Kalypso Viewpoints Blog http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/ http://kalypso.com/images/kalypso_logo_icon.png http://kalypso.com/viewpoints The latest blog posts from Kalypso Viewpoints. en info@kalypso.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-23T12:40:43+00:00 Cross-Learning and Best Practice Sharing at Professional Pricing Society’s Spring Conference http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/cross-learning-and-sharing-of-best-practices-at-professional-pricing-societ/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/cross-learning-and-sharing-of-best-practices-at-professional-pricing-societ/#When:12:40:43Z Now into its 23rd year, the Professional Pricing Society (PPS) rang in its Annual Spring Conference in Chicago on May 8-11. The four-day symposium was attended by over 500 pricing professionals from various industries.  It was elevating for members of Kalypso’s Value Management team - James Weaver, Reed Shelger, Jenna Dudevoir and me - to listen to a diverse representation of keynote speakers and subject matter experts.

Alongside the core sessions of the conference were pre- and post-event workshops, and networking breaks in the exhibition hall that provided a unique opportunity for participants to maximize cross-learning, partnering and networking opportunities.

Reflecting on what can only be on the top of many minds post conference, there are several themes I want to highlight as key takeaways from the conference:

Pricing and New Product Development

Developing a new product? Don’t forget the pricing. Just as the art of correctly pricing your products is tantamount to success, so is understanding when in the product lifecycle companies should begin pricing planning. Additionally, a critical step - quite often the first stumble in product development - is to understand a product's true level of innovation and hence the timing of its pricing. Mismanagement of initial pricing can result in reduced revenues and profitability for an organization, as well as for the industry, throughout a product’s entire lifecycle. As a speaker in the Tools & Techniques track, James Weaver tackled the developmental and strategic imperatives of determining the “right” time in the product development stage for pricing during his session “Pricing is NOT an Afterthought”, emphasizing how early pricing strategy can maximize revenue potential.

Organizational Structure, Change and Pricing

Any company pursuing the pricing team concept is embarking on an operational and cultural change. Speakers emphasized the importance of creating and fostering strategic pricing teams with a charter to deliver myriad pricing decisions interwoven throughout the company. For each core pricing team, there is an equal and almost head-on sales team. While there is no one-size-fits-all organizational template to alleviate tension between these teams, companies are now making efforts to make pricing a value asset for sales. The pragmatic need of the sales and the pricing teams to maintain accordance and communication was brought to the forefront by Reuben Swartz of Mimiran, LLC. Before stepping up to their role in creating pricing agendas, pricing teams need to understand what they are being asked to do and why. Laura Preslan from Microsoft illustrated some examples of how to keep large pricing teams motivated while emphasizing that leadership is they key. Making price change happen is the result of building understanding, developing required skills, reinforcing appropriate tools and processes, and creating role models for new behavior. A breakdown in any of these cornerstones is to be avoided.

Value-based Pricing: Establishing Baselines

Value may be one of the most overused terms in pricing today. At first blush, a price is a number that should be comprehended easily but the devil is in the details. Many speakers talked about these details and laid out the key connection of how transactions are priced on consumer willingness, perceived and thereby sold to them.  How price is structured, communicated and eventually collected can easily shift a perception of price level. The reality is that most firms, especially in the B2B and industrial markets, have a vague if not poor idea about the value that they bring to their customers and the competitive pricing premiums they command in the marketplace. Various workshops explored how value-based pricing should be implemented in businesses and consequently the success factors needed for complete orientation towards this approach. The examples and concepts that were laid out are designed to help sharpen a firm’s market intelligence focus by highlighting specific, critical competitive and customer areas that are crucial for determining the ideal competitive yet value-based price.

PPS seeks to promote dialogue and discussion on emerging concepts and insights in the field. A unique coverage of relevant topics and an excellent line up of speakers makes the symposium enlightening for us professionals and academia involved in pricing community. I would like to thank and congratulate the PPS leadership, speakers and participants for a great and successful conference.

James Weaver, Jenna Dudevoir and Aakash Upadhyaya at PPS Spring Conference

 

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]]> Aakash Upadhyaya, Innovation, James Weaver, Jenna Dudevoir, New Product Development, Price Management, Price Strategy, Pricing, Pricing Articles, Pricing Events, Pricing Execution, Pricing Strategies, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Value Management, Product Development, Reed Shelger, Value, Value Analytics, Value Management, Value Pricing, Value Selling 2012-05-23T12:40:43+00:00 #PDPMchat Transcript - May 16, 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-may-16-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-may-16-2012/#When:00:35:40Z On May 16, 2012 Kalypso hosted another exciting #PDPMchat which connects users and experts interested in chatting about portfolio management in 140 characters or less. The May #PDPMchat twitter chat was co-sponsored by Planview and focused on the results from the 2012 Product Portfolio Management Benchmark Survey. Our guest tweeters were Kalypso senior manager, Pamela Soin (@PPMpamela), Jim Brown of Tech-Clarity (@jim_techclarity) and Planview (@Planview).

Check out the #PDPMchat transcript below and see what the experts had to say about the results from the 2012 Benchmark Survey. We've even included links to the resources mentioned. Tweets below are in order with the earliest tweet first and latest tweet last. Click "read next page" at the bottom of the page and read through the entire transcript.

Can't get enough of our Twitter chats? Understandable. These events happen once a month with the goal of creating a dialog and connecting practitioners around portfolio management for product development. Click here and get the details about our next #PDPMchat.

 

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]]> Innovation, PLM Strategy, PLM Systems, PPM, Product Development, Product Lifecycle Management, Social Product Innovation 2012-05-22T00:35:40+00:00 Helayne Angelus - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/helayne-angelus-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/helayne-angelus-a-character-with-character/#When:14:36:50Z I have a diverse background; I am a Greek American who married a Jewish man, Mike, and raised children in reformed Judaism. I  speak English, Spanish and Greek. I can attest to the fact that Greek and Jewish guilt are the same thing. I was born in Boston, then lived the first eight years of my life in three countries. I was going be like my Dad and go into the foreign service to save the world for democracy, but instead I worked in government and then decided to sell soap as one of the first women Procter & Gamble (P&G) hired in sales. I signed up on an all-male P&G interview schedule at Columbia University (I went to Barnard which was all women) and the interviewer fell out of his chair when I showed up. I was hired, and climbed up the sales ladder to VP at P&G. I met and married Mike, who worked at P&G with me, and we had our children, Mariel and Zach, and had dual careers with travel for over 25 years. We lived in New Jersey, Cincinnati and in Caracas, Venezuela before returning to Cincinnati 14 years ago. I left P&G four years ago and formally joined Kalypso a couple of years ago.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Living life to the fullest and seizing every day. This includes spending time with my family - my husband Mike, our daughter Mariel, her significant other Adam and our son Zach along with extended family and my close friends. “Being in the moment” means I have fun doing yoga, zumba, working out, swimming, skiing and hiking. I  have completed three Susan G Komen 60-mile walks to fight breast cancer; I will do my fourth this year. I love to shop – ask any Saks associate and check out my “closet” - I do believe in retail therapy.

