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 2012-02-17T17:42:48+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 Rich Gaby - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rich-gaby-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/rich-gaby-a-character-with-character/#When:13:12:57Z I was born a Razorback, but left before developing a twang. I grew tall by eating junk food. I was raised in Arizona and left to experience winter; I’ve lived all over the world and am still looking for the ideal place to stop. Ironically, I went to school to learn how to make gold and ended up making lipstick. Then, I figured out how to help companies learn new processes and found Kalypso. I've been lucky to do great things in my life - I've raised two wonderful kids and have lived through being "hit by the bus". I love to travel to exotic locations and push the envelope, and I’m too darn ornery for most. I’ve had my pilot's license for 20 years and I’m now an avid scuba diver - which means even more exotic travel. I have a lot of hats from souvenir collecting, lots of shoes from impulse purchases and a huge stack of T shirts that I've accumulated from all over the world.

Your favorite cuisine?

Brazilian; I'm a true carnivore...and they use swords. Sushi is a close second - the fresher the better.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

Faults? How can I answer this when I have no faults? smile Well, maybe I'm a little indulgent when it comes to spoiling my kids...

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

A great three-point shot...then I would have made it to the NBA and all the perks that go with that.

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

Easy - my new BMW X6 - a hot ride that rumbles like a P51 and takes off like a rocket (no tickets…yet).

When was a time you were indomitably confident?

Last month, when I was absolutely sure that I had the winning numbers in the chicken drop contest (if you have to ask what kind of contest that is....you probably don't want to know the answer).

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Rich 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, Rich Gaby 2012-02-01T13:12:57+00:00 Kailey Slone - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kailey-slone-a-character-with-character1/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kailey-slone-a-character-with-character1/#When:17:40:14Z When you envision a Texan, what do you see? I can almost guarantee I hold true to all of those lovely stereotypes, except, NO…I did not ride a horse to school. Close, though! I grew up in a rodeo family. My dad was a professional calf roper and we traveled the US and Canada for eight months out of every year. We lived in a camper on the back of a truck, ate a lot of sandwiches and created memories I will always cherish. A love of travel was instilled in me, and it hasn’t wavered - I’ve cage-dived with great white sharks in South Africa and bungee jumped from the Guinness Book of World Records highest bridge in the world (also in Africa). During those few-and-far-between routine days, I love testing out new recipes and I have become an avid “pinner” on Pinterest – might be a borderline obsession. In my not-so-free time, I would be bored if I didn’t coach little league softball and teach Speech and Interpersonal Communication at a local community college. I have a little rascal of a dog named Quigley that keeps me entertained between e-mails and conference calls…AND….I’m getting MARRIED on November 17, 2012!

When and where were you happiest?

I’m pretty darn happy all the time. If you asked me this two months ago, I would say it was on the rodeo trail with my family as a kid. Always seeing new things, bossing around my little brother and enjoying the contestant hospitality tents! Asking me that today is a bit different. I am going to have to be a stereotypical, cheesy bride-to-be and say it was the day Martin proposed….on a backroad!

What is your most treasured possession?

Choosing a material possession over a treasured relationship is tough. If I had to do it, I would confidently say that my most treasured possession is a cross gifted to me by my grandmother before she passed away that her brother bought her in Israel.

What do you most value in your friends?

Intellect, patience, honesty and a sense of adventure – all bundled together – I value the total package!

What is your motto?

If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

Most indulgent – wasting my evenings with trashy-yet-oh-so-good TV like The Bachelor/Bachelorette.

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Kailey is Kalypso's Talent and Resource 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, Kailey Slone, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-01-27T17:40:14+00:00 Barbara Schick - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/barbara-schick-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/barbara-schick-a-character-with-character/#When:15:59:45Z I’m a bit of a paradoxical North Carolinian. Despite being a Chapel Hill grad and resident of Charlotte for over 20 years, I’m a horrible Tarheel basketball fan, and I’ve never attended a NASCAR race. Though, I have had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Dean Smith and I find the roar of the engines can lull me into a nice Sunday afternoon nap. Besides those naps, I enjoy yoga, spending time outdoors and reading, and I am a huge animal lover.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My grandmothers, for the examples they’ve set in grace, courage, strength and vivacity.

What is your greatest fear?

Not living up to my full potential - and drowning.

What is your current state of mind?

Have patience and make the best of any situation. I know that I can’t speed up TSA security lines, so I may as well enjoy the opportunity to people watch . . . there are a lot of characters out there!

If you were a beverage, what beverage would you be and why?

A glass of red wine. I go well with (and very much enjoy) nice dinners. I’m a little reserved at first, but given time I really open up. I’m a great listener, and, like the influence of a glass or two of wine, I’ll get you to tell me all of your best stories.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I haven’t climbed a mountain or sailed around the world, so I’ll have to focus on what has proven most meaningful to me - people. The personal and professional relationships I’ve developed throughout my life are my greatest achievement.

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Barbara is a 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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]]> Barbara Schick, Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-01-20T15:59:45+00:00 Scott Gamble - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/scott-gamble-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/scott-gamble-a-character-with-character/#When:15:25:08Z Call it finding diamonds in the rough, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, or simply being frugal with a shade of green - I enjoy a good treasure hunt. I am a selective, amateur Minnesota Picker who will stop the car abruptly, with my kids embarrassed to the core, to assess and potentially pick-up curb-side freebies. It starts with a quick needs assessment (Do we need it?  Is it an upgrade?) and then a logistics assessment (How do we get it home?). That said, the best finds are not limited to the curbside. If you know what you want, are a student of market values, and can make quick decisions, big tickets item finds can be found - a bank auction of repossessed cars (Storage Wars-like) for instance, or stumbling on a tired house with good bones for sale in a high demand neighborhood in January with temperatures of -20 degrees. I love the sustainability and frugality of it all, but if I really want something I can always wait for the next Cyber Monday.

What do you most value in your friends?

Trust is the most important character in a friend. I also value friends who don't take themselves too seriously and see the humorous side of daily life.

What words or phrases do you most overuse?

"Awesome".  I grew up in the 80's.

On what occasion do you lie?

There's never a need to lie…easier to say nothing than to keep up with lies.

If you were a household appliance, what household appliance would you be and why?

A French Press coffee maker:

  • Visibly present on the counter so always part of the action but not in the middle of it
  • Simple and functional in design and very reliable
  • Full bodied and balanced in taste

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

In 1984, when the economy was beginning to grow; Americans had confidence in themselves, the future and their President (Reagan);  Apple launched Mac with a sensational Super Bowl commercial;  great music from REM, Violent Femmes and Prince; and I had two years of undergraduate "studies" left to enjoy it all!

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Scott 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, Scott Gamble 2012-01-13T15:25:08+00:00 Avoid Analysis Paralysis with Nova for PPM http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/avoid-analysis-paralysis-with-nova-for-ppm/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/avoid-analysis-paralysis-with-nova-for-ppm/#When:15:56:26Z Product portfolio management is a difficult yet critical task, as governance teams are charged with making decisions on the future of innovation and new product development. In order to make the best possible decisions effectively and consistently, teams need access to the right level of information at the right time.

