2024

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If You Want To Tell A Kick-Ass Story, Do These 3 Things

Digital Tonto

Some years back I was invited to visit the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Over the years many of the world’s greatest minds have taken up residence there. It was where Einstein, along with other giants like Oppenheimer, von Neumann and Gödel, would reside until his death in 1955. It is a place, for me at least, in which stories permeate from every corner and crevice.

Study 198
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When You Have to Make a Strategic Decision Without Much Data

Harvard Business Review

One big challenge that leaders have when figuring out how or where their companies can grow is that a dearth of data about future problems and opportunities. In these situations, there are three techniques that leaders can employ to develop insights: look at customers and startups for signs of change, experience new technologies rather than just read about them, and practice “associative thinking,” which means connect two seemingly disparate concepts to develop a novel idea.

Data 138
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Transforming existing schools is an exercise in futility

Christensen Institute

The need to transform our K–12 schools grows more pressing each day. But here’s the hard truth: transforming existing schools is nearly impossible. The primary obstacle? Value networks. What is a value network ? It’s the environment that an organization exists within—the external entities that provide key resources and define the rules for staying in business.

Exercises 139
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Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2023

Innovation Excellence

After a week of torrid voting and much passionate support, along with a lot of gut-wrenching consideration and jostling during the judging round, I am proud to announce your Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2023: Robyn Bolton Robyn M.

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How Mature Companies Are Scaling Transformational New Businesses

Scaling transformational innovations in large companies is challenging due to ‘Company Fit’ issues, which arise when the resources, processes, and priorities (RPPs) of the core business are not aligned with the needs of the new business. Many companies have learned how ambidexterity—the ability to both ‘exploit the present and explore the future,’ can help them address these issues for ideation and incubation of new innovations, but scaling transformative business innovations remains a challenge

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What is a product manager? | Sopheon

Sopheon

The product manager role is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The changes we’ve seen in the role over the last decade are head-spinning. And the answer to the question, “What is a product manager?” will be completely different ten years from now (thanks to AI).

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I Moved My 80-Person Company to a 4-Day Workweek Even Though It's Against the Industry Norm. Here's Why We'll Never Go Back.

Entrepreneur - Innovation

Dominic Tremblay and his partner Ludwig Ciupka are co-founders of TUX, a creative agency that introduced a 4-day workweek. Read more about the model's success.

Industry 112

More Trending

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Qmarkets and Arable Ventures Launch Partnership to Provide Combined Corporate Venturing Software & Consultancy Services

Qmarkets

A new partnership between Qmarkets and New York-based innovation and venture strategy firm Arable Ventures will provide a specialized innovation solution for enterprises across North America comprising both strategic consultancy services and dedicated software. Qmarkets works with consulting partners around the globe in order to offer localized support and strategic guidance to its customers wherever they are situated.

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Multitasking – NOT the Best Strategy

Focused Momentum

Multitasking is often a skill identified with a highly productive person, yet today our use of technology has pushed multitasking to ridiculous levels. As you know, it has gotten so bad that we’ve had to pass laws to do less of it, and now research indicates that rather than increasing productivity, it could be harming us. As an expert in strategy development for more than 20 years, I have had a front row seat to how this trend has impaired strategic thinking too.

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Turning Status Quo into Your Ally

Rmukesh Gupta

I recently read a blog post by Seth Godin titled, “The four cohorts of the status quo“ It reminded of the fact that as leaders, we need to understand the concept of status quo, how to leverage it and deal with it, as appropriate. This ability to not allow status quo to hinder our pursuits is a high leverage or impact skill for any leader.

How To 105
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Why Do We Miss Key Opportunities?

Michael Roberto

Why do we miss key opportunities at times in our careers? Sometimes, it may have to do with the type of opportunity we encounter. Suppose we have to decide whether to pursue a course of action which could have a positive outcome, but it has a very low probability of a successful result. Harvard's Emily Prinsloo and her co-authors have published an interesting new paper exploring what they call "opportunity neglect.

Course 54
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How Automation is Driving Efficiency Through the Last Mile of Reporting

Speaker: Jamie Eagan

As organizations strive for agility and efficiency, it's imperative for finance leaders to embrace innovative technologies and redefine traditional processes. Join us as we explore the pivotal role of digitalization and automation in reshaping what is commonly referred to as the “last mile of reporting”. We’ll deep-dive into why digitalization is no longer a choice, but a necessity for finance departments to stay competitive in a fast-paced environment touching on: 2024 trends for the Office of

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We Need To Rethink The Myth Of Macintosh And Xerox PARC

Digital Tonto

In the late 1960s, Xerox faced a problem without a clear solution. With many of its key patents expiring, it was losing its chokehold on the industry it had created. That’s what led its visionary CEO, Peter McColough, to create PARC, which invented breakthrough technologies, incredible profits and saved the company. Yet many see it as a cautionary tale because of all the possibilities it wasn’t able to pursue.