I also believe in the principles of karma and helping others. My personal passion has been to found the Network of Executive Women (NEW), and further their mission, which is to attract, retain, and advance women in the consumer products and retail industry through education, leadership and business development. As a founding officer I still am very involved in NEW and lead three committees. Every day I try to live my personal mission statement, which I have had for over 22 years.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My grandmother, “Yiayia" Eleni. She was a Greek immigrant with little formal education who had a difficult life. Yiayia lived with us most of my life and was an accomplished business woman and pioneer. She ran a shoe shine, cleaners and tailor shop as a widow when most women were not running a business. She was a role model of strength, hard work, overcoming obstacles and loyalty to family. Yiayia taught me that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to do, and to be true to yourself. She bought commercial real estate without an education and was a shrewd judge of character and finances; she collected rent herself by knocking on the door if you were a day late. She refused to speak English to me so I learned Greek. My family and friends still tell Yiayia stories fifty years later.

What is your motto?

"Seize the Day! Take Some Risks!" The photo above is me overcoming my fear of heights by ziplining with my son Zach last fall. I was hyperventilating and tree hugging the first few ziplines, but as you can see at the end of ten ziplines I am “falling back” (I did this without any happy pills).

If you were a geographical feature (think estuary or escarpment), which feature would you be and why?

I would rather compare myself to a statue - my favorite is Athena, goddess of war and protector of Athens. I like that she is stronger than the male gods, is smart, has a weapon and fights for a greater cause (the Greeks could use Athena’s powers and protection today).

When were you the most embarrassed you’ve ever been?

Thirty years ago I was one of the first women district mangers at P&G. I once dressed up as Orphan Annie as part of a marketing tie-in to sell my number one customer, Pathmark, a big Annie promotion. The receptionist called security and my peers held an emergency meeting to “deal with Helayne.” I got a call the same afternoon from the VP at Pathmark who I tried unsuccessfully to meet for months and he said he "wanted to meet anyone who is 'gutsy' enough to dress up as Annie right away." The rest was history - we shipped record years at Pathmark, built the business and market share. I got promoted two years later. Sometimes you have to take some calculated risks, be bold, and do something no one else will do to break out of the pack; at the time, though, I was not sure I would stay employed at P&G.

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Helayne is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Helayne Angelus, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-05-18T14:36:50+00:00 Gale Fogg - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/gale-fogg-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/gale-fogg-a-character-with-character/#When:14:57:13Z True Confessions - my first career was selling drugs! I would have never thought this is how I’d turn out; I always wanted to be a Broadway singer or dancer.  But life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it will when you’re a kid, and I ended up at 22 years old selling drugs in Killeen, Texas.  Okay, they were the legal kind, but still. Killeen was not what I was used to growing up in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Killeen can be a pretty mean place - it’s the largest troop post in the free world because of Fort Hood.  It has more pawn shops and "ladies of the evening" than New York City for anyone who wants to pursue their passions. But then life took another twist - I moved to Cincinnati and went to work for Procter & Gamble. That was over 26 years ago, and now I’m embarking on another promising career at Kalypso. The learning - say if you have a friend whose first career doesn’t quite turn out the way he/she wanted because they didn’t start with a great firm like Kalypso - is, as Fred and Ginger sang in Swing Time -“pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.”

Who would you have liked to be?  

My passion was musical theatre; I spent all my free time outside of school honing my singing, dancing, and acting skills.

To you, what is the lowest depth of misery?  

No available chocolate.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? 

Of course my husband.

If you were a pharmaceutical drug, what drug would you be and why? 

A broadspectrum antibiotic. People feel horrible and then you come in and make them feel better by killing the bad guys.

When was a time you realized you were very good at something? 

School - it was pretty easy.

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Gale is a Senior Manager. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

 

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]]> Characters with Character, Gale Fogg, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-05-10T14:57:13+00:00 Transforming the Front End of Innovation: Webcast Transcript http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/front-end-of-innovation-webcast-transcript/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/front-end-of-innovation-webcast-transcript/#When:15:32:55Z Check out the transcript from the recent webcast "Transform the Front End of Innovation to Develop Bigger, Better Ideas: A Kimberly-Clark Case Study" (now available on demand) hosted by CGT, Kimberly-Clark, Sopheon and Kalypso. In this webcast, we heard how Kimberly-Clark is enhancing the front end of innovation to enable bigger and better ideas -- that drive bigger and better business results. Cor Bosselaar, Director, Global Innovation Capabilities & Processes at Kimberly-Clark, explored how K-C dramatically improved idea and concept development with a central, global collaboration process and tool.

We also heard Kalypso and Sopheon's "Top 10" list of industry-leading practices for improving ideation and concept development processes that can help consumer goods companies.

Tweets below are in order with the earliest tweet first and latest tweet last. Click "read next page" at the bottom of the page and read through the entire transcript. Click here to view the webcast on demand.

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]]> 2012-05-06T15:32:55+00:00 Gerry Miller - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/gerry-miller-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/gerry-miller-a-character-with-character/#When:15:36:18Z I love the outdoors and really cherish any time I get to hike mountains and canoe swift rivers.  Hunting and golf are fun, especially the part that involves walking outdoors and enjoying the scenery (that is why I rarely make par and don’t have a wall covered with trophies).  I get into home improvement projects (sometimes over my head) - for example, I replaced my wall-to-wall carpeting with marble tile and built a fish pond and waterfall in the past year.  I am also trying to learn how to play piano so I can someday create my own R&B music.

Your favorite virtue?

Humility, coupled with courage of conviction.

Your favorite travel destination? 

The Port of Eden in New South Wales, Australia.

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction? 

Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the protagonist in a Saxon Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell.  Uhtred, a Pagan, lived in 9th Century Britain and was very complex in his loyalty and general attitude.

If you were a publication, which publication would you be and why? 

The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. If a Libertarian were ever to win the US Presidency, the world would be a much better place.

When was a time you felt you were the only person who “got it”? 

One such time was in 2001 while sitting with six German management consulting colleagues at a table at Brauhaus Ernst August in Hannover, Germany.  The topic of discussion was “unionizing” the profession of management consulting in Germany and I was the only one arguing against the approach.

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Gerry is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Gerry Miller, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-05-04T15:36:18+00:00 FDA Compliance and Human Factors: Take-Aways from the 2012 Medical Device Summit http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/fda-compliance-and-human-factors-take-aways-from-the-2012-medical-device-su/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/fda-compliance-and-human-factors-take-aways-from-the-2012-medical-device-su/#When:14:30:01Z We recently attended the 2nd annual Medical Device Summit Workshop event, which covered key issues in complaints, medical device reports, FDA inspections and CAPA (corrective and preventative action) systems. The seminar boasted excellent speakers from the industry and the FDA, and topics that explored what it really took to successfully implement these mandated systems. It was a great opportunity to network with other medical device innovation professionals, and based on the conversations we had and the speakers we saw, we left the event with two key take-aways from a new product development perspective.

First, as a Kalypso white paper (Beyond Compliance: Medical Device Product Development) states, for a medical device company to truly thrive in this regulated industry, their management needs to think and act beyond the compliance requirements of the FDA. Though these mandated systems for design requirements, complaint capture, and corrective actions will help companies continuously improve their products over time, they are not enough to ensure financial success in the market place. Companies still need a thoughtful product development process that links with the mandated systems, and also enhances the overall innovation performance for the company. This parallel business process needs to build upon the organizational learnings from the mandated systems, leveraging them as formal inputs to the product design process, and better informing the design community of past lessons. So the bottom line here is that it’s not enough to just follow the requirements of the FDA for new product development success, med device companies must go beyond compliance.

Second, Garth Conrad, Senior Director of Quality for Medtronic, made a strong case that human factors are often overlooked when it comes to systems-based process improvements, and that these human factors make the difference between a successful implementation and frustration for all involved. “Human factors” describes the study of the way humans relate to the world around them, in this case a new business system.