The information available usually isn’t tailored to meet the needs of the decision team, and as a result, the decision makers are unable to develop a clear picture of the portfolio. To try and make sense out of the information provided, they ask more questions and usually get more data. Rather than improving the decision making process, the excess information becomes an inhibitor, resulting in an information overload, analysis paralysis and frustration. Eventually, decisions are made, but only after significant effort to extract truly actionable insights from the mountain of data.

So, how can companies quickly find the right amount of visibility to avoid analysis paralysis and extract maximum value?  Nova for PPM is Kalypso’s fast-track Portfolio & Pipeline Management (PPM) model for improving innovation portfolio visibility and increasing pipeline value. This practical model and deployment approach is based on leading practices from years of experience helping clients sort through data, understand key issues and make decisions. Kalypso has identified nine pre-defined views and reports that companies can start with to quickly visualize and characterize their portfolios. Each view provides insights into key elements, giving decision makers portfolio visibility and the right data to assist with decision making. Views can easily be tailored to specific company needs.

In reality, uncertainty, forecasts and estimates will always be part of the innovation process, and data will never be perfect. Instead of wasting time creating and evaluating mountains of data, the core views and metrics in Nova for PPM can help leadership teams effectively validate their current strategy, identify issues or open their eyes to new possibilities.

Don’t let information overload slow down decision making - accelerate it with Nova for PPM to avoid analysis paralysis and improve your return from innovation.

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]]> Data Management, Innovation, Nova, Nova for PPM, Nova Model, Nova PPM Model, Pipeline Management, Portfolio & Pipeline Management, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Management Consulting, Portfolio Review, PPM 2012-01-11T15:56:26+00:00 Darius Hinton - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/darius-hinton-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/darius-hinton-a-character-with-character/#When:16:27:29Z I am an analyst at Kalypso - but when I'm not helping clients deliver on the promise of innovation, I strive to live in the shadow of my uncle, Sergeant First Class Marvin F. Hinton, also known as “Roadblock”. For those who aren’t familiar with this real American hero, you can find video biographies of him and his infamous, elite and covert Special Forces unit (code-named “GI Joe”) at your local toy store. Trying to live in my uncle’s shadow as an Army kid and through my service in the Army National Guard has allowed me to live in and visit several cities and countries including Germany, Italy, India and Switzerland. This journey has also allowed me to hang off of 60-foot towers, ride in helicopters and meet some amazing and interesting folks. Additionally, I enjoy sports, fitness, reading and watching the cartoons with jokes I didn’t “get” when I was a kid.

Your favorite destination?

My dreams. I love to travel, but nothing gets weirder than what goes on in my head while I am sleeping…

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I hold a record at the cricket batting cage at Fun Mall in Lucknow, India. I have video evidence to prove it!

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

The gift to remember everything. Why? I can’t remember. I usually write this stuff down, let me check my Outlook…

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

1967 Chevelle - if that’s not fine art, I don’t know what is. Or, I'd be the painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware. To me, they both symbolize freedom - one living with it, one fighting for it.

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

There is a brick monster on North Carolina State’s main campus...he scares me.

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Darius is an 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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]]> Characters with Character, Darius Hinton, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2012-01-06T16:27:29+00:00 Top 10 Innovation Viewpoints of 2011 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/top-10-innovation-viewpoints-of-2011/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/top-10-innovation-viewpoints-of-2011/#When:15:31:57Z 2011 was a great year for Kalypsonian thought leadership. We published dozens of innovation viewpoints, blogs, podcasts and videos, covering hot topics such as social product innovation, product portfolio management, PLM evaluations, and emerging trends in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries. Which topics captured the most attention? Check out our top 10 most popular viewpoints of 2011 to find out.

10. Improving Knowledge Sharing for Product Development Teams

9. Maximizing Profit Capture for Medical Device Manufacturers

8. Healthcare Reform and Innovation: Get Ready for Change

7. Price Your Way to Better Profit Margins: A Simple 3-Step Approach to Effective Transaction Management

6. Complexity Reduction, Part 1: Governance Sets the Foundation for Success

5. Kalypso Wins Intergalactic Consulting Award

4. 10 Proven Practices for Successful PLM Evaluations

3. Social Media and Product Innovation: Early Adopters Reaping Benefits amidst Challenge and Uncertainty

2. Top Strategic Goals of PLM and Why "Going Live" Isn't One of Them

And the #1 viewpoint of 2011 is:

1. Calling All Engineers: Beyond Form, Fit and Function for Formulated Products

What was your favorite viewpoint of 2011? What topic(s) do you want to see us talk about in 2012?

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]]> Blog, Consumer Goods, Innovation, Innovation Articles, Innovation Authors, Innovation Blogs, Innovation Information, Innovation Videos, Innovation Viewpoints, Innovation White Paper, Kalypso Blog, Kalypso Viewpoints, Medical Device, PLM, Podcast, Portfolio Management, Product Development, Product Innovation, Social Media, Social Product Innovation 2012-01-02T15:31:57+00:00 Andreas Lindenthal - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/andreas-lindenthal-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/andreas-lindenthal-a-character-with-character/#When:16:00:29Z I was born in Switzerland, the country of cheese, chocolate, watches, trains, mountains and bad weather. While I quickly learned to appreciate the former five, I never got used to the latter. The weather there is so nasty that people come up with sayings to cope like, “There is no bad weather, there is only bad clothing” and, “Rain makes people beautiful”. I never really bought such phrases - especially not the second one. So, after living in Switzerland for 30 years I decided I had enough and moved to Southern California. Since then I can’t complain about the weather anymore, but I am not so sure if I can say the same about the cheese, the chocolate, the watches, the trains and the mountains.

Who would you have liked to be?

I never really wanted to be someone else, but if I had to pick - Wilhelm (William) Tell. He was the prototypical Kalypsonian and must have somehow helped Bill and George come up with our value statements. He showed a healthy lack of respect for authority when he refused to bow to the hat the Habsburg bailiff Gessler had placed on top of a pole in the middle of the town where Tell lived. He then showed professionalism and quality when he shot the apple from his son’s head with a crossbow. He demonstrated integrity when Gessler asked him why he had taken two bolts from his quiver by answering that if he had killed his son with the first bolt, he would have killed Gessler with the second. Later Tell became a leader behind the Swiss Confederacy’s fight for independence from Austria Habsburg, even though he never led the actual fight. And finally he must have been an outstanding character with character as people still talk about him 800 years later. With all that I am still wondering how Tell could have helped Bill and George - they don’t look nearly old enough.

To you, what is the lowest depth of misery?

When I tell someone I am from Switzerland and they either ask me why I am not blond or enthusiastically talk about their Volvo.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Depending on the time of the day, I vacillate between chocolate and cheese. The love seems to be mutual; they always find me, no matter where I am.

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

I don’t think it has been invented yet, but I would like to be a drug that helps people think before they say things like, “I wish I could speak Swedish, too” or, “Are you with the Red Cross?” when I am wearing a shirt with the Swiss flag on it.

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

When I was young (I mean, younger), I loved building and flying remote control planes. After I crashed and destroyed the third plane I realized that I was much better in building than in flying them. I think this is why I later decided to become an engineer rather than a pilot.

