Learning from Steve Jobs

Understandably, technology news over the past week has been dominated by Steve Jobs’ resignation as Chief Executive from Apple. While he will stay on as Chairman, Tim Cook – former Chief Operating Officer – will take the helm. There have been many wonderful pieces on Jobs (though some do read like obituaries) – these from [...]

Recommended reading – 24th July 2010

I’ve been a bit neglectful of this blog over the past month or two. Come September, this should change. I haven’t written a “recommended reading” post for over a month, so I will rectify that by posting two this weekend, featuring the very best of the various articles and blogs I’ve read over the past [...]

Harold Evans on the Spirit of Innovation

Earlier today I attended a lecture at the Royal Society of Arts given by Sir Harold Evans entitled “The Spirit of Innovation”. During an extremely distinguished career, Evans has been, among other things, Editor of both The Times and Sunday Times (of London), Publisher of Random House and an author of several acclaimed books. This [...]

Finding that extra 10% to improve

Innovation – commercialising inventions of new ideas and methods – is a necessary component of business success. There are other factors in play, but the more innovative a business is, the more successful it is likely to be. It avoids obsolescence and finds/maintains a differential advantage, among other things. But many people seem to be [...]

The perception of disruption

Network effects hasten the rate of innovation. Therefore, the rate of technological change is faster now than it has ever been (at least if my memory of Solow-style exogenous growth models is correct. This tends to be iterative. Small, continual improvements that improve the efficiency of processes and provide new opportunities for people to achieve [...]

The Art of Innovation

To commemorate David Kelley (co-founder of IDEO) being awarded the Edison Achievement Award for his “pioneering contributions to the design of breakthrough products, services, and experiences for consumers, as well as his development of an innovative culture that has broad impact”, Fast Company have published a series of articles on the man and his company. [...]

Image conscious

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/tibult/ I’ve had the same haircut for about 8 years. Some of my clothes are nearly as old. While I don’t stand out like a sore thumb, one could say that I am quite distinctive. Hence I was not surprised when I was spotted from distance in a club last week by someone [...]