Conrad pointed out that many system implementations take a fairly simple, visible paper process and reconstruct it within the screens and tables of a system. This typically confuses users, especially those who only interact with the system a few times a year. To implement a new process effectively, implementers need to first recognize that they are re-engineering a business process, and frame their approach from this perspective. They can then systematically define user profiles, ensure process usability, develop user documentation and then create training programs to communicate the roles effectively. Without considering the “human factor” dimension adequately, implementations are prone to poor results. 

This insight also challenges software vendors to better design their systems for their end users. The end users probably had a simple form that was the backbone of their previous, paper-based process, so how can software companies use that form to help users recognize their process and understand what they need to do? Think of what the Apple iPhone demonstrated with all its easy to understand applications. The packaged software company that solves this challenge first will have a significant competitive advantage.

What do you see as critical to new product development success in medical devices or life sciences? Have you successfully implemented a new system where attention to human factors played a role in its success? Are there aspects of user interfaces that you particularly like or dislike?

 

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]]> Cathi Crist, Compliance, Medical Device, Medical Device Consulting, Medical Device Events, Medical Device Innovation, Medical Device Innovation Consulting, Medical Device PLM Solutions, Medical Device White Paper, Michael Glessner 2012-04-30T14:30:01+00:00 Michael Glessner - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/michael-glessner-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/michael-glessner-a-character-with-character/#When:09:54:03Z This is not an easy assignment. OK…first we need to get clear on what’s funny - I think funny is a Harvard MBA that can rebuild a V8 engine and does his own mechanical work.  The car in the photo is the restoration of a vehicle finished two months ago that I owned through high school and college. This was THE key item on my bucket list.  I am married to the love of my life, Colleen. We have three amazing kids and a high strung dog, Buddy.  Because of them, my life has never been dull or quiet, resulting in me becoming the classic ice hockey and dance dad (if you’ve seen the show Dance Moms you’ll understand).  I am a native of Philadelphia, born and raised in the suburbs; I have lived in the Midwest, Texas, Canada and New England.  I am an avid Flyers fan.  During business hours I drink tea, not coffee.  I prefer beer to mixed drinks with the exception of a good scotch.  I am a closet fan of curling after attending the US National Tournament in Philly this year.  I attend Mass weekly and love detective novels - Raymond Chandler is still the best.

What is your most marked characteristic? 

Reliability - I fulfill commitments.

Which words are phrases do you most overuse? 

"Got it."

Your favorite musician? 

My taste in music is quite varied depending on mood and circumstances (Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik or George Winston, to Rush, Boston or AC/DC).  

What is your favorite journey?

My favorite journey is coming home...

When was a time you felt you could do anything? 

The day I received my acceptance letter to Harvard.

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Michael is a Senior Manager. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Michael Glessner 2012-04-27T09:54:03+00:00 New Product Development and Lean Innovation http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/new-product-development-and-lean-innovation/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/new-product-development-and-lean-innovation/#When:21:05:31Z In both operations and manufacturing, the concept of “lean,” has earned its reputation as a powerful toolset that drives down cost and improves cycle-times. Lean manufacturing achieves this value through a focus on eliminating waste, standardizing processes, and creating value from an end customer standpoint. As companies strive to increase growth and profitability from their New Product Development (NPD) and innovation investments, some executives are looking to apply lean concepts in this area. But when it comes to the more creative and fuzzy practices of innovation, following lean practices without strategic direction from portfolio and pipeline management (P&PM) capabilities can have unintended consequences including: stifling ideation processes, focusing only on customer requests and not the next big innovation, over-standardization, and speeding up the wrong projects.

From our experience, lean NPD efforts without P&PM often prove ineffective because they:

  • Are unable to effectively communicate the value proposition and need for efficiency improvements to the NPD audience
  • Become too binary with metrics – occasionally canceling lower “value” but strategic projects
  • Expend energy improving processes that aren’t the constraint or that don’t deliver results
  • Distract from delivering large scale, high growth innovations simply because these are not “repeatable”

Combining P&PM processes with lean practices for NPD and innovation shows companies where to focus their efforts for maximum impact, and once established, creates processes that can be further improved. P&PM ensures that companies stay true to delivering results by providing visibility into what is most important. They can then apply tactical lean approaches to help get there.

To hear more on how P&PM capabilities can help your company focus lean efforts to strategically drive new ideas to market while cutting waste – not creativity, please join Kalypso’s Pamela Soin for her session during PIPELINE 2012. Register today at http://events.unisfair.com/rt/pipeline~2012?code=ka.

 

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]]> Avjit Dugal, Lean, Nova, Nova for PPM, Nova Model, Nova PPM Model, NPD, Pamela Soin, Portfolio & Pipeline Management, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Management Consulting, Sean Klein 2012-04-25T21:05:31+00:00 Rod Walters - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rod-walters-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rod-walters-a-character-with-character/#When:15:57:19Z I grew up in the town of Darien, Connecticut and have been a thrill-seeker from an early age. I spent three summers in high school in Wildwood, New Jersey on the Jersey Shore playing summer league ball, surfing great breaks in Cape May during hurricanes and learning the realities of life. This was well before Snooki was on the screen, mind you!  I was playing college football when I discovered rugby, truly a gentlemen's game; this lead to pig roasts on the Cape, rocket fuel punches, and ten years of devoting my body and soul to the game.  I moved to San Francisco to play rugby after college and toured England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand, where I undoubtedly committed countless sins along the way. To make ends meet, I gave up bartending and I started a professional career in the software industry. Along the way, I found the love of my life, had four wonderful daughters and managed to keep my body relatively intact, despite my best efforts. I did manage to "Beat on the Brat" with the Ramones at the Hollywood Palladium, shoot a 76 (no small feat if you truly count every stroke), snow and waterski on the same day (please see the lake in the background) and taste some of the finest scotches in Scotland. Most recently I changed industries and discovered the true joy of being a "consultant" and acting in the best interests of the client.

Your favorite cuisine?

There is a simple, clean and completely natural elegance to the way Italians prepare and consume food. After years of frequenting the greatest restaurant in the world - Al Forno in Providence, Rhode Island - I am a disciple of Cucina Simpatica.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

Black Label Scotch.

What natural gift would you most like to possess? Why?

To drive a 100 mile an hour fastball 520 feet into the deepest parts of center field. I would prefer to do this with two outs, two strikes, down three runs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 of the World Series, with the entire world speechless during that split second when the pitcher releases the ball before you hear the crack of the bat. This would be the ultimate feat!

If you were a vehicle, which vehicle would you be and why?

A Ford F-150 truck. This is the best designed, most durable, strongest, hardest working vehicle on the road that represents greatness of America and ingenuity. Today, even when loaded with technology and modern comforts, it offers great value and utility for the price. Too bad my wife would kill me if I brought one home.

When was a time you were indomitably confident?

A basketball game against the Ridgefield Tigers. We were down one point with four seconds on the clock and the ball was inbounded to me at half court. With no hesitation, I dribbled three times and shot from well beyond the arc and - swish! Winner!

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Rod is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Rod Walters 2012-04-20T15:57:19+00:00 #PDPMchat Transcript - April 18, 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-april-18-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-april-18-2012/#When:03:55:20Z On April 18, 2012 Kalypso hosted another exciting #PDPMchat which connects users and experts interested in chatting about portfolio management in 140 characters or less. The April #PDPMchat twitter chat was co-sponsored by Planview and focused on upcoming event, PIPELINE 2012. Our guest tweeters were Kalypso senior manager, Pamela Soin (@PPMpamela), founding partner, Bill Poston (@bill_poston), Jim Brown of Tech-Clarity (@jim_techclarity) and Pipeline 2012 (@Pipeline_2012). 