Industry 173
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How to Actually Execute Change at a Company

Harvard Business Review

The author analyze project teams across 257 firms to identify why only 60% of planned value is typically realized in change initiatives, focusing on four key factors: effective initial communication (“ACE the Memo”), ensuring resource accessibility and autonomy (“Master the Means”), employing mechanisms to align actions with goals (“Amplify with Mechanisms”), and strategic measurement to influence future outcomes (“Measure to Account”).

Change 135
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3 education innovations to watch in 2024 (hint: it’s not just about skills and AI)

Christensen Institute

Over the past few years, evidence about the profound link between social capital and economic mobility has expanded through both research and practice. Opportunity Insights’ study on economic connectedness and LinkedIn’s study on weak ties and job-getting are some examples At the same time, we’ve seen the rise of practice-based evidence, through efforts of leading organizations like Basta and Climb Hire, and technology platforms like People Grove and Handshake publishing impact reports on how us

Policies 131
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Announcing the Second Edition of Charting Change

Innovation Excellence

Thanks to the popularity of the First Edition of Charting Change, I am privileged and excited to announce the early availability of the Second Edition of Charting Change, my best selling book on planning and executing organizational change and transformation used as a course book by universities around the world.

Change 115
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Reimagined: Building Products with Generative AI

“Reimagined: Building Products with Generative AI” is an extensive guide for integrating generative AI into product strategy and careers featuring over 150 real-world examples, 30 case studies, and 20+ frameworks, and endorsed by over 20 leading AI and product executives, inventors, entrepreneurs, and researchers.

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Addressing digital transformation project challenges | Sopheon

Sopheon

Regardless of industry, digital transformation projects are a top priority today. According to IDC , global digital transformation spending will grow to an estimated $3.4 trillion by 2026. Digital transformations are necessary, but they’re also painful. And they fail at a rate of about 70%, according to McKinsey.

Project 105
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Many Employees Fear Being Replaced by AI — Here's How to Integrate It Into Your Business Without Scaring Them.

Entrepreneur - Innovation

There's no need to convince employees of the merits of artificial intelligence — just show them they are about to become more relevant, not less.

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Was this the Worst Decision in History?

Destination Innovation

Bayezid II was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1491 to 1512. He worked hard to govern fairly and gained the epithet of “Bayezid the Just” When in 1492, Spain expelled its Jewish and Muslim populations, Bayezid sent the his navy to evacuate them safely to Ottoman lands. He proclaimed that the refugees were to be welcomed. But he did make one far reaching and ultimately catastrophic decision.

Policies 260
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Idea Management Feature Comparison Guide 2024

Qmarkets

This feature comparison guide is designed to help you make an idea management software purchase with confidence by laying out all key considerations to make, clearly and comprehensively. Rank the strength of Qmarkets' features and compare them to those of other vendors across twelve different themes, including Campaigns, Submission & Collaboration, Reporting & Analytics, Security & Compliance, and more.

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The Big Payoff of Application Analytics

Outdated or absent analytics won’t cut it in today’s data-driven applications – not for your end users, your development team, or your business. That’s what drove the five companies in this e-book to change their approach to analytics. Download this e-book to learn about the unique problems each company faced and how they achieved huge returns beyond expectation by embedding analytics into applications.

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Revolutionizing the Deal-Making Landscape: yet2’s 11 Deals in a Single Month

Yet2

One of the ways we measure our success is through getting our clients to a deal with the companies we scout on their behalf. Last month, yet2 broke the record for deals in a single month with 11 deals in February 2024. To Compare: Looking back at 2022 , we set a new record for deals. Compared to 2021, we increased our deal count by 60%, and compared to 2020, we saw a whopping 140% increase.

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Becoming Better Communicators

Rmukesh Gupta

In this very insightful and a short clip, advertising legend Bill Bernbach talks about the difference between writing and communicating. The writer is concerned with what (s)he puts into his/her writing, whereas a communicator is concerned with what the reader gets out of it. (S)He therefore becomes a student of how people read and listen.

Learning 105
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What are Your REAL Values?

Michael Roberto

Lila Maclellan has written an important story for Fortune titled "The recent debacles at Boeing and Meta highlight the dangers of shrugging off employee concerns." Boeing, of course, has been saddled with product quality and safety troubles for several years, including two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX, about which I wrote a case study. Meta has had repeated instances of internet safety and privacy issues, for which senior leaders dismissed or downplayed employee concerns.

