2004 December

Blog - People Practices

Read An operational perspective of the Telecom Industry Blog

- Posted by Deepa on Dec 22 2004 [General]

The recent Boston Consulting Group?s 2004-2005 Senior Executive Survey on Innovation shared the following preliminary findings from the study:

73 percent of participants worldwide said their companies will increase spending on innovation in 2005, up from 64 percent in 2004. On average, participants said their companies plan to boost spending on innovation by 15 percent.

The consumer products and technology industries had the highest percentage of respondents reporting plans to increase innovation spending in 2005, at 80 percent and 79 percent respectively. Telecommunications had the lowest, with 61 percent.

The Asia-Pacific region led with 78 percent of participants planning increases, although North America (73 percent) and Europe (70 percent) were close behind.

Another recent report on Innovation has been brought out by the US Council of innovation tilted “Innovate America” is worth a read for anyone who is interested in finding out how Innovation is going to shape the future. [Via Chuck Frey's Blog]

I particularly liked this idea from the report

21st Century Innovation Opportunity ? the Hydrogen Economy

The potential of a hydrogen economy to address major challenges facing America and the rest of the world is capturing the imaginations of consumers,
researchers, government and industry.

Why hydrogen? There are many compelling reasons. According to Larry Burns, Vice President, Research & Development and Planning for General Motors
Corporation:

A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is nearly twice as energy efficient as a conventional vehicle, and its only emission is water vapor.

Hydrogen can be extracted from various fuels, promoting energy diversity.

The introduction of alternative energy sources should decrease petroleum dependence and increase energy security, and could make energy pricing more competitive.

Fuel cells will enable the auto industry to reinvent the automobile itself. They are the foundation for innovative and compelling vehicle designs that show great promise of being affordable, sustainable, and profitable.

Fuel cells are a potential source not only of transportation power, but also of electrical power. They could enable new, more environmentally compatible, distributed electric-power
generation.

If you are not sated yet, go on to read about the World’s Top Ten Greatest innovators according to Dave Pollard’s at his blog

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Innovation is the name of the game!

- Posted by Deepa on [Innovation]

The November issue of HR magazine had the cover story titled ?Cooking up Innovation?. In that article, Gary Hamel talks about ?The Future of Innovation?

?The biggest Innovation of all? Hamel says ?is Management Innovation and the challenge to HR is to help bring the same kind of management processes to innovation that other departments have brought to processes.? ?HR?s most fundamental strategic responsibility? he says ?is to build new human based capabilities that create a competitive advantage.? ?This is essential because within the next decade, predicts Hamel, ?no company is going to be able to opt out of innovation.?

The December issue of Fast Company has great articles on creativity and innovation.

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Two Powerful Techniques in Facilitation

- Posted by Deepa on Dec 7 2004 [Learning]

In this month?s newsletter, I’ve written about two powerful techniques that can be used in group facilitation.

Left Hand Column Exercise: This technique was used originally by Chris Argyris and made popular by Peter Senge through his book, The Fifth Discipline to understand the underlying causes while interacting with one another.

Confrontation Meeting: This technique was first used by Richard Beckhard. He offers a methodology for creating action plans for improvement through “an activity that allows a total management group, drawn from all levels of the organization, to take a quick reading of its own health and - within a matter of hours- to set action plans for improving it.” He calls this activity a confrontation meeting.

To read more on the two techniques, go here

Try them out!

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Employee Learning Day

- Posted by Deepa on Dec 1 2004 [Learning]

Today, December 01 has been declared as Employee Learning Day by ASTD

These are some of the suggestions listed on their site to promote learning:

Set up an on-site learning centre with information about learning opportunities within the organization and throughout the community

Encourage membership and involvement in a professional association

Inform employees about business-critical information so they understand their role in the organization’s future

Create individual development plans for employees, making sure that learning is incorporated into all goals

Cross-train, or pair up employees and/or departments so they can learn from each other.

Many organizations have a ‘happy hour’ every week (letting one’s mind to wonder about the rest of the hours). How about a “Learning Hour” every day, every week? Learning for the joy of learning!

To continue on the note of learning, read here about how a teacher turns laundry into learning time through an innovative programme called “Wash and Learn”

Via Sam Decker’s blog

I heartily agree to what Sam Decker says, ?What is good for people is good for business”. I wish more businesses saw light!

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