Pipeline 2012 marks the third year of participation for Kalypso. This innovative, virtual tradeshow provides a platform for product development and product pipeline management practioners to gather online and discuss innovation, get inspired, and share experience and knowledge through presentations and on-demand sessions.

The complimentary event is on May 10th. Make sure you register here to join us at PIPELINE 2012 and don't forget to stop by Kalypso's booth!

Check out the #PDPMchat transcript below and see what the experts had to say about upcoming PIPELINE 2012. We've even included links to the resources mentioned. Tweets below are in order with the earliest tweet first and latest tweet last. Click "read next page" at the bottom of the page and read through the entire transcript.

Can't get enough of our Twitter chats? Understandable. These events happen once a month with the goal of creating a dialog and connecting practitioners around portfolio management for product development. Click here and get the details about our next #PDPMchat.

 

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]]> Innovation, Pipeline, Pipeline 2011, Pipeline and Portfolio Management, Pipeline Management, PLM, PPM, PPM Events, PPM Nova 2012-04-19T03:55:20+00:00 Van Gresham - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/van-gresham-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/van-gresham-a-character-with-character/#When:14:24:53Z I am just a good ‘ole boy from southwest Virginia. I was born and raised in the small town of Salem, where high school football is king. Salem is about 30 minutes northeast of Blacksburg, the greatest college football town in America and home to the Virginia Tech Hokies - and no, a Hokie is not a castrated turkey. People say I am a bit neurotic about Virginia Tech football and tailgating before both home and away games. In fact, I gave a name to our tailgate crew and have been known to develop layouts for the tailgate setups. Virginia Tech holds a special place in my heart because I met my wife of 16 years at a bar during country night. We have 2.0 children and a yellow lab named Riggins. I also enjoy boating, red wine, good food, and hanging out on my back porch during the summer.

What is it that you most dislike?

If you were to ask my kids this question they would tell you that I dislike laziness.

Who has had the most influence on you?

My parents have had the most influence on me because they taught me to work hard for the things I wanted in life.

If you were to die and choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A very expensive bottle of red wine.

If you were a fictional character, which character would you be and why?

If I were a fictional character I would have to be Batman. First of all, Batman did not have any super powers and true heroes do not rely on super powers. I also like the fact that Batman operated on a strict code of conduct and ethics, something that I believe gets lost in today’s society. Plus, he always has really cool gadgets - being an engineer, that appeals to my geeky side.

When was a time you were totally and completely lost?

I can’t say that I have ever been totally and completely lost; in fact, people refer to me as Rand McNally for my sense of direction. Although, after Bill Poston told me to drive all the way around the “Road to Hana” on Maui I thought he was purposely trying to make sure that I got lost.

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Van is a Manager. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Van Gresham 2012-04-13T14:24:53+00:00 James Weaver - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/james-weaver-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/james-weaver-a-character-with-character/#When:14:12:46Z I’ve been married for twelve years and have four beautiful children (three daughters and a son), all under the age of ten – which makes my wife, Karen, a saint! I’ve been in client services for fifteen years and served honorably in the US Air Force before that. After my family, I have two passions: 1) I love to play golf, but I’m terrible at it, partly because I don’t have time to practice with four children, and mostly because – well, I’m terrible! 2) I’m an avid booster of Baylor Bear athletics, you know - RG3 (I was there when he locked up the Heisman!), awesome hoops and other great sports. Sic’em Bears! Interesting fact: In 1992, while I was serving in the Air Force in England, I was the head coach of the Stoke Spitfires (a UK semi-pro football team). While that’s sort of interesting, what makes it a worthy Kalypsonian characteristic is that this allowed me to become part of Bear Bryant’s coaching tree of head coaches! So, Bear Bryant coached Gene Stallings who then coached my high school coach, Mark Weaver (no relation)!

What historical figures do you most identify with?

Leaders who innovated and empowered their teams to out-perform their potential, making the whole greater than the sum of the individuals. Folks like Dwight Eisenhower, John Wooden and Steve Jobs.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

Healing – I have a special needs child and if I could, I would do everything possible to aid him and all of those very special children.

What is your greatest fear?

Any harm coming to my family.

If you were to die and choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Big Tex – because everyone who attends the State Fair of Texas would be glad to see me and I would get to welcome them all and say, “Howdy folks”. I'd also get to wear boots and jeans to work!

When was a time you realized you had to “grow up”?

When I got off of the bus at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for Boot Camp!

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James is the Value Management and Pricing Lead. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, James Weaver, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-04-05T14:12:46+00:00 Top 10 Innovation Viewpoints of Q1 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/top-10-innovation-viewpoints-of-q1-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/top-10-innovation-viewpoints-of-q1-2012/#When:20:28:27Z Somehow, it is April already and Q2 has begun. To share with our readers our latest viewpoints on innovation, at the end of each quarter we will be publishing a list of the top 10 most popular viewpoints. You'll likely find a mix of newly published content along with some classic viewpoints that have proven they have staying power.

Which topics captured the most attention in Q1 2012? Check out the list below to find out.

  1. The Value of Open Innovation for B2B Companies - Michael Glessner
  2. Calling All Engineers: Beyond Form, Fit and Function - Lee Peterman
  3. Predictions for Social Product Innovation in 2012 - Amy Kenly and Jim Brown
  4. Pricing Is Not an Afterthought - James Weaver and Ankur Sood
  5. Healthcare Product Innovation: Key Trends and Success Factors - Andrew Nygard
  6. Complexity Reduction Part 3: SKU Portfolio Optimization and Brand Strategy - Mick Broekhof
  7. Healthcare Reform and Innovation: Get Ready for Change - Andrew Nygard
  8. How to Run R&D Like a Business - Chip Perry and Scott Gamble
  9. Top Strategic Goals of PLM: Why "Going Live" Is Not One of Them - Andreas Lindenthal and Amy Kenly
  10. 10 Proven Practices for Evaluating PLM - Andreas Lindenthal

What was on your reading list in? What topic(s) do you want to see us talk about in Q2?

 

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]]> Blog, Complexity Management, Complexity Reduction, Healthcare, Healthcare Innovation, Healthcare Product Innovation, Innovation, Innovation Articles, Innovation Authors, Innovation Blogs, Innovation Information, Innovation Viewpoints, Innovation White Paper, Kalypso Blog, Kalypso Viewpoints, PLM, Podcast, Pricing, Product Development, Product Innovation, R&D, R&D Leadership, R&D Management, R&D Management Framework, R&D Strategy, Social Media, Social Product Innovation, Value Management 2012-04-02T20:28:27+00:00 Anthony Brinegar - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/anthony-brinegar-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/anthony-brinegar-a-character-with-character/#When:15:51:44Z Although I was raised about 30 minutes from the Amish-y parts of Pennsylvania, I've spent the last decade outside of Raleigh, North Carolina.  Last year, Mary, my beautiful girlfriend, was foolish enough to marry me (without a bribe).  So, since then, we have been working on our retirement - by that, I mean baking up some kids who will love us enough when we get wrinkly to opt for one of the retirement communities with a private golf course (as against Kalypso's original values as that awful sport is).  Until then, I look forward to the continued loss of sleep as I improve my software skills on the technologies the firm uses to make our clients’ lives better. I yearn for the day I can provide a status report with absolutely zero expletives or aggravated comments (it is going to be a very, very long road).

