Viewpoints By Michael Glessner

Article: Behaviors that Fuel Innovation #4: Make Offers to Take the Game to a Whole New Level

When it comes to executing complex projects, clarity of communication yields results. Direct conversation provides an ideal climate that removes ambiguity and fosters real innovation in a project setting.

Article: Behaviors that Fuel Innovation #3: Escalate for Rapid Conflict Resolution

In the heat of any complex innovation project, there will be times where conflict arises around requests and commitments. Don't let these situations fester - escalate to quickly resolve the issue.

Article: Behaviors that Fuel Innovation #2: Make Requests - The Direct Path to Commitments

How does an effective manager get project participants to make commitments? By building joint accountability for project success through formal requests.

Article: Behaviors that Fuel Innovation #1: Make Commitments - The Cornerstone of Results

Trust matters. Commitment matters. For any complex project, upfront, cross-functional planning with critical dependencies identified is key to success. Commitments are important building blocks of the plan, and seeking these commitments is critical.

Article: Four Behaviors that Fuel Innovation: Unleash Commitments, Requests and Offers to get the Innovation Results you Seek

Bad habits can negatively impact innovation. Instill these behaviors in your innovation teams to improve results and sustain them over time.

Article: The Executive’s Guide to Mergers and Acquisitions: Consider the NPD Beach Head Approach

When innovation growth fails to meet goals and objectives, many executives turn to mergers and acquisitions to buy the required capabilities. But after the fanfare is over, the operations executive who has to actually implement is left with an enormous challenge and no clear path to success.

Article: Innovation Executives: Who NOT to Put in Charge

Who is the right executive to lead innovation in your company? It may not be who you think. 

Article: Kill New Product Development Projects Faster!

The most successful executives kill New Product Development (NPD) projects as early in their development cycle as possible. It might sound cold, but choosing to relentlessly evaluate the merits of NPD projects early on pays dividends in the long run. 

Article: Using Technology Development (TD) to Unleash Your NPD

When projects miss scheduled gate review dates, new product development project teams and their executive sponsors place the blame on a number of factors, while wondering how to improve things next time.

Download: Open Innovation: Practical First Steps for B2B Companies

Considering an open innovation initiative? Don’t take it lightly. For B2B companies who face unique additional challenges, identifying and achieving value can be especially difficult. If your company sees the value and is ready to get started, here are four critical steps that will help ensure success.