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Andreas 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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]]> Andreas Lindenthal, Characters with Character, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2011-12-16T16:00:29+00:00 Q&A with Bill Poston: Innovation Predictions, Favorite Things & Wishlist http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/qa-with-bill-poston-predictions-favorite-things-wishlist/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/qa-with-bill-poston-predictions-favorite-things-wishlist/#When:14:56:28Z Earlier this year Bill Poston shared his prediction for innovation in 2011. In this Q&A we find out how he fared, his view for 2012, and that he's not afraid to channel his inner Oprah for a list of favorite things.

How did your 2011 prediction hold up? 

The primary prediction that companies would loosen up spending in R&D while constraining growth in headcount and other fixed costs was spot on with what actually happened in most industries. What I got wrong was the response to that squeeze. My assumption was that innovation executives would explore alternative product development models and new approaches to utilizing external expertise. While I am often too optimistic about how fast these things will happen, I also believe that people were expecting things to get back to normal, so they were not as motivated to explore radical solutions.

Thoughts on 2012?

As the economic environment continues in an extended period of uncertainty, I hope that we will see accelerated adoption of innovative R&D models. In 2012, I expect to see even greater spending in R&D and product development in those industries where the underlying business is growing moderately through this period of macro-uncertainty. If headcount growth continues to be constrained, then I predict that we will see more corporate venture investing, the creation of external private expert networks, and the movement of more innovation investment to the developing world. My predictions for 2011 might finally come true a year later than I anticipated.

This week we released Kalypso's top 5 innovation predictions for 2012. What will we see smart companies do in 2012?

  • Corporate Venture Investing – Spend to identify new ideas rather than coming up with them internally.
  • Private Expert Networks – Expand available brainpower in product development with low fixed costs.
  • Reverse Innovation – Develop new products in and for emerging markets at value price points that are attractive in the developed world.
  • Social Product Innovation – Take advantage of the power of social computing platforms to transform the way products are developed.

Since Oprah didn't have her famous Favorite Things this year, can you help fill the void with a few of yours?

What's on your innovation wishlist for 2012?

  • Domestic trusted traveler program
  • Multimedia books and publishing platforms
  • Cell phone battery that lasts all day
  • Increased electric vehicle range and affordability
  • More fractional ownership and community sharing models
  • Truly healthy restaurant and fast food options
  • Comfortable dress socks that stay up

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]]> 2012 Predictions, Bill Poston, Innovation, Innovation 2012, Innovation Articles, Innovation Blogs, Innovation Trends, Kalypso Blog, Kblog, Private Expert Networks, Product Development, Product Innovation, Reverse Innovation, Social Computing, Social Product Innovation, Spike 2011-12-16T14:56:28+00:00 George Young Says: Innovation Predictions for CPG in 2012 http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/george-young-says-innovation-predictions-for-cpg-in-2012/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/george-young-says-innovation-predictions-for-cpg-in-2012/#When:18:12:32Z Yesterday we released Kalypso's top 5 innovation predictions for 2012, which included some specific trends in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. I had a chance to sit down with George Young to get his view on these plus a few more predictions for CPG in 2012. 

George has three main predictions for the industry:

1. Fast-moving Consumer Healthcare

"Consumer pharmaceutical companies will create a new battleground with CPG companies in the form of fast-moving consumer healthcare. Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and GSK are getting very serious about their consumer businesses. CPG companies have been battling the intrusion of private label over the last several years. Their new battle will be against pharmaceutical companies emerging into consumer healthcare. For the most part pharmaceutical companies will find a very unprepared battlefield in CPG and are likely to win – at least in the short term."

2. The FDA

"Nothing will change drastically in 2012 from a government or legal standpoint regarding the FDA. However, if the Democrats retain control, in 2013 we will finally see the creation of an F and a D – a separate food group and a separate drug group."

3. Criminal Prosecution for Food Safety Violations

"In 2012 we will see the criminal prosecution of at least one large food company for violating food or public safety."

For product lifecycle management (PLM) in CPG, George has three predictions:

1. The Cloud

"Cloud-based PLM adoption will pick up, particularly in small to midsize CPG companies, as they tend to be more green-conscious."

2. Modeling and Simulation

"The emphasis in PLM, or in IT that enables product development in CPG, will shift to modeling and simulation."

3. Competitive Advantage

"PLM will cease to be a competitive advantage in CPG within 18 to 24 months because of the rate of adoption. Just as ERP was a competitive advantage at first, we’re going to see the same thing happen with PLM."

What's your view? Which predictions will George get right? Which ones will he miss?

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]]> 2012 Predictions, Cloud-based PLM, Consumer Healthcare, Consumer Packaged Goods, Consumer Safety, CPG, CPG Innovation, CPG Trends, Fast Moving Consumer Healthcare, FDA, Food and Beverage, George Young, Innovation, Innovation 2012, Innovation Articles, Innovation Predictions, Modeling and Simulation, PLM, PLM in CPG 2011-12-15T18:12:32+00:00 Pamela Soin - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pam-soin-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pam-soin-a-character-with-character/#When:12:56:54Z As a child, I wanted to be the change we all wish to see in the world. A world full of colors, light and sparkle. But alas, it’s never easy. Desperate to begin my revolution, I was trapped in places like Beaver, WV and Clemmons, NC. So, I set my sights on Manhattan (my current home). But before I could declare victory in spreading my noble cause, “Live like the world is flat (LLTWiF),” I needed something bigger. In 2004 I moved to London and lived in a bar. Later through Kalypso, I lived in Amsterdam where the “Live like the world is flat” movement was formalized. I’ve walked Thai islands, survived N. Korea/S. Korea conflict in Seoul, wandered Australian rainforests and Indian urban chaos. The success metric for the LLTWiF movement is simple: % Full Passport Pages. I am proud to say after attending a wedding this year in Argentina, I earned the coveted LLTWiF 6th degree quadruple-ninja-hadouken-Level 8 master Jedi Blackbelt. This honor is bestowed once you achieve 100%.

What is your motto?

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller

What is your greatest fear?

Babies on planes.

When was a time you felt the entire world was against you?

Calculus III, Thermodynamics and trying to maintain socialite status all in one semester at NCSU.

Which living person do you most admire?

Pashauri Lal Jauhar. Also known as my 90 year old grandfather who escaped death and lost everything in the 1940’s in the India/Pakistan war; who still writes poetry and delivers speeches at every event like he is running for office; and who spends 4 hours a day in the gym. Enough said.

If you were an architectural structure, which structure would you be and why?

The Eiffel tower, because not only would I get to live in Paris, every night I would get to do a sparkling light show for the people. My people.

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Pamela 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, Pamela Soin 2011-12-09T12:56:54+00:00 Mick Broekhof, Tom Warren Contribute to New Innovation Book http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/mick-broekhof-tom-warren-contribute-to-new-innovation-book/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/mick-broekhof-tom-warren-contribute-to-new-innovation-book/#When:11:19:34Z Kalypso Europe founding partner Mick Broekhof and Kalypso partner Tom Warren continue to add to their growing thought leadership repertoires with their contributions to the new book Innopreneur: 101 Chronicles on How Circumstance, Preparation and Brilliance Advance Innovation (available now in paperback and Kindle e-book).