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Is there such a thing as perfect happiness? How depressing it would be to arrive at a point when you longer want or wish for anything better. Instead, couldn’t we view the world and our brief but fantastic lives with the understanding that true happiness lies in the "now"? With all of that said, my final answer is: Red Velvet Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.

What is your favorite way to spend your time?

Engaged artistically - by any means or medium: drawing, writing, etc. Communicating thoughts and emotions through some form of expression keeps me going. It’s what I look forward to when I leave the bed (those days when I, in fact, decide to actually leave my bed).

Who are your heroes in real life?

The few times I've witnessed a person doing something charitable for someone they don’t know, I consider those individuals heroes; those who fight in a war for a country full of people they don't know or choose to help someone get their next meal.  Also, anyone who serves alcohol.

If you were a fried food item (think state fair), which fried food item would you be and why?

Was I asked this because I've put on a few pounds lately?  Is this profiling?  Why not, If you were a salad… or, If you were a low calorie smoothie…? It isn't bathing suit season yet, I've still got time. I just signed up for Zumba classes and everything. How completely rude…

When was a time you were most embarrassed?

I struck out playing Tee Ball. You know, that form of baseball for little kids where the pitcher pretends to pitch, but the ball is sitting on a tee right in front of you? When I say "struck out", I mean I took three swings with a bat (roughly the size of me at the time) and, all three times, failed to connect at ALL with the stationary baseball directly in front of me. When I had to walk away from the plate, no one from either team made a noise - not even to laugh. It was not in their realm of possibility that such a thing would/could ever happen. Yeah. Anyone still question why I picked a life behind a desk?

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Anthony is a Senior Analyst. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Anthony Brinegar, Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-03-30T15:51:44+00:00 Rapid Results: Just Another PLM Implementation Methodology? No Way - Here’s Why http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rapid-results-just-another-plm-implementation-methodology-no-way-heres-why/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rapid-results-just-another-plm-implementation-methodology-no-way-heres-why/#When:15:33:02Z After nearly eight years of product lifecycle management (PLM) deployments across various vertical markets, a firm can learn a lot. Putting that experience and knowledge to use, this week we launched the next generation of Rapid Results, our business benefits-driven PLM implementation methodology.

Is this just another PLM implementation methodology, like the dozens of others out there? Our Rapid Results team leaders Daniela Ilieva and Richard Mizuno say "no way" - and here's why.

1. Ok, guys. What is Rapid Results?

Daniela: Rapid Results is Kalypso’s proven and leading practice-based methodology for implementing PLM applications.  We call it Rapid Results because it has been explicitly engineered to help our clients begin realizing business benefits from their PLM programs more quickly, while simultaneously managing the risks of a major business change program. We just launched the second generation of Rapid Results this week.

2. Why did Kalypso develop this next evolution of Rapid Results? What changed?

Richard: Since Kalypso was founded, we have successfully completed almost eight years' worth of PLM implementations across a variety of industries and across all leading PLM platforms.  So first and foremost, we wanted to make sure we captured all of these experiences, lessons and insights, and used them to improve the next generation of PLM implementations.

We also wanted to reflect some practical realities of a PLM program’s lifecycle.  One key reality is that there can be any number of entry points to a PLM implementation program, so we modified the front end of Rapid Results to allow for different project launch points.  For example, some projects start with a PLM needs assessment, others don’t; some clients already have a PLM application in place, others don’t - and so forth. 

Daniela: Yes, and another reality we wanted to reflect is that the PLM journey really starts with go-live.  Many organizations believe go-live is the end, but in reality, it’s the launch point for having the capability to effectively manage products and product data over their entire lifecycle.  This requires having continuous improvement and governance processes in place to enhance and extend these new capabilities so they don’t stagnate and die.

Richard: Lastly, we wanted to take the opportunity to re-platform Rapid Results technically to allow for easier and faster distribution of the most up-to-date version and its embedded accelerators and tools.  In fact, we are looking into making Rapid Results available on demand to the public via our website so anyone can have access to the same version we use on our projects.

3. You mention that Rapid Results is not just another implementation methodology. Why is that?

Daniela: There are several ways Rapid Results differs from other PLM implementation methodologies, and really, how Kalypso differs from other PLM implementers.  Three of the most important differences are:

  1. The relentless pursuit of results is THE underlying theme.  This is at the core of what we do and is the reason clients engage Kalypso - to achieve lasting business results.
  2. We also fully embrace an iterative and rapid prototyping approach to solution design.  Iterative and rapid prototyping are recognized best practices in the new product development field and apply equally well to the design of PLM solutions.  We have found that this approach is superior in its ability to handle changing or unknown business requirements and is better suited to providing consistent engagement with the end user community during the design phase. 
  3. Rapid Results explicitly recognizes how the project work itself can facilitate user adoption.  Historically, user adoption has been assumed to be synonymous with end user training;  occasionally, there is a person or team charted with change management as well.  While formal training and organizational change management processes are critically important, we have also found that core project activities, such as solution design, testing, and deployment, can be performed in a manner that enhances the user adoption process.

4. What industries are best suited for Rapid Results?

Richard: Rapid Results applies equally well across industries and, like Kalypso itself, is software independent.  Rapid Results has helped our clients achieve lasting business results in industries as diverse as consumer packaged goods, life sciences, automotive, manufacturing, food and beverage, and high tech.

5. How would you explain Rapid Results to your family members/friends who are not in the industry?

Daniela: Rapid Results is the “cookbook for cooks” for a Kalypso PLM implementation team.  Just as a cookbook guides an experienced cook in putting together a successful meal, Rapid Results guides our teams in leading successful PLM implementations.  The methodology contains a series of work modules that are organized by thread and phase, just as recipes in a cookbook are organized by type of dish and course.

6. If Rapid Results was a ride at Disneyworld, which one would it be? Why?

Richard: Good question!  Whatever it is, it’s definitely an E ticket ride.  One possible analogy is the new Star Tours Star Wars ride.  Much as you can ride Star Tours several times and not see the same scenario twice, no two PLM implementations are exactly alike and they all pose interesting challenges.  But despite the wild ride, you know you’ll arrive at your destination safely.  We hope Rapid Results is like The Force - always with you and delivering you safely.

To see what all the excitement is about, download our Rapid Results PDF. The Rapid Results team can also be reached directly at rapid.results@kalypso.com.

