#bmgen

(via Allow Innovation Exercises to Expand Business Model – Innovation Excellence)

By Michael Graber

As your innovation efforts begin to move from the ideation to the testing phase, or the co-creation with consumers or customers, outlandish and disruptive concepts present themselves. As messy as children arriving, they show up, saying “feed me, let me scream at the top of my lungs, I’m uncivilized” all without speaking.

Don’t be put off by how wild or unconventional they may be at first. Remember, breakthrough thinking sits right next to insanity, or as we in the trade say, “awesome sits right next to ridiculous.”

Instead of having a knee-jerk overreaction to something novel, practice non-judgment on some of your discernment filters. Even if the concepts do not fit your current business model that doesn’t mean you cannot capitalize on the insight in a number of ways.

Here are three viable models to consider whereby you can realize the value of the more seemingly “out there” innovations that arise as a natural part of the process:

First, if the market seems big enough and you have resources to deploy, start a new branch of your business. This could mean a product company selling as a subscription rather than at retail, or starting an e-commerce only channel for a specific product. Or, it could mean a service business launching a product line. Or, a product company could pilot a store with an eye to growing it into a franchise business.

Second, maybe you can license your brand to a key partner for this particular concept. You’ve already developed the idea and complete market testing on it, and therefore have a realistic grasp on the market desirability and technical feasibility. Make sure this scenario is a win-win—that your partner has something to gain and also already has something key that you do not, whether it be channel distribution or technological expertise. A good licensing partner can make a good concept a great success.

Third, think brand marriage. Find a good relationship with a brand that makes a good marriage; think of Cole Haan using Nike insoles or Apple using Intel chips. So many examples come to mind where the best of each company becomes part of a whole offering.

The main thesis here is don’t toss away good concepts because they don’t fit your existing business model. If you invest the time and energy, you can reap a bigger harvest than your current paradigm allows. Think broadly.

[Entire post — click on the title link to read it at Innovation Excellence.]

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Speaking of Innovation and Innovators...

We are proud and honored to have had our @CreativeSage company Twitter account chosen for the sixth year in a row now (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017), for the Top 50 Innovation Twitter Sharers List! We want to thank Innovation Excellence and everyone in our community who voted for our account again this past year.

Additionally, Founder/CEO/Chief Imagination Officer Cathryn Hrudicka maintains a multidisciplinary artist account at @CathrynHrudicka that some of you may want to follow, too.  She has served as an Artist-in-Residence, and can recommend other Artists-in-Residence in all artistic disciplines, for companies and organizations.

At Creative Sage™, we love to work with clients on social innovation, educational innovation, healthcare innovation, civic and government innovation projects, as well as corporate innovation projects. Our core capabilities include creativity training and coaching, and the design and facilitation of innovation programs, including in the areas of design thinking, arts-based processes, applications of science and neuroscience tools when appropriate, change management, and business model innovation.

We have been very effective in helping organizational leaders and employees move through transitions and cultural changes. We work with for-profit, nonprofit, B-corps, trade associations, and other types of organizations.

In addition to offering our services in creativity and innovation program design, consulting, leadership coaching, and training, we may be able to help your organization define and choose a Chief Innovation Officer (or another innovation management role) — or our founder, Cathryn Hrudicka, may be able to serve in an innovation project management role for your organization, on a contract, part-time or limited full-time basis.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss your situation and how we can help your organization move forward to a more innovative and profitable future. You can also call us at 1-510-845-5510 in San Francisco / Silicon Valley.

We look forward to helping you find the path to luminous creativity and continuous innovation!