thinkinghow.com

I recently listened to a Harvard Business Review podcast interview with Muhtar Kent the CEO of Coca-Cola.

Now, I have mixed feelings about the value to our society of the products that they produce. However this is not the forum for that discussion.

What did fascinate me was the insight that an organisation the size of Coca-Cola recognises that inside the company is not always the best place for embryonic ideas to flourish. To counter this the company has “incubation projects” outside the company.

This says some good things about Coca-Cola. Firstly, that it acknowledges the need for innovation, and secondly that innovation needs the right environment to thrive. In other words keep it away from the accountants, lawyers, and managers that live quarter-by-quarter.

Harvard Business Review Podcast – Featured Guest: Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca-Cola

Related Posts:

• Is the Boss always the problem?
• Love Low Tech Solutions
• the Perfect Brainstorm?

I have to admit it, I am a fan if high tech and innovative design. BUT – don’t you just love a low tech low cost solution?

The image below shows an empty cash register tray and a very simple sign saying “No Cash Here”.

Forget the fancy motion detectors, wireless video recorders, RFID keyless entry. How about showing that there is nothing of value to steal.

Related Posts:

• Simple concept plus known form equals great idea
• give innovation the right environment to survive
• the Perfect Brainstorm?

Here’s a real world example of a major corporate re-thinking and re-inventing how they engage with others – and have others engage with them.

Time will tell if the model works. I really hope it does. The key benefit, as articulated in the interview, is that the relationship is outcome focused. The objective is finding a solution and making it work, instead of how much revenue can we generate or how much cost can we save.

I disagree in part with Amy Schulman’s assertion that the partners will have to  get used to making less money. Those Partners that really understand this new model and adjust their own structure, practices and process to make it work could end up making more money. In the end it’s the value that you can provide.

Related Posts:

• Problem Statement Template downloaded 20000 times.
• and one idea that does it all
• Is the Boss always the problem?