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]]> Daniela Ilieva, PLM, PLM Implementation, PLM Implementation Approach, PLM Implementation Consultants, PLM Implementation Consulting, PLM Implementation Methodology, PLM Implementation Strategy, PLM Services, PLM Strategy, PLM System Implementation, PLM Systems, PLM Systems Implementation, Product Lifecycle, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Lifecycle Management Consulting, Product Lifecycle Management Implementation, Product Lifecycle Management Strategy, Rapid PLM Implementation, Rapid Results, Rapid Results Implementation Methodology, Richard Mizuno 2012-03-29T15:33:02+00:00 Measuring Healthcare Innovation: The 2012 Healthcare and Product Development Survey http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/measuring-healthcare-innovation-the-2012-healthcare-and-product-development/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/measuring-healthcare-innovation-the-2012-healthcare-and-product-development/#When:19:09:58Z 2012 is shaping up to be a very interesting year of innovation for healthcare product development. Kalypso is tracking five major forces that drive the need for innovation and will require your organization to anticipate and adapt to new environments, and focus on emerging risks and opportunities - all while managing the existing business. The five major forces are:

  1. Cost - Increasing costs have driven large self-insured groups to demand innovation in product design and delivery, and improved focus on chronic care.  Both large and small groups will continue to drive more cost to employees through benefit design changes (co-pays, co-insurance, out of pocket maximums) and Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHPs).
  2. Efficacy – The US healthcare system consistently delivers lower quality outcomes for twice the per capita investment as compared to other nations.  Healthcare reform and the large self-insured groups are demanding better results for less money, resulting in new concepts such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) to drive higher results with less cost.
  3. Access – With somewhere north of 50 million Americans having access to basic health insurance, healthcare reform has mandated the creation of Retail Exchanges by 2014 with game-changing implications for plans and brokers alike.
  4. Technology - Rapid advances in medical devices and equipment, computational modeling and pharmaceuticals are driving the need to innovate and adapt in healthcare.  A few major trends in technology include “big data”, mobility and personal device integration. 
  5. Business Model Innovation – The emergence of non-traditional clinical delivery models such as retail clinics threaten traditional Individual Physician Associations (IPAs) and big box hospitals, as well as demand new strategies in network and product design by payors.

Addressing these forces can be a daunting prospect if you’re not prepared and focused. 

That’s the purpose of the second annual 2012 Healthcare and Produce Development survey – to provide you with an opportunity to think through the challenges you face, the investments in capability you’ll need to make, and the barriers to success you’ll face in realizing the potential of the emerging healthcare marketplace.

The more participation, the better the results, and the greater the insights we can provide back to you. How can you help?

  1. Complete the survey - it will take about 15 minutes.
  2. Pass it on to leaders in your organization – if you can help us to get a good cross-functional view (six or more participants from different silos in your company) we can personalize and share the results with you. 
  3. Pass it on to leaders in other organizations – this will let us add additional layers of insight to our findings to help you make the decisions you need to make.

We look forward to the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to your perspectives on what it is going to take to innovate and grow in these rapidly changing times.

Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YNPDWGN to participate in the survey.

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]]> Healthcare, Healthcare Innovation, Healthcare Product Innovation, Healthcare Reform, Innovation, Product Development 2012-03-26T19:09:58+00:00 Chip Perry - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/chip-perry-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/chip-perry-a-character-with-character/#When:14:56:10Z I’ve been with Kalypso close to six years now. That makes me employee number 10 or so - I’m damn proud of that. I worked for The Pillsbury Company for seventeen years and that experience was great, but the Kalypso experience has been so rich. If you’d asked me 10 years ago what I’d be doing now, I couldn't have guessed I'd be circling the globe working with the best of the best consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and incredible clients. 

Your favorite destination?

Hong Kong - my son lives there now. I was able to spend a week with him last November scheduled around one of my global business trips. He took me to Happy Valley Race Track which is located right in the heart of downtown Hong Kong - stunning views of the city.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

Being able to work with the incredible new talent that find their way to Kalypso; they ask so many questions and want to know everything all at once. They challenge me and I hope I’m able to pass on a few tricks of the trade.

What natural gift would you most like to possess? Why? 

A photographic memory - then I could take fewer notes and listen even more closely to what my client is saying.

If you were a piece of fine art, which piece would you be and why? 

As the firm’s token English major, I think I qualify as a piece of art in and of myself.

When was a time you were scared out of your mind? 

In front of 30 Australian engineers talking to them about a product lifecycle management (PLM) implementation. I’d just landed after a fifteen-hour flight from the states and only had time for a shower and shave before “show time.”

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Chip is a Director. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Chip Perry, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-03-23T14:56:10+00:00 #PDPMchat Transcript - March 21, 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-march-21-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-march-21-2012/#When:20:39:04Z March 21, 2012 marked the second iteration of our exciting #PDPMchat which connects users and experts interested in chatting about Portfolio Management in 140 characters or less. Kalypso hosted the March #PDPMchat on Twitter along with co-sponsor, Planisware. Our guest experts were Senior Manager, Pamela Soin, and Planisware's Jeremy Scully. They both had a lot to say about successful portfolio management.

Kalypso and Planisware have partnered on Nova for PPM powered by Planisware, which enables product-oriented organizations to quickly implement, adopt and execute successful practical portfolio management. Subject matter experts Soin and Scully were on deck to discuss best Porfolio and Pipeline Management practices with the Twitterworld.

Check out the transcript below and see what these Nova model connoisseurs had to say about executing practical portfolio management. We've even included links to the resources mentioned.

Can't get enough of our Twitter chats? Understandable. These events happen once a month with the goal of creating a dialog and connecting practitioners around portfolio management for product development. Click here and get the details about our next #PDPMchat.

Tweets below are in order with the earliest tweet first and latest tweet last. Click "show more" at the bottom of the page to read the entire transcript.

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]]> Blog, Innovation, PLM, Portfolio Management, PPM, Product Innovation, Social Product Innovation 2012-03-21T20:39:04+00:00 Crash of Kalypsonians http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/crash-of-kalypsonians/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/crash-of-kalypsonians/#When:20:01:58Z You look across the prairie and you see them, buffalo scattered across the tall grass of individual stalks that move as one, maybe because they're threaded together under the soil. The bison graze as a permanent speckling of brown against a light golden ground-canvas and even lighter sky above. And you understand, as they remain so intentionally, why a group of buffalo is called an Obstinacy. Obstinate against your eyesight and the horizon. Obstinate in their choice to be seen after so many have been forcefully removed.

And maybe down a stretch of road, closer to the power lines you see the rest of the birds "at church", as grandmothers often say, lined up neatly on the wire. Down below, however, on a grounded log or mangled fence post are the ravens. Low enough to take a swift dive into the ditch where a lost one has stumbled, close enough to look into the eyes of the vulnerable. The ravens, when congregated this way are called an Unkindness. Or, as Poe might have liked - a Storytelling.

And the elephants are called a Memory, because they never forget.

The foxes can be called an Earth because their homes are the innards of the world.

There is a Lounge of lizards on the rock with sun between their scales and further on, with a desire to catch the eye of passersby is an Ostentation of peacocks.

The zebras, for alliteration's sake, are called a Zeal.

It seems every group has a name - a moniker to bring meaning to a time when they are gathered, to bring understanding to the business they do as a unit.

Kalypsonians are a breed you may have heard of (or, simply heard) - they're the cackling ones, laughing their heads off and dancing. They're the ones who sing and play music and dream about being super heroes. The Kalypsonians - they're the ones who see the world. They create, they push themselves physically, mentally, emotionally. To exist within this group, Kalypso, is to see what isn't talked about and discover what isn't thought about. It requires creating something out of nothing, and then giving meaning to it.

It means being a real person all of the time.

Taking into account the force with which these Kalypsonians live and understanding the presence they have as a group - they are rightly known as a Crash. A Crash of Kalypsonians heard all over the world and felt deep on the inside. That feeling is the feeling of a group who is completely themselves, and terribly good at it.

