People who read, study and follow the “design with the end user” mantra might feel more than ever that they’re doing the right thing, but they’ll simply be reinforcing the outside-in, top down approach without realizing it.
We’re still talking about the same handful of challenges and issues in mobile development which implies that very little, if anything, has changed where it matters—on the ground. Have we really made so little progress?
The policy of funding many projects in the hope that the odd one shines through belongs to an earlier era. We know enough about what works and what doesn’t to be far more targeted.
We constantly hear that ideas are cheap—that it’s all about execution. That's true, to an extent. But you're still much better off executing on good ideas.
If we’re serious about breaking down silos, we could start by holding fewer sector-specific events and running more on issues and challenges—and other common themes running through the ‘for good’ sector.
If you’re keen for a taste of what life is like as an entrepreneur, publish a book. Read the key insights this entrepreneur gained after publishing his first book.
Living with first world amenities can cloud an individual's perspective on innovation. Switch the lens through which you view innovation, and take note of where it is taking place all around the world.
Steve Jobs liked to “live at the intersection of the humanities and technology,” and that’s exactly the place where communications technologies need to be.
There’s a saying in the technology world which asks “What would Google do?”. When I’m confronted with a problem, I’d rather ask “What would nature do?”. Why? Here are some great examples.
A Wikipedia search for Bitcoins would leave most of the general public scratching their heads. Some serious PR work needs to be done if shop keepers and the general public are to embrace such an idea, and let’s face it, they’ll have to in order for it to succeed.
If you’re serious about global social innovation, there's a new book that opens a window into how it happens, why it works, what "stuff" you need to succeed at it and what it feels like.
Here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned as I stumbled my way through the world of social innovation. I hope some of these prove useful as you travel your own path.
Has everything we could have said, been said? What has really changed? Aren't we still looking at the same handful of challenges? How much progress has actually been made? It's time to stop debating.
I predict we will see a major disconnect between what “we” think needs to be done, and what those closest to the problems think needs to be done. Call it disruptive development.
The Rolling Stones were one of the most successful media empires of all time. Read this post to learn some of the key insights that all managers and entrepreneurs should take away from The Stones.