1. Innovation and creativity
Coming up with a great idea
Dr. Andrew Maxwell, May 2015

2. Agenda
Where do good ideas come from?
Six sources of innovative ideas
Creative problem solving
Developing the value proposition
What makes a good idea?

3. Where do good ideas come
from?

4. Seven approaches to identifying
an innovation opportunity
Design thinking
Technology trajectory
Gaps in current solutions
Value chain analysis
Building on technology platforms
Business model innovation
Future foresight
Five whys

5. Design thinking
Look at what currently happens and suggest way the process can be
improved.

6. Technology trajectory

7. Gaps in current solutions

8. Firm’s value chain analysis
FIRM INFRASTRUCTURE
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
PROCUREMENT
INBOUND
LOGISTICS OPERATIONS
OUTBOUND
LOGISTICS
MARKETING
AND SALES
AFTER
SALES
SERVICE
OPERATIONS OUTBOUND
LOGISTICS
M
A
R
G
I
N
AFTER
SALES
SERVICE

9. Value chain analysis in the book
publishing business
Author Publisher Wholesaler ReaderRetailerAgent
Sales groups
Packager
$0.50
Promotions
$0.05
$0.50
$1.00
$0.375
$5.50
$1.25
$0.375
$10.00$3.50

10. Five forces that shape competition

11. Building on innovation

12. Business model innovation

13. Refers to the creation, or reinvention, of a
business itself. Whereas innovation is typically
seen in the form of a new product or service
offering, a business model innovation results in
an entirely different type of company that
competes not only on the value proposition of its
offerings, but aligns its profit formula, resources
and processes to enhance that value proposition,
capture new market segments and alienate
competitors. Wikipedia
Business Model Innovation

14. Business Model Canvas
http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas/bmc

15. Why innovate your
business model?
 Increase value proposition, or attack new market
segments
 Increase revenues, or reduce costs
 Develop strategic partnerships, or enhance extant
resources
 Leverage supply chain, or distributor, relationships
 Improve current activities, create new value for
customers
 Sell more to existing customers or find new
customers

16. Five whys of innovation

17. Good ideas not invented by
humans?

18. Use Future Foresight to predict
market trends
2

19. Developing the value proposition
Persuading a customer, or user, to adopt your
innovation requires them to:
switch from using an existing product / service
adopt an entirely new product or service
Changing behaviours means motivating customers,
or users, to change – how do you motivate them?
2

20. The value proposition
canvas

21. What makes a good idea
Desirability
[What do people desire]
Viability
[What is financially
viable]
Feasibility
[What is technologically &
organizationally feasible]

22. Does your idea have what it
takes?

23. Five steps to creative
problem solving
Understand problem you are trying to
address – is this based on evidence or
opinion?
Create multiple approaches to solving
problem – use references, frameworks or
ideation techniques
Develop framework for choosing between
options – often based on viability, feasibility
or desirability
Rank options against framework -
identify opportunities for improvement