A Crash of Kalypsonians - that's who you've been hearing about.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypsonians 2012-03-21T20:01:58+00:00 Are You Ready for New Food Safety Regulatory Requirements? Webcast Transcript Highlights http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/are-you-ready-for-new-food-safety-regulatory-requirements/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/are-you-ready-for-new-food-safety-regulatory-requirements/#When:21:18:21Z

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]]> Agile PLM, Agile PLM Consulting, Agile PLM for Process, Consumer Goods, F&B, FDA, FDA Regulations, Food & Beverage, Food and Beverage, Food and Beverage PLM, Food Industry Events, Food Manufacturers, Food Manufacturing, Food Recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Regulations, Food Safety Regulatory Compliance, Food Safety Regulatory Requirements, Fred Brown, Kroger, Oracle, Oracle Agile, Oracle Agile PLM, Oracle PLM for Process, PLM, PLM for Process, Private Brands, Private Label, Private Label Retail, Retail, Retailers 2012-03-16T21:18:21+00:00 Paul Beck - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/paul-beck-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/paul-beck-a-character-with-character/#When:14:58:06Z To understand me is to understand my roots, which are deep in the western United States - more specifically the Wasatch Front of Utah.  I am living proof that you can take the boy out of the west but you cannot take the west out of the boy.  I am as comfortable in full cowboy garb on top of a finely trained quarter horse high in the Uinta Mountains some thirty miles from the nearest paved highway as I am in a board room in corporate America.  My passion for business started early when I was named a Sterling Scholar in business in high school followed by four quick years at the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah earning both a BS in Marketing and an MBA.  From there I was on to P&G where, for 31 years, I was blessed to travel the world and work on every business we had other than institutional chemicals (my good friend and fellow Kalypsonian Mike Friedman did the institutional chemicals stint - so between us we covered them all).  I am elated to be back at Kalypso after a three year hiatus in Phoenix, Arizona doing volunteer work and am excited to help grow Kalypso and all Kalypsonians by implementing my personal mantra of, “If it is to be it is up to me!”

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness is knowing that you are making a difference in someone else’s life in a meaningful way that helps them to grow and be all they can be.  This is true for me at home, at work and in every facet of my life. To be serving others and helping them develop their full potential is true happiness.

What is your favorite way to spend your time?

Being surrounded by my wife, children and grandchildren or to be high in the Rockies on horseback, on skis or with fly rod in hand.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My heroes are my mother and my wife - they both chose to direct their families in a way that has caused everyone around them to be better people and to focus themselves outward toward helping others.

If you were a fried food item (think state fair), which fried food item would you be and why?

Fried Chucker because it is unique, most flavorful and a rare commodity.

When was a time you were most embarrassed?

When I showed up at church wearing my Boy Scout uniform, thinking it was Scout Sunday, only to find out I was a week early.  My mom would not let me go home to change!

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Paul is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Paul Beck 2012-03-16T14:58:06+00:00 Addressing Diversity and Inclusion: Ah-Ha Moments from the NEW Diversity Forum http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/addressing-diversity-and-inclusion-ah-ha-moments-from-the-new-diversity-for/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/addressing-diversity-and-inclusion-ah-ha-moments-from-the-new-diversity-for/#When:00:25:27Z From March 6-8, 2012, five Kalypsonians traveled to Dallas, TX for the Network of Executive Women (NEW) CPG/Retail Diversity Forum. The event was intended to provide bold strategies, new insights and fresh thinking that companies could use to develop and leverage diversity in three areas; marketing to multicultural consumers, leveraging supplier diversity and managing diverse work teams.

We went to the forum expecting to be educated about how we could improve our own diversity at Kalypso and help our clients leverage their multicultural workforces to win in today’s changing markets, but we came away with more than just that – we were inspired.

Here are just a few of our “ah-ha” moments from the forum.

We Must Reflect the Changing World – from John Groene

The forum helped me understand the significant demographic changes on the horizon over the next thirty years. By 2050, white Caucasians will be in the minority in the US. For consumer products companies focused on delighting the consumer, this requires an entirely new understanding of “consumers”, and companies need to do a lot more than “tweak” their brand building and consumer models. Leading companies will address this by creating workforces as diverse as their customer base, and by finding ways to leverage the insights of this diverse workforce.

We Need to Broaden the Focus – from Gale Fogg

I learned that diversity is certainly important, but to succeed, we need to broaden our focus and consider inclusion as well — do people feel accepted and part of the group? Do they feel empowered to contribute? Counselor and mentoring programs here at Kalypso and at our clients should be evaluated to be sure they do enough to support and develop top talent.

We Should Strive to Change the Conversation – from Amy Kenly

I was inspired by Anthony Carter, VP Global Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Johnson & Johnson, who opened the conference with an inspiring talk about how J&J has leveraged diversity and inclusion to transform global business practices and build high-performing teams to achieve breakthrough results. His secret? Change the current conversation in three ways. First, be accountable - these efforts won’t work unless there are metrics, rewards and punishments in place. Second, be authentic – when we stand for what we truly believe in, we inspire others to change. Third, be courageous leaders – conversations around diversity can be awkward and even intimidating, but we can’t be afraid of sensitive discussions. To affect change, accountable, authentic leaders must show the way.

We’ve Got a Long Way to Go – from Katie Slater and John Groene

There are still a variety of misconceptions around women in the workplace (e.g. they opt out of leadership positions, they are not proactive with their strategies to advance, they actively seek slower tracks, etc.). Gender stereotyping – often unintentional – is still widespread. We have come a long way in the past few decades, but we still have a long way to go.

I was a bit surprised and disheartened that the challenges discussed were the same ones we were dealing with when I was at P&G many years ago. It seems like we should have made more progress.

 

 

Kalypso is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, and to developing and advancing top talent. We plan to put the things we learned at NEW to work for us and for our clients. For more of our insights, please reach out to us directly. To learn more about NEW and the Diversity forum, visit www.newonline.org.

The Kalypso Team rocks the "red carpet" at the NEW CPG/Retail Diversity Forum

 

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]]> Diversity, Network of Executive Women, NEW 2012-03-15T00:25:27+00:00 Characters in 140 Characters http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/characters-in-140-characters/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/characters-in-140-characters/#When:15:04:14Z  

 

 

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Careers, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Difference, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Team, Kalypso Values, Kalypsonians 2012-03-12T15:04:14+00:00 Daniela Ilieva - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/daniela-ilieva-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/daniela-ilieva-a-character-with-character/#When:16:30:12Z I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria during the dark years of the communism. Despite this, I had a sunny, fun-filled and very active childhood: I learned to ski before I could walk. Skiing became my lifelong passion and later turned into my first career. I developed a passion for traveling early in life touring my homeland with my parents. When the Berlin Wall fell down, I hiked and hitchhiked around Europe and, in my late teens decided to take my adventures to another continent. I have now been a resident of Chicago for over ten years and greatly enjoy the diversity a global city has to offer.  Of the famous places I have traveled to around the world, one of my most memorable experiences occurred in Waco, Nebraska where I spent Christmas Eve stranded at a gas station along I-80 in a massive whiteout, later to be rescued by a local farmer on Christmas Day. I have always known there is something interesting in every corner of the world and this experience proved it.

What is your greatest fear?

Water in my nose ranks pretty high on the list. I would do anything not to have a drop of water enter my nostrils. This fear not only prevents me from participating in water sports, but also mandates extra care in the shower.

What is your most treasured possession?

I treasure pictures because they capture life’s most fun-filled moments. Through pictures, I can look back and reflect on times past, people I love and relationships I’ve made along the way.

What natural gift would you most like to possess? Why?

Musical talent. I would love to be able to sing without having to turn the radio up so high that I can’t hear myself. My co-workers might appreciate this as well.

If you were a restaurant, which restaurant would you be and why?

A tapas bar. At a tapas bar, the culture is about sampling and sharing with friends – it is more than an eating experience. And of course, at a tapas bar, there are always fantastic drinks involved.

