along the way toward the desired end result. As firm president, Paul R. Williams stated, "Our job is hold the executive's feet to the fire. They know they won't do it on their own, so we serve as their conscience. We are the little voice in their ear, holding them accountable, and poking them into action."
In a radical departure from typical innovation management engagements, which focus on developing the "pieces and parts" or "process and systems" of an innovation management program, the I AM service focuses effort directly on the area of accountability. Without accountability, there is no action. Without action, there is no innovation. Without innovation, there is no future.
For more information about Think For A Change, LLC., Paul R. Williams or the new I AM service, please use any of the following contact information:
Think For A Change, LLC.
Phone: (920) 309-2012
E-Mail: paul.williams@thinkforachange.com
Web: http://www.thinkforachange.com
Blog: http://blog.thinkforachange.com
# # #
Well...what do you think? Would you pay me to hold you accountable?
So I sat down last night, stared at the wall, mixed a nice strong adult beverage and just let my mind wander. How can I convince organizational leaders to take the next step? How do I get them to believe enough to take some action?
One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind was that it had been awhile since I had done one of these "stare at the wall" sessions. I vowed to do more.
Then, the idea came to me within 3 minutes. Another 3 minutes explored alternatives. Another 3 minutes shot holes in the idea. Another 3 minutes adjusted the idea and started crafting a press release...
*** PRESS RELEASE ***
Think For A Change, LLC. announces a bold new service offering to its clients!!!
In what company president, Paul R. Williams, described as one of the most important breakthroughs in recent innovation management practice, Think For A Change, LLC. will begin offering, effective February 1st, 2008, a new service called, I AM.
I AM, or Innovation Accountability Management, is a very simple, but critical service for organizational leadership as they attempt to leverage the current focus on innovation and growth opportunities. The I AM service essentially forces leaders at all levels of an organization to be held accountable for taking action on fostering innovative cultures, developing new products/services, and engaging customers while delivering upon their innovation promises.
Through an I AM engagement, Think For A Change, LLC., will set up a strategic plan, road map and/or action list with senior executives and constantly track progress along the way toward the desired end result. As firm president, Paul R. Williams stated, "Our job is hold the executive's feet to the fire. They know they won't do it on their own, so we serve as their conscience. We are the little voice in their ear, holding them accountable, and poking them into action."
In a radical departure from typical innovation management engagements, which focus on developing the "pieces and parts" or "process and systems" of an innovation management program, the I AM service focuses effort directly on the area of accountability. Without accountability, there is no action. Without action, there is no innovation. Without innovation, there is no future.
For more information about Think For A Change, LLC., Paul R. Williams or the new I AM service, please use any of the following contact information:
Think For A Change, LLC.
Phone: (920) 309-2012
E-Mail: paul.williams@thinkforachange.com
Web: http://www.thinkforachange.com
Blog: http://blog.thinkforachange.com
# # #
Well...what do you think? Would you pay me to hold you accountable?
This might sound trite to some but you could be surprised. The term I AM is one of the first names for God as recorded in the old testament (translated into English of course). It could be offensive to Jews, and Christians when used in a business sense. I could be wrong or overreacting but you may want to run it by people within those communities. Some of whom could be CEO's, etc.
Besides that and probably with a greater impact but the entire wording seems to fly in the face of what innovation is all about. The wording reeks of corporate staleness, the opposite of "innovation".
While accountability and management or extremely important in the business world those words often conjure up mental and bureaucratic roadblocks to innovation.
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While obviously not intending the meaning you describe, interesting perspective and indeed excellent food for thought.
In fact, "I AM" is descriptive of what a leader needs to think of and personally admit with respect to innovation and organizational creativity. For example:
* I AM accountable for establishing an innovative culture
* I AM willing to take risks and support fast/learned failures
* I AM aware that the future success of my organization requires action upon the new ideas
Let's be honest...there are very few differentiating ways to design innovation initiatives. The true differentiator is ACTION. So perhaps, others in the innovation consulting field can continue to work the process development side of the equation, while Think For A Change, LLC. works the implementation side.
Good feedback...you do have me thinking. Thanks!
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