Book summary below:

The delivery of innovation is a business supernova. It’s the ultimate form of cumulative energy; an explosion of collaboration, a unifier of disparate activities and a creator of synergy among multiple areas of expertise. It’s  also a challenge—one that requires its practitioners to convince others that change, innovation’s defining characteristic, is not only good, but necessary.

Innopreneur: 101 Chronicles on How Circumstance, Preparation and Brilliance Advance Innovation is a collection of short and inspirational views from multinational executives, political leaders, renowned professors and in-the-trenches professionals on what it takes to become a successful innovator in daily life. Whether an experienced entrepreneur, a seasoned marketing or R&D manager, or one small person with a big idea and the know-how to bring it to market, you'll gain insight into what it takes to create something sustainable with long-term demand. What does it really take to deliver new products and services? These 101 articles will inform and inspire the reflection, action and reassessment at the heart of effective innovation.

Mick and Tom share their experiences on collaborative innovation and innovation strategy. Read what they and other innovation experts have to say and purchase your paperback or Kindle edition today (hardcover expected late December 2011).

All profits of the book are donated to the charity of microcredits to promote entrepreneurship among those with no or limited access to capital. For more information visit www.innopreneur.org.

Congratulations Mick and Tom!

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]]> Blog, Collaboration, Collaborative Innovation, Innovation Articles, Innovation Authors, Innovation Books, Innovation Strategy, Mick Broekhof, Tom Warren 2011-12-06T11:19:34+00:00 Horst Groesser - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/horst-groesser-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/horst-groesser-a-character-with-character/#When:15:50:30Z Being born in the midst of a century of technological breakthroughs, in a 1200 year old German village that has claimed to be a city for over 700 years (that would be Lich, Germany) just North of the Limes (that would be the border defense of Ancient Rome marking the boundary of the Roman Empire) has kind of shaped my life. Although they had been brewing an excellent beer there for some 150 years, I left to venture the world and explore technology. Since I didn't know what I wanted to do as a Technology Doctor, I became a traditional management consultant but eventually found myself at a "start up" in the center of high tech. Unfortunately, they decided to take a dip at the beginning of this century. So, I tried it in the corporate world a couple of times with Oracle and SAP, but always drifted back to my calling: management consulting. Less than a couple of years ago I found a bunch of other Characters with Character and joined them. It feels like home again.

What is your most treasured possession?

My mind and my collection of elephants, which always somehow represents my state of mind.

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

Rev B of myself; with the few redlines reviewed, approved, and released.

What is your greatest regret?

That I don't regret enough, ... or not?

If you were a type of weather, what type of weather would you be and why?

I would be overcast in the morning, with the sun burning away the clouds by 11:00 AM, bright and sunny midday, scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon, and calm after the storm in the evening with a glowing sunset. That's just how my days unravel.

What historical figure do you most identify with? Why?

Gaius Julius Ceasar because of his commitment and dedication to his cause; Asterix & Obelix (you might want to google them) because of their commitment and dedication to interfering with Gaius Julius Ceasar's cause.

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Horst 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, Horst Groesser, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2011-12-02T15:50:30+00:00 Winning with Social Product Innovation – New Stories of Success from the 2011 SPIKE Awards http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/winning-with-social-product-innovation-new-stories-of-success-from-the-2011/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/winning-with-social-product-innovation-new-stories-of-success-from-the-2011/#When:14:46:25Z There are some tried and true examples of companies that use social models and technologies to make their innovation and product development processes better. Kudos to the companies we’ve all heard about, like P&G’s Connect+DevelopSM with their open innovation model where they partner with individuals, small businesses, universities, corporations, service providers, government funded R&D organizations and more to bring new products to market. Their results have been huge, including new product ideas life the Swiffer™.

Did you know that Connect+DevelopSM has been around since 2002? Yup, almost 10 years and this is still the first example most people give when asked for a success story for open innovation. It’s clearly working for P&G, so why aren’t there more examples?

The 2011 SPIKE Awards have given us some new and compelling examples. They may not be as comprehensive as Connect+DevelopSM, but these are pretty young efforts in comparison. Any one of these has the potential to be the next ubiquitous success story, so keep your eye on these rising stars.

  • Diamond Candles – Founded in January of 2011, Diamond Candles wanted to make buying candles fun again. As a small company, they needed a way to get real-time customer feedback on future candle scents. Instead of relying on traditional market research and trend analysis, Diamond Candles crowdsources idea submission and voting from their existing fans and customers for future scents to develop and bring to market. They take the top 10% of voter suggestions and cross-reference that with market trend analysis to make final decisions on new scents to develop and launch. They are engaging with their fans and getting actionable and real-time information to guide their future scent selection processes.
    Listen to the Tech-Clarity podcast interview with Diamond Candles

  • Madison Electric Products – The complete opposite from Diamond Candles, Madison Electric was founded in 1929. They were looking for new ways to develop products that solve problems, meet needs or increase efficiencies, without breaking the bank through research and development. Through their Sparks Innovation Center, anyone can submit ideas for new products. The Madison Electric team assesses each idea’s merit, and the best ideas are then presented to a focus group to help determine which product ideas should come to fruition. Generating nearly 100 submissions thus far, the Sparks Innovation Center is the point of origin for five Madison Electric signature products and another four in the production phase. Furthermore, the center has evolved into a go-to resource for inventors and aspiring entrepreneurs in the industry.
    Listen to the Tech-Clarity podcast interview with Madison Electric

  • CDC Software – Even though CDC stands for “Customer-Driven Company”, this is a story about using social tools to improve innovation and product development processes inside the company. With over 1,400 employees and 20 offices around the world, CDC struggled with managing multiple time zones, geographies and languages to deliver new software products and version releases. To address these challenges, they use social networking technologies across the product lifecycle to develop and deliver software from multiple teams in different countries. Their agile product development agile methodology, which uses social media as its collaborative framework, has cut the time of product delivery from 24 months to 12-16 weeks. These cloud social technologies have promoted tight collaboration among their R&D offices across 14 countries. It has promoted knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing among the whole global R&D organization which delivers efficiencies in quality, product delivery times and costs.
    Listen to the Tech-Clarity podcast interview with CDC

Want to learn more about these examples, along with some expert discussion on trends and the leading practices for Social Product Innovation? Register and view the archived Social Product Innovation Summit until January.

What are some examples you’ve seen (or done) of companies improving or enhancing their innovation or product development processes with social product innovation?

 

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]]> 2011-11-30T14:46:25+00:00 Week of Fun, Friends and Learning at Professional Pricing Society Conference in Las Vegas http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/week-of-fun-friends-and-learning-at-professional-pricing-society-conference/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/week-of-fun-friends-and-learning-at-professional-pricing-society-conference/#When:14:15:40Z From October 25-28 Caesars Palace Las Vegas was the host of the Professional Pricing Society’s (PPS) annual fall pricing conference. Kalypso’s Value Management practice lead James Weaver and Senior Consultant Reed Shelger were the lucky Kalypsonians tapped to represent the firm. 