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How to Make Small Talk with Anyone from Anywhere

Harvard Business Review

Meet-and-greet conversations can be uncomfortable. And they can feel especially daunting when you’re paired with strangers from different cultures, like when networking in a global business context. In this setting, light and introductory-style conversations (what some of us know as “small talk”) can be very helpful, and even necessary. Small talk is a quasi-universal tool for initiating conversations with strangers from different cultures, for building a quick rapport, and for planting the seed

How To 135
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Mapping Digital Transformation: Retail’s Strategic Shift

Speaker: Jennifer Wright, Michael Scholz, Jasmin Guthmann, and Scott Canney

Digital transformation in retail is so much more than new technology. You need to get your whole organization, from entry-level workers to executives, on board with the new tech, new skills, and culture changes that digital transformation brings. Leading this mindset shift can be a daunting task… but that’s where this webinar comes in! Join our panel of experts as they guide you through the challenges of digital transformation, preparing you to avoid common mistakes and make the most of incredib

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How to Succeed When You’re Not the Boss’s Favorite

Harvard Business Review

Staying positive and motivated is tough when your boss has a clear favorite. When you feel like you’re not favored, you may hesitate to proactively communicate with your boss, worrying that you might be a bother and worsen your relationship or that your attempts will be futile. However, a passive approach will result in missed opportunities for growth, clarification, and relationship-building.

How To 132
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Don’t Underestimate the Power of Small Breaks During a Busy Workday

Harvard Business Review

Many people operate from the belief that there’s too much to do and they can’t afford to pause during their workday. But taking effective breaks is essential to preventing burnout. In this article, the author outlines eight strategies to try to build more breaks into your day.

Strategy 128
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A Simple Hack to Help You Communicate More Effectively

Harvard Business Review

Using a structured approach when communicating can help you prioritize what you need to convey. In this article, the author introduces his “What, So What, Now What” framework. Much like the Swiss Army knife, known for its versatility and reliability, this structure is flexible and can be used in many different communication situations. The structure is comprised of three simple questions: 1) What: Describe and define the facts, situation, product, position, etc. 2) So What: Discuss the implicati

Meeting 142
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How to Make Peace with a Company Decision You Don’t Like

Harvard Business Review

In our work, there are times when we lead but there are also times when we must follow — and we may not always agree with the path we’re told to follow. We may feel “stuck” in anger, anxiety, and confusion. But, we want to demonstrate resilience to our team and we want to maintain a good relationship with management. So, how do we forge ahead and follow with grace?

How To 135
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How to Achieve Product-Market Fit

Speaker: Dan Olsen - Product Management Trainer and Consultant, Author, and Speaker

Everyone working on a product is trying to achieve the same goal: product-market fit. But most products fail to do so. In this webinar, product management expert Dan Olsen will share his simple but effective framework for achieving product-market fit from his book The Lean Product Playbook. He will explain his Product-Market Fit Pyramid and The Lean Product Process, a 6-step methodology that guides you through how to: Determine your target customer Identify underserved customer needs Define your

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Put Marketing at the Core of Your Growth Strategy

Harvard Business Review

Companies that make the decision to put marketing at the core of their growth strategy outperform the competition, according to McKinsey research. Specifically, both B2C and B2B companies who view branding and advertising as a top two growth strategy are twice as likely to see revenue growth of 5% or more than those that don’t (67% to 33%). Yet their research also showed that few CEOs recognize the potential for marketing as a growth accelerator.

Marketing 128
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How to Mentor More People — and Not Get Burned Out

Harvard Business Review

While mentoring people can be extremely rewarding, it has its challenges. It can be time-consuming and frustrating. However, if you structure and administer mentorships wisely, you can overcome the challenges, excel in being a mentor, and enhance your standing in your organization. Five strategies can help: divide your mentees into teams, set expectations with mentees early, use technology to your advantage, brand your efforts, and hold your organization accountable for providing the time and fu

How To 140
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Find the AI Approach That Fits the Problem You’re Trying to Solve

Harvard Business Review

AI moves quickly, but organizations change much more slowly. What works in a lab may be wrong for your company right now. If you know the right questions to ask, you can make better decisions, regardless of how fast technology changes. You can work with your technical experts to use the right tool for the right job. Then each solution today becomes a foundation to build further innovations tomorrow.

Tools 135
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What Employees Need from Leaders in Uncertain Times

Harvard Business Review

It’s one thing to lead through a normal range of uncertainty with its ups and downs. But how do you lead when the inflections, disruptions, dislocations, and other threat conditions pile up, as they have in the last few years? While the leader has little to no control over the external competitive environment, they have astonishing influence over the internal performance environment, including employee engagement, morale, and productivity.

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Software Composition Analysis: The New Armor for Your Cybersecurity

Speaker: Blackberry, OSS Consultants, & Revenera

Software is complex, which makes threats to the software supply chain more real every day. 64% of organizations have been impacted by a software supply chain attack and 60% of data breaches are due to unpatched software vulnerabilities. In the U.S. alone, cyber losses totaled $10.3 billion in 2022. All of these stats beg the question, “Do you know what’s in your software?