When was a time you had to be the “bad guy”?

Being a Gemini, I’m equally talented at playing both the “good guy” and the “bad guy” – sometimes simultaneously. I play the role of the “bad guy” more often to myself than to anybody else.

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Daniela is a Senior Consultant. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Daniela Ilieva, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-03-09T16:30:12+00:00 Andrew Nygard - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/andrew-nygard-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/andrew-nygard-a-character-with-character/#When:16:30:46Z I was born at a very young age and got older, if not wiser. I'm on my fourth career (or is it the fifth?) - I get easily bored by routine and repetition. My first job (other than delivering newspapers) at age 16 was at a McDonald's in a dying mall in the Northeast (hey, the ‘70s were tough!).  I was grateful for the chance to work and earn money but I HATED the grease trap at closing time. The most exciting job I’ve had was spying on the Soviets in the cold war.  In the ‘80s, we were closer to a shooting war than most Americans ever realized; to be on the tip of that sword was quite the rush.  The skills I learned in almost 10 years of military service have been imminently transferable to every career I’ve had since then. I believe in falling down and dusting yourself off; if you're not making mistakes you're not growing. 

To what faults do you feel most indulgent? 

A good movie and a box of popcorn – with no butter of course. 

What is one thing you’d change about yourself? 

I'd love to be a glass-half-full rather than a glass-half-empty kind of guy.

What is your current state of mind? 

Kerfuzzled by yet another inexplicable thing my teenage daughters do.

If you were a body of water, what body of water would you be and why? 

Lake Baikal – it's deep and pure.

When was a time you felt all was right with the world? 

I don't think I've ever felt all was right with the world.

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Andrew is a Senior Manager. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Andrew Nygard, Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-03-02T16:30:46+00:00 #PDPMchat Transcript - Feb 22, 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-feb-22-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pdpmchat-transcript-feb-22-2012/#When:00:08:59Z On February 22nd, Kalypso hosted our first #PDPMchat on Twitter. Our co-sponsor, Planview, and Kalypso talked about how leadership perceives portfolio management for product development and techniques on how to demonstrate portfolio management value to the organization.

Kalypso and Planview have years of combined experience helping their respective clients with getting started and getting better. Subject matter experts Pamela Soin and Carrie Nauyalis were on hand to brainstorm ideas with the Twitterworld on leadership perception and demonstrating value - two fundamental issues companies must address to fully realize benefits from product portfolio management efforts.

Check out our transcript below, with links to the resources the tweeters mentioned. And, join us for our next #PDPMchat, listed here. We'll host #PDPMchat events once a month, with the goal of creating a dialog and connecting practitioners around portfolio management for product development. Join us! 

Tweets below are in order, with the earliest tweet first and latest tweet last.

 

 

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]]> Portfolio & Pipeline Management, Portfolio Management, PPM, PPM Nova 2012-02-28T00:08:59+00:00 Reed Shelger - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/reed-shelger-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/reed-shelger-a-character-with-character/#When:15:21:58Z I was born and raised in San Diego, California. Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t surf, for intolerance of cold water and fear of underwater creatures. When I’m not on the road delivering on the promise of innovation to our clients, I spend my free time practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  “BJJ” is a form of martial arts developed in Brazil in which you attempt to immobilize your opponent with joint locks and choke holds, ultimately forcing them into submission.  I enjoy the rare weekend opportunities to step onto the mat, test my skills in competition and realize the benefits of training and hard work. I value the discipline BJJ has given me both personally and professionally. Don’t worry though, I leave it on the mat - to this day, I haven’t put a client or co-worker in a choke hold…yet. smile.

Your favorite artist?

More famously a filmmaker, David Lynch.

If you were a historical figure, who would you be and why?

Andre Agassi: great hair, great fashion, two-handed backhand, babes.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Like Barack Obama - “Yes we can.”

Which living person do you most admire?

Elon Musk (founder of PayPal, and current CEO of both Tesla Motors and SpaceX) is someone I admire as an entrepreneur and innovator.  Only 40 years old, his revolutionary ideas are helping to change the world by addressing some of our biggest challenges.

When was a time you were completely present?

When I enter the mat to test my skills in competition. In that moment I feel completely present; my senses are peaked and my mind is focused, ready to take on the physical and mental challenges of the sport.

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Reed is a Senior Consultant. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Reed Shelger 2012-02-24T15:21:58+00:00 Mike Friedman - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/mike-friedman-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/mike-friedman-a-character-with-character/#When:17:42:48Z I was born in Chalfont, Pennsylvania but spent all of my spare hours growing up surfing in New Jersey, racing down to the beach following hurricanes.  I ran the high hurdles in college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and found out how hard it is to run practice after hydrating with a few Labatt Blues.  My first ski instructor gave great advice: "Point your skis downhill and gravity will take over."  I started a Procter & Gamble career in Huntington Beach, California  and dug deep into all things Californian: Hobie Cats, motorcycles, surf boards, etc. That didn’t last long. I got repatriated to Chicago in time for the Blizzard of ’78.  I didn’t have a winter jacket and soon after found out how cold Minneapolis really is. I have a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering, but never really used those degrees.  I'm pretty sure the story line for "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" was based on my experiences.  Finally, I have the best time going on adventure trips with my family all over the world.

What is your most marked characteristic? 

Smiling and thinking about sunshine and blue skies!

Which words are phrases do you most overuse? 

"Innovation"...

Your favorite musician? 

Bob Dylan.

If you could live in any time period other than the present – what time period would you live in and why? 

The 1970’s...spending more time surfing and skiing.

When was a time you felt you could do anything? 

In 1977 when I was driving my motorcycle cross country from San Diego to Chicago.

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Mike is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Mike Friedman 2012-02-17T17:42:48+00:00 Megan Creason - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/megan-creason-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/megan-creason-a-character-with-character/#When:16:38:58Z I was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Spent half of my childhood in Austin and the other half in a suburb of Dallas called Coppell. My two older brothers are two of my best friends in the world. I graduated with a degree in Finance from Texas State University (Eat Em Up!). I now live in Austin and feel lucky to have landed a job with a firm that provides me with resources to grow professionally and constantly pushes me to exceed my own expectations. I am 23, working for a firm full of friends, and could not be happier with where I am in life. Outside of work I enjoy reading, cooking (and eating), sports (Go Mavs!), and being surrounded by friends and family.

Who are your favorite writers?

Emily Giffin, Suzanne Collins, W. Ross Bolen.

What is your greatest regret?

I would say not thinking through which degree was the best fit for my career goals before I went to college. Hard to regret though because I am happy where I am at today.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

I wish I had a censor button for my dad.

If you were a reality television show, which show would you be and why?

Big Brother. Weekly competition, strategic planning, mind games, alliances, persuasion… what’s not to love?

When was a time you knew you were definitely going to get caught?

When I committed to a trip that would result in me being out of the country on Christmas day. Call me crazy, but when I was first presented with the opportunity to go to Peru and hike the Inca Trail, missing Christmas with my family was the furthest thing from my mind. As the holiday grew closer, my trust in my brother's confidentiality grew weaker. There were only so many ways to avoid discussing holiday plans with my father, who’s biggest fear is losing his “princess.” Big surprise, I got caught. Another big surprise, my brother ratted me out. In the end, all is well. My dad is making a smooth recovery and will soon love me again! smile 

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Megan is Kalypso's Recruiting Manager. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture.

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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Megan Creason 2012-02-10T16:38:58+00:00