It was great networking with our clients and other conference attendees. This was also a great opportunity to connect with our solution providing colleagues at Model N, PROS, Servergistics, Vendavo, Vistaar and Zilliant. A special thank you to Kevin Mitchell, Chris Buckingham, the Board of the Professional Pricing Society and their outstanding staff for hosting such a great event! We look forward to the Spring PPS event in Orlando. In looking back at this event, we wanted to share a few of the highlights of the event from our perspective.

Behavioral Economics an Emerging Force in Pricing

During a two day workshop on the theme of “Creating and Capturing Value in an Intellectual Economy,” the presenters emphasized the role of human psychology in how customers perceive value.  This was a refreshing contrast to the “science” oriented approach that most pricing experts put forth. The holy grail of savvy pricing is to balance an analytical approach with human judgment when setting prices.  As an illustration, this talk by Rory Sutherland is worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1mOsHFXZFA

Coaching and Motivating the Sales Force a Big Challenge for B2B

Even among a group of some of the most sophisticated pricers on the planet, the general consensus was clear: pricing and sales organizations are losing the battle with procurement. Pricing remains a relatively underdeveloped function in most companies, and what’s worse- sales teams are poorly equipped to combat procurement’s tricky tactics. The emergence of pricing guidance software is a step towards leveling the playing field, while coaching on value selling techniques and proper compensation incentives remain critical to improving price realization.

Hard to Beat Las Vegas Entertainment

Is Las Vegas the best place on Earth for a conference?  I think so. After a busy day at the conference, we joined our friends from Model N for a great dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s famous restaurant, Spago. The highlight of the meal was the 2006 Hitching Post Pinot Noir (featured in the movie Sideways)!

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]]> Innovation, Price Management, Price Realization, Price Strategy, Pricing, Pricing Events, Pricing Execution, Pricing Value Management, Value Capture, Value Management 2011-11-21T14:15:40+00:00 Kendall Hawkins - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kendall-hawkins-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kendall-hawkins-a-character-with-character/#When:18:15:04Z After KARMA (Kalypso's annual employee retreat), I think that everyone knows I am a bit of a health nut and lived in Spain for three years after college. But, what you don’t know, is that I have: ridden cross country on the back of my dad’s Harley Davidson, celebrated a World Cup Championship win in a Spanish fountain, run down Mt. Rainer from a ferocious grizzly bear (that turned out to be a ferocious grizzly bear cub), worked as a translator for an archaeologist on official excavations across southern Spain, won first place in the Texas state flute competition in middle school, been on two Spanish pilgrimages, watched Star Wars at least 100 times, and made plans to begin yoga instructor training next year (don’t worry, just on the side).

What is your greatest fear?

I don’t have any serious fears, but things that give me the chills are: roaches, the sound of people smacking gum and cotton. Yes, that third one may need an explanation. I hate cotton balls, cotton pads and anything that is comprised of cotton that pulls apart with that subtle yet bone chilling sound. Eeek!

Which character of fiction are you most like?

As a child I had an odd obsession with old movies. In particular, I watched Cleopatra (the Elizabeth Taylor version) and Gone with the Wind on nearly a weekly basis. I'm not sure how similar I am to this wily pair, but I do love that both Cleo and Scarlett were strong and independent ladies. Even though they didn’t always make the right decisions, they were always confident and glamorous.  

Who has had the most influence on you?

I am pretty lucky to have such great role models in my parents and grandparents. All of them have had a special influence on my life, but if I had to choose just one, my mother would have to be the most influential. She has always been an active and positive person, even while fighting breast cancer on two occasions. She not only survived cancer, but came out stronger and more determined than she was before. She started doing triathlons and half marathons to prove it! It didn’t take long for her to begin winning her age group. She is definitely a great example of how perseverance and a positive attitude can overcome anything.  

If you were a bodily organ, which organ would you be and why?

I would be the biggest organ, the skin, because I am all over the place! Seriously - I have so many interests and such great friends that I'm everywhere, all the time!

When in your life have you felt invincible?

While I was living in Spain, I did a pilgrimage called El Camino de Santiago. After hiking for weeks across the hot plains and subsequent rainy mountains of northern Spain, I finally arrived at the cathedral in Santiago. Not only do you receive an official pardon of your sins for the year, you are also invited to attend a special service for pilgrims in the beautiful old cathedral. On the glorious morning of my arrival, I definitely felt invincible and, not to mention, relieved I didn’t die somewhere along the way. Of course, later that night, I realized that while I was feeling so invincible, I didn’t wash my fruit from breakfast. I felt quite un-invincible for the whole next week with an ugly Spanish stomach bug. However, the feeling was great while it lasted!

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Kendall is an 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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]]> Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Kendall Hawkins 2011-11-18T18:15:04+00:00 Foundation for Open Innovation, Part 3: Managing uncertainty of technology development http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-3-managing-uncertainty-of-technology-de/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-3-managing-uncertainty-of-technology-de/#When:13:22:46Z When managing the invention and development of a promising new technology, how do you most effectively deal with the uncertainties that exist? Per our definition in Part 1 of this series, invention is discovering something new to the world. Is what you seek even possible? Will the technology characteristics be capable of dealing with all the application requirements for its targeted use? These are huge questions that if handled correctly can make or break a critical development effort. So how does a thoughtful manager handle uncertainties in innovation?

The key is realizing uncertainties and risks are not synonymous, and that they require very different management approaches.

  • Uncertainty – attributed to a new-to-the-world challenge with a truly unknown outcome
  • Risk – attributed to something that has been done before, so that possible outcomes are predictable

Viewed this way, a prudent manager should think differently about invention and inherent uncertainties in this approach to creating differentiated products. If there is no history to rely on, how can you predict outcomes? The short answer is – you can’t. So don’t even try. 

Consider moving as quickly as possible to address the key assumptions that make the technology great. Learn, adapt, and then learn some more by proving or refuting these assumptions. For example, one assumption might assert the technology is great because it can fulfill a certain key characteristic performance level. It would then be wise to set up a test to definitively prove or refute this claim - the path forward will be much clearer when this work is done. The faster a team can perform this learning cycle, the quicker they find the right development path. Encourage your team to select the biggest uncertainties and address them first in their development plans. Better to know early on if the idea cannot succeed, so you can stop development and reapply resources elsewhere. (Read more about Embracing Quick Wins and Quick Losses)

Also, consider sparking a team with an unusual or unexpected team member (possibly from another business unit or from academia) to generate more creative thinking about the development approach. Such wild cards can promote unusual approaches that may yield significant value.

What’s your view? Have you tried approaches like this? Were you successful? Now that we’ve laid the foundation for Open Innovation, my next piece will dive deeper into Open Innovation for Business to Business (B2B) companies.

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]]> Innovation, Michael Glessner, Open Innovation, PLM, PLM Strategy, Product Development, Product Lifecycle Management, Social Computing, Social Media, Social Product Innovation, Strategy 2011-11-16T13:22:46+00:00 A Kalypso Journey: Joe Dury http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/a-kalypso-journey-joe-dury/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/a-kalypso-journey-joe-dury/#When:18:47:42Z Congratulations on your promotion to director, Joe!

