In the March/April 2024 issue of Car & Driver magazine, Jamie Kitman points out the gains and pains within the current four-wheel EV landscape. Kitman’s Upfront article, Alternating Current provides the painful reality of “piss poor planning” (my words, not his) within the hallowed walls of auto OEs, again. As history seems to always repeat itself, once again the lack of reality has bit auto manufacturers in the ass. When global governments started mandating zero-emissions by 2035, the OEs’ jealousy of Tesla gained unprecedented momentum.
There are two glaring weaknesses within design thinking, and especially IDEO’s Human Centered Design (HCD) – brainstorming and lack of a systematic methodology to evaluate and select ideas. Two ways to supercharge design thinking are with systematic ideation and systematic analysis and decision-making. Simple-to-learn and easy-to-use tools can transform design thinking output from the “so so” to the implementation of powerful solutions to the most difficult problems.
When solving problems individually, you do not have to think about others and different perspectives. You can focus on the problem and how you will proceed along the root-cause analysis process. However, many of us solve problems with others or in a team. When solving problems in a group, it is important to create a positive and safe environment.
An IDEA FACTORY is a deliberate and systematic virtual and physical space which teaches people how to develop ideas and apply them for continuous improvement. An IDEA FACTORY can be for individuals, groups or teams, organizations, or communities. The goal is for people to learn how to develop and apply ideas to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities, create new products, services, or businesses, or improve processes. Now more than ever, IDEA FACTORIES are needed during such a massive time of change.
We always hear the business press and academics talk about how unpredictable the future will be. How the rapid rate of change will affect all industries and businesses. However, the instability we are all experiencing right now is unprecedented for most of us. As I have written before, these times require all of us to rethink how we conduct business. Times like this requires us all to reevaluate how we conduct business and how to survive and prosper as things rapidly change. If you typically react to market changes, this is a great “kick-in-the-pants”moment to be proactive. Stay positive and realize the unlimited opportunities that now exist.
As the coronavirus expands across the globe creating panic and fear, it is critical to rethink how to meet these new challenges. As an increasing number of market segments contract, such as airlines, restaurants, sporting events, and entertainment, it is a great opportunity to quickly reinvent how to conduct business. At a time of great uncertainty and potential catastrophic business contraction, all businesses need to develop new, creative ways to engage with consumers.
I urge others and push myself to continually learn and experience unique and strange new things. A great way to do both of these is through reading. I’ve seen a few kids walking around reading books lately and it’s given me hope that reading is not dead. The great benefit of reading is its inexpensive, you can do it anywhere, and it is a great way to stir the imagination.
It is critical for small, medium, and large organizations to emphasize creative thinking in all areas of the business and at all levels. Successful creative thinking to develop new ideas to improve every aspect of the organization, will not happen by building cool work spaces, adding ping-pong tables or bean bag chairs, or fun team building exercises. Creative thinking happens when you train your entire team in the basics of how to develop new ideas, and ensure everyone understands how to avoid “killing ideas” and accepting and celebrating failure.
The great thing about traveling so much, is I get to spend a ton of time reading. And lately I’ve been spending a lot of time in India and books are much cheaper than in the US or UK, so I’ve been stocking up on a lot of great, new reads. My latest find isThou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World by Avi Jorisch. This great book introduces a variety of Israeli innovators who have changed the world.
