Triggering Tech Innovation 05.09.2014 The I
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05.09.2014
The Internet provides considerable opportunities for innovation across the spectrum of technology. As a result, companies looking to lead the way have developed essential principles and practices to maximize these opportunities and provide greater consumer benefits. Below are a few tips from industry pioneers on how to achieve new technological milestones and foster innovation in an evolving IP environment.
Simplify. According to a recent Forbes article, Steve Jobs’ approach at Apple relates to seven core principles. A major component of his philosophy: “Innovation comes from saying no to 1,000 things.” Streamlining products to make them user-friendly, as well as consciously focusing on fewer offerings has become a hallmark of Apple. Along similar lines, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey said: “I think the best technologies — and Twitter is included in this — disappear. They fade into the background, and they’re relevant when you want to use them, and they get out of the way when you don’t.”
Stay Ahead of the Curve. Rather than reactively responding to marketplace developments, companies that proactively innovate are more likely to sustain better results. In a letter to shareholders Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, explained, “When we're at our best, we don't wait for external pressures. We are internally driven to improve our services, adding benefits and features, before we have to. We lower prices and increase value for customers before we have to. We invent before we have to."
Empower Employees to Aim High. Among Google’s nine principles of innovation, the mantra “Aim to Be Ten Times Better” encourages employees to aspire to develop groundbreaking solutions. The tenant “Fail Well” provides a safety net to learn and grow from mistakes. In addition, Google’s practice of granting employees 20 percent of work time to explore their passion projects helps inspire creativity that can lead to tangible products.
Focus on the User. A positive experience is fundamental to user engagement. In order for new products and services to gain traction, they must be created and marketed with the consumer in mind. For example, the customer-focused Apple retail experience is designed, in the words of its founder, “to enrich lives,” not merely “sell computers.”
Invest in Innovation. To realize next generation innovations, companies understand the need to invest in emerging technologies. Capital is a key component of the innovation equation, as demonstrated by Cisco. The company recently increased its venture capital funding.