Thanks! I’m honored to continue to serve Kalypso as one of the firm’s directors in helping our clients deliver on their innovation promise with my experience, knowledge and expertise.

How did you get here?

After over 25 years in high tech I joined Kalypso back in early 2006 as a senior consultant to work with and grow the electronics and semiconductor client base. I was excited to help grow Kalypso as a professional services firm, having had years of experience in my corporate career hiring and working with R&D and new product development (NPD) consulting firms. I knew I could provide input on what I liked and didn’t like about those experiences. Since then, Kalypso has helped me to thrive in the areas of innovation I love – working in semiconductors and intellectual property (IP) management. Now almost six years later, being part of the leadership and ownership team at Kalypso, I find it’s critical to reciprocate the mentoring and coaching I received both within Kalypso and with our clients.  

What does being a Kalypso director mean to you?

I appreciate the opportunity to help shape the firm’s growth plan, both in the clients we serve and in bringing on new people with the values and experience that fuel our ability to serve our clients with results that matter.

What areas will you focus on in your new role?

I will continue to lead our semiconductor practice and strive to guide clients with clear advice on innovation. Today’s pressures mean that companies must change, adopt and innovate quickly, or they’ll quickly become irrelevant and probably less profitable. I will help enable our clients to advance their NPD and time to market (TTM) processes and leverage their R&D investment to bring innovative products to market quickly and cost effectively. I will also look to grow our IP practice and expand our capabilities with new and existing clients.

Where is the most interesting town/city you’ve been for a client project?

I’d say returning to the New England area; I love the distinct four seasons of the greater Boston area, where my wife and I lived for 20 years prior to relocating to North Carolina (both of our sons continue to live there). There’s always something to do near Boston as it’s the “Athens” of the US with all of its college towns and the ever-exciting Red Sox. But I also enjoy the San Francisco Bay area since it’s the heartbeat of high tech.

What is your favorite Kalypso value?

Actually there are two favorites. The first is leaders behind the leaders, as we’re responsible for ensuring our clients’ success. At Kalypso we understand it’s about the client and not about us. This is so valued by those we serve, and there’s nothing like seeing the leaders we advise step up and get all of the credit! The other value is characters with character  which, simply put, keeps Kalypso unique and weird. Where else could you find such a diversity of innovators?!

Why is working in innovation exciting to you?

Innovation requires collaboration which fuels the energy needed to make that idea, project or product materialize from where it first begins as part of an ideation process, to the tradeoffs and dialogues needed as it matures through engineering development. Innovation requires both good management and excellent leadership - focusing on the business results and R&D processes, while ensuring the right people on the team can deliver results using these processes. Helping clients channel their teams’ energy to get their desired results is really fun!

In what ways have you grown professionally and/or personally at Kalypso?

The values of Kalypso are great; they’re truly part of the DNA of our organization. As part of this, the feedback we give and receive from one another creates a “culture of candor.” Personally, I have valued hearing feedback from both our team and client what we are doing well and what needs to improve. This method of continuous improvement allows us to build and remodel the house we want to live in. It’s stretched me to make Kalypso even better by developing myself and mentoring others on the team to do the same. All of this helps us our clients to meet their expectations and deliver on the promise of innovation!

Congratulations, Joe!

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]]> Characters with Character, IP, IP Commercialization, IP Management, IP Management Practice, Joe Dury, Kalypso, Kalypso Careers, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Difference, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Firm Growth, Kalypso Growth, Kalypso Leadership Team, Kalypso Values, Kalypsonians, Leaders Behind the Leaders, Semiconductor 2011-11-11T18:47:42+00:00 Jerry Freeman - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/jerry-freeman-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/jerry-freeman-a-character-with-character/#When:15:11:23Z I hail from Memphis, Tennessee, home of blues, BBQ and of course, Elvis (don’t say anything bad about the King).  I clearly remember the day my next door neighbor came running home screaming that Elvis had left the building (not in those words, but you get the picture). All of this is important to me because I believe growing up in Memphis heavily influenced my love of music, especially from the era of my youth.  We’d spend hours on end sitting on the floor listening to my mother’s 45s (7-inch vinyl records with a single song on both sides played on an old school record player or turntable which spun at 45 rpms) and the corresponding stories that went along with the songs.  I believe music is a universal language that can unite people of all backgrounds and experiences.  It continues to be one of the most powerful mediums for ideas, understanding and communication.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A day on the golf course with a foursome of my wife and two kids (as soon as they learn to play).

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

I’d love to be an accomplished musician because music is such a universal language.

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

An American bald eagle because of its association with power, strength and freedom.

If you were a type of pasta noodle, what type of noodle would you be and why?

Tagliatelle because it sounds bada$$.

What moment was the proudest moment of your life? Why?

Two that stand out are the birth of my children and my graduation from Morehouse College. My children because they are continuations of life that I get to nurture, teach and love every day; graduation because it represented the culmination of a committed journey toward excellence.

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Jerry 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, Jerry Freeman, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2011-11-11T15:11:23+00:00 Foundation for Open Innovation, Part 2: Where will breakthrough ideas come from? http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-2-where-will-breakthrough-ideas-come-fr/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-2-where-will-breakthrough-ideas-come-fr/#When:18:02:04Z For managers of R&D or engineering, generating breakthrough ideas is a critical initiative. I believe breakthroughs will come from both invention and innovation efforts (see part 1 of this series).  Interestingly, with invention, the uncertainties are much higher as this work is truly new to the world.

The prudent manager will bias efforts toward innovation by borrowing ideas from other industries or seeking points of convergence where technologies are beginning to meld together to form entirely new capabilities. For example, Phillips Electronics blended insights from video animation, sound-control systems and other disciplines to dramatically improve the customer experience of its magnetic resonance imaging devices. Why deal with the uncertainties of invention when a useful, proven approach may already exist that could be leveraged? This approach results in more predictable outcomes, and generally greater value creation.

To enable these innovative possibilities, many companies are now turning to the concept of open innovation. As coined by Henry Chesbrough, open innovation is a product or technology development model that extends beyond the boundaries of a firm in a collaborative fashion with others. This concept is a great way to turbo-charge the company’s innovative engine to find breakthrough ideas. Contributors from different organizations or industries frame problems quite differently, resulting in altered approaches and outcomes which lead to breakthrough innovation.

What’s your view? Have you experimented with open innovation in your company? What were the results? Part 3 of this series will cover techniques for managing the uncertainty of invention.

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]]> Innovation, Michael Glessner, Open Innovation, Product Development, Product Innovation, Social Product Innovation, Strategy 2011-11-10T18:02:04+00:00 Miton Adhikari - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/miton-adhikari-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/miton-adhikari-a-character-with-character/#When:18:58:59Z Your favorite virtue?

I love food.

No, let’s get it correct...I LOVE FOOD. So no matter how bad of a cook you are, if you cook for me, I can assure you that your food will not only be tried but thoroughly enjoyed as well. This virtue of love for food not only allows me to try a variety of [proven and unproven] cuisines from around the world but it also gives a big ego-boost to the wanna-be chefs! What more could I ask for?

Your favorite occupation?

Not counting consulting?

I think being a movie director would be so cool. You see, after a few years as a child actor on Nepal Television, I thought I had a shot at becoming a superstar in the Nepalese movie industry or heck, even Bollywood. However, as it turns out, neither the Nepalese or Indians tolerate lead actors with a receding hairline. So, I'll say my favorite occupation would be directing movies. Besides, I think the directors make more money than the actors anyways!

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?

Superman. In fact as a kid, I used to think I had the yet-to-be-discovered ability to fly like Superman (of course, I didn't care about his x-ray vision until I became a teenager). The only difference was - I thought I needed to run first (like the airplanes on runway) before I could take-off from the ground. Obviously, even after running until my lungs were ready to collapse, flying never happened, but watching Superman fly over the skyscrapers still makes me happy.

If you were a kind of herbivore, what kind of herbivore would you be and why?

A horse! Horses represent freedom, vitality and jest for life. That is how I want to live - free, full of energy and with a lot of passion.

When was a time you were chosen to do something important?

I am constantly being chosen to do important things. I think every activity, no matter how mundane, has a butterfly effect and huge implications – so the simple act of my taking a cup of coffee this morning could have as big and important an effect as the very survival of this world. So, unless YOU are not doing what you were supposed to do, I think we don’t have to worry about the whole 2012,  "End of The World" prophecy, for I my friend, have done my part by drinking a cup of coffee this morning!

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Miton 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 2011-11-03T18:58:59+00:00 Foundation for Open Innovation, Part 1: Invention vs. Innovation http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-1-invention-vs.-innovation/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/foundation-for-open-innovation-part-1-invention-vs.-innovation/#When:17:49:45Z How many times have you heard from a co-worker - “I’m not a scientist or engineer; I can’t innovate.” This frame of mind frustrates many forward thinking managers and stands in the way of systematic creative work, especially in technical environments. One way to address this mindset occurred to me while reviewing work by a noted innovator, David Pensak.

Let’s start with two definitions:

  • Invention - discovering something new to the world
  • Innovation - using knowledge that already exists in a different way 

With these in mind, the role of a scientist is often to invent.  If you think about it, beyond that, few others in your organization truly invent. 

Yet, everyone can innovate. These definitions provide a very powerful approach to change people’s frame of mind and enable all employees to innovate and to think about innovating. Application engineers do this every day in a very practical sense. As a manager, you win when every member of your team seeks opportunities to experiment with new approaches that have the potential to improve aspects of performance.  

What’s your view? Do these definitions resonate with you? Try applying them to your business and share your feedback. Part 2 of this series will cover where breakthrough ideas come from.

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]]> Blog, Innovation, Innovation Articles, Michael Glessner, Open Innovation, PLM, Product Development, Product Innovation, Product Lifecycle Management, Social Networking, Social Product Development, Social Product Innovation, Spike, Strategy 2011-11-03T17:49:45+00:00 Kim Degen - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kim-degen-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/kim-degen-a-character-with-character/#When:14:35:08Z I am a nerd at heart and proud of it! I am obsessed with editing and get annoyed when I proofread documents that contain errors I've addressed in my Grammar Tip of the Month Newsletter Submissions (shameless plug). I am oddly well-rounded: I can belt out Mozart's Queen of the Night aria and run the table in a game of 9-ball. I muddle a mean Malibu Mojito (alliteration anyone?) and am at my happiest when I'm nose-deep in a good book during a thunderstorm. I have double-jointed elbows and love the smell of eucalyptus and campfires. My alarm clock is always set for 1 minute after the hour (07:01). I am adventurous and enjoy rock climbing. I hate running, but do it anyway. I love playing board/card games and thanks to my competitive spirit, I will always accept a challenge.

Who would you have liked to be?

Cleopatra - we share the same healthy skin obsession.

To you, what is the lowest depth of misery?

Misery has no boundaries and keeps company. However, misery is the darkness that the slightest flame can take away. It is important to stay positive and keep moving forward no matter how difficult things may seem.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband, my family (and pets!) back home, and music.

If you were a computer program, what program would you be and why?

Living in the Netherlands, I've seen some pretty outlandish fashion statements and I find myself frequently providing mental criticism. My computer program would snap digital images of people before they leave the house and would provide advice over their chosen ensembles. Comments would range from "You look so amazing you deserve your own paparazzi!" to "What were you thinking, did you even look in the mirror today?" This program would help eliminate fashion shame on the streets.

When was a time you overcame a large obstacle?

Long story short, when I moved to The Netherlands over two years ago, I was jobless for the first time in my life. Luckily, through networking, I stumbled across Niels Ebbing and Kalypso - the rest is (happy) history.

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Kim manages operations for Kalypso Europe. 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, Company Information, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird 2011-10-28T14:35:08+00:00 A Kalypso Journey: Adam Elboim http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/a-kalypso-journey-adam-elboim/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/a-kalypso-journey-adam-elboim/#When:17:25:13Z Hey Adam, congratulations on your promotion to senior manager! 

Thanks!  It’s a great firm and I’m happy to be part of the supporting cast.

What has your career path at Kalypso looked like? 

I started with Kalypso as a manager in 2008.  Over the past three years, I’ve been really lucky to get exposure to a broad range of clients – consumer goods, candy manufacturing, health insurance and wireless telecom.  In 2009, I got a unique opportunity to help a telecom client actually build a product in a new market and manage its roll-out through a joint venture.  Other firms preach hands-on experience, but I doubt that their consultants get to roll up their sleeves to the extent that I have.  Fortunately, Kalypso helped me to balance my role in a position I loved while continuing to develop me for promotion.  

What does being a Kalypso senior manager mean to you? 

I appreciate that at Kalypso, being a senior manager means having a voice on the Leadership Team.  I’ve never seen another consulting firm include non-partners in the decision-making.

What areas will you be focusing on in your new role? 

I’d like to expand our presence in telecom.  Mobile devices present such a great platform for innovation, and I think we’ve just begun to scratch the surface of new productivity now that people have begun to integrate the handset into their daily lives.  Internally, I’d love to be more focused on recruiting – we do such a good job at creating a unique culture that I’d like to see it continue.

Where is the most interesting town/city you’ve been for a client project? 

I’ve traveled to Seattle several times to meet with a joint venture partner.  I’ve been very spoiled – the weather has been great each time (with views of the surrounding mountains) and my joint venture partner owns a winery, so we’ve always had great seafood with bottles of his wine.

Why is working in innovation exciting to you? 

The great thing about innovation is that it’s always a positively changing force.  It’s not about what I’m cutting, it’s about what I am creating.  Innovation never gets old, and methods always change because the landscape and tools available for innovation continue to evolve. Platforms like the internet and processes like manufacturing lines have completely changed the ways we innovate.  I’m always looking to be part of that next innovation breakthrough when I can say “Remember the times before I helped invent XYZ?”.

In what ways have you grown professionally and personally at Kalypso? 

I’ve always had very candid feedback on my performance at Kalypso.  It works here since we’ve built a culture of trust, both internally and with our clients.  I find that I can grow and help others grow faster with clear and actionable feedback, and this has made me a better trusted advisor.

Congratulations, Adam!

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]]> Adam Elboim, Innovation Careers, Kalypso, Kalypso Careers, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Growth, Kalypso Leadership Team, Kalypso Values, Kalypsonians, Telecom, Telecommunications 2011-10-27T17:25:13+00:00 Matt Priest - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/matt-priest-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/matt-priest-a-character-with-character/#When:15:20:04Z I hail from the small East Texas town of Lumberton, Texas.  In order to rid myself of the shackles of illiteracy and redneck-ism, I attended Texas State University where I graduated with a degree in Finance.  I joined Kalypso in January 2010 when Bill Poston rescued me from “wasting my life away” in corporate banking.

What historical figures do you most despise?

It would probably be Adolf Hitler – any person that takes away individual liberties from a nation of people and persecutes them is not a friend of mine. Plus he had a terrible moustache.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

I would love to be able to stop time or be able to teleport - Stop time so I could actually have an inkling of free time here and there and teleport because I think it would be a lot easier to teleport from client site to client site versus dealing with United/Continental and the damn TSA.

What is your greatest fear?

I think my greatest fear is not being able to control the future – sometimes I feel a little uneasy wondering what destiny has in store for me.  But, no matter what, my life is amazing and has always been up to this point, so I guess I should just learn to roll with the punches and accept what comes my way.

What is it that you most dislike?

Stagnation. I have to stay busy, stay moving, be involved, and be connected.  If any of these things are missing from my life, I get very unhappy.

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

Assuming I can’t pick another person to come back as, I would probably choose something like a lion – King of the Jungle. Roar.

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Matt is a 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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]]> 2011-10-19T15:20:04+00:00 Fantasy Innovation Picks http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/fantasy-innovation-picks/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/fantasy-innovation-picks/#When:13:45:18Z Football season is underway which means it is time for fantasy football, where you get to be the general manager of your own team. If your friends are anything like ours, they use elaborate strategies to pick the right combination of players - from assessing quarterback ratings across stadium locations, betting on the right number of rookies to veterans, to picking personal favorites. These strategies have their place, but all the theoretical analysis in the world won’t necessarily result in a winning team.

When it comes to innovation management, elaborate and detailed planning methods are also used to implement portfolio and pipeline management for new product development (NPD PPM). There are plenty of “textbook” NPD PPM theories to implement that are used with traditional process mapping methods and disconnected spreadsheets. When left to inexperienced and unproven strategies, these theories lead to an over-engineered solution and no tangible value. This is not a way to build winning portfolio management that delivers results – or a football team.

When it comes right down to it, a winning NPD PPM implementation requires practical experience to guide the team and a proven approach based on real-world experience.

Now, two veterans in NPD PPM process and technology capabilities are available to guide your team.  Kalypso and Planview bring deep innovation portfolio and pipeline management experience, proven methods and a platform to coach your team through a quick implementation – helping you demonstrate real results and value fast.

Kalypso’s Nova for PPM, a leading practice pre-defined model and unique implementation approach for innovation process management is now enabled in Planview Enterprise. Nova in Planview is ready to deploy and use on day one of your portfolio and pipeline management journey. Nova’s leading practices are also available for knowledge building and collaboration on the Planview PRISMS content library.

By leveraging the Nova model in Planview, innovation management teams benefit from:

  • A “designed by veterans” portfolio management solution that answers what practical processes, information and functionality really enable NPD work and decision making
  • Coaching, real data, and meaningful recommendations to demonstrate the value of innovation process management in tough situations like portfolio or phase-gate review

With Nova in Planview, innovation teams have what we all want our fantasy football teams to have – a chance to win.  Learn more and meet your team at the Planview Horizons User Conference or the PDMA’s 35th Annual Global Conference on Product Innovation Management.

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]]> New Product Development, Nova, Nova for PPM, Nova Model, Nova PPM Model, NPD, NPD PPM, Pipeline and Portfolio Management, Pipeline Management, Planview, Planview Enterprise, Planview Horizons, Planview PRISMS, Portfolio & Pipeline Management, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Management Consultants, Portfolio Management Consulting, PPM Implementation, Product Development, Product Innovation 2011-10-13T13:45:18+00:00 Hajar Abu-Zayed - A Character With Character http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/hajar-abu-zayed-a-character-with-character/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/hajar-abu-zayed-a-character-with-character/#When:17:28:57Z

I'm notorious for making a 5 second event into a 15 minute story. In the fall, I have an unhealthy obsession for Pumpkin Spice everything. I am really fascinated by different cultures and linguistics. I truly believe that unity across the world is through learning and understanding the different cultures. With that, I am in love with accents and occasionally have outbursts! Sometimes, the voice in my head has a British accent. I believe everyone has the ability to change themselves for the better. Most importantly, I believe deep down everyone is a NC State fan because we all bleed that NC State Wolfpack red until the end. GO PACK!

What historical figures do you most admire?

Queen Elizabeth I

What is your dream travel destination?

Mt. Midoriyama in Japan so I can try out for Ninja Warrior, conquer the course, and proclaim that I am a Ninja Warrior. 

When you were a child – what were you going to be when you “grew up”?

A doctor.

If you were a power tool, what power tool would you be? Why?

Probably a nail gun because using one was so fun at the 2011 Kalypso Kares Eastern Retreat!

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I’ve probably had more embarrassing moments than the average person, but personally I don’t seem to get embarrassed very often. The key is to learn to laugh at yourself! =)

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Hajar is a Business 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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]]> Blog, Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Values 2011-10-12T17:28:57+00:00 Pick Your Fave for the People’s Choice Award http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pick-your-fave-for-the-peoples-choice-award/ http://kalypso.com/viewpoints/blog/pick-your-fave-for-the-peoples-choice-award/#When:00:32:35Z The second annual SPIKE Awards are less than one week away! The winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 18th during the Social Product Innovation Summit. The SPIKE Awards salute the latest and greatest use of social strategies, processes and supporting technologies to improve innovation and product development. This year’s nominees have proven that social media is more than just a forum for status updates or a way to keep tabs on your favorite celebrities; these true innovators are shining examples of how to leverage Social Product Innovation across the product lifecycle.

The SPIKE Awards Finalists

Voting for the SPIKE Awards People's Choice closes Friday, October 14. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make your voice heard - visit http://spikeawards.com to cast your vote today!

While you're at it, make sure you register for the....

Social Product Innovation Summit 2011

Not only will you find out the winners of the 2011 SPIKE Awards at this interactive virtual conference, you'll also discover a forum for experts, users and peers to discuss leading practices for Social Product Innovation. The free, four-hour event will feature presentations from Jim Brown (Tech-Clarity), Bill Poston (Kalypso), Braden Kelley (InnovationExcellence), and David Feinleib (investor and entrepreneur). To register, visit http://spikesummit.com. We’ll see you there!

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]]> CDC Software, Cisco Systems, Diamond Candle, General Electric, Glaceau Vitamin Water, HopeLab, Madison Electric Products, People's Choice, Prize4Life, Product Innovation, Social Media, Social Product Innovation, Spike, Spike Awards, Spike Awards 2011, Spike Awards Winners, Spike People's Choice, Spike Summit 2011-10-12T00:32:35+00:00