Learn how to bring innovation into your business and spark those creative juices! Solve problems and make the big (and small) decisions in fun and creative ways!

1. S O F T W A R E D E V E L O P M E N T
S M A L L T A L K
C O D E

2. H O W T O I N N O V A T E
Y O U R W A Y T O
S O L U T I O N S I N T H E
W O R K P L A C E
S P E A K E R : L Y D I A B E N H A M , C E O

3. I N N O V A T I O N

4. C r e a t i v i t y i s t h e n a t u r e o f
c r e a t i n g s o m e t h i n g n e w ,
e i t h e r a n e w i d e a , c o n c e p t ,
o r m e t h o d . I n n o v a t i o n i s
u s i n g c r e a t i v i t y t o e n h a n c e
p e r f o r m a n c e o f a p r o c e s s ,
p e r s o n , t e a m , o r
o r g a n i z a t i o n . B u s i n e s s e s ,
f o r - p r o f i t a n d n o n p r o f i t , a r e
f a c i n g c h a n g e l i k e n e v e r
b e f o r e .

5. W H Y I N N O V A T E ?
-Increasing competition
-Increasing globalization
-Increasing consumer expectation
-Advanced technology
-Changing workforce demographics
-Changing how we work

7. B L A C K S W A N
T H E O R Y
R a n d o m a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e
e v e n t s t h a t c a n n o t b e
a n t i c i p a t e d

8. I n n o v a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t t o
o r g a n i z a t i o n s b e c a u s e i t
f o s t e r s n e w i d e a s f o r
p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s , g i v e s
s t a f f m e m b e r s a s e n s e o f j o b
s a t i s f a c t i o n , e n c o u r a g e s
t e a m w o r k , a n d a l l o w s
o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o f i n d
c o m p e t i t i v e a d v a n t a g e s i n
t h e m a r k e t p l a c e .

9. W O R K P L A C E
D I L E M M A S
-Employee conflict
-Not being noticed by a
superior/boss
-Co-workers taking credit for your
work

10. B U Y A
F E A T U R E
I N N O V A T I O N G A M E

11. B U Y A F E A T U R E
I N A C T I O N
-Deciding which fires to put out
first
-Planning strategic goals (x will
bring in x amount of extra revenue
but will cost x to get started - is it
worth it?)
-Planning family vacation

12. S T E P S
S T E P 1 :
S T E P 2 :
S T E P 3 :
Hunting and gathering - find who needs to
participate & gather their suggested input
regarding the issue/problem. Sometimes your
options might be predetermined.
Assign a value to each feature.
Set up play. Make sure all participants have
access to features before start of game. Assign
each player a hand of $$.

13. S T E P S
S T E P 4 :
S T E P 5 :
S T E P 6 :
Select a neutral monitor that is experienced
with the game and the rules.
Begin play.
Once everyone has run out of money, log
winners to begin implementing ASAP. Retain
losers for future.

14. B U Y A F E A T U R E
P R O T I P S
-Suggest smaller groups
-No more than 8 or it gets unruly
-Diverse group
-Clearly define Features before play
-No more than 1/2-1/3 of total cost
should be handed out
-Can be played digitally from a
spreadsheet as well

15. T H E I S S U E S
-Last minute speaker cancellation
-Conference budget decreased by
15%
-Retaining guest attention

17. O U T C O M E S
-Inclusivity
-Decision making empowerment
-Buy-in
- Collaboration

18. T h e c i t y o f S a n J o s e f a c e d a
s e r i o u s b u d g e t s h o r t f a l l a n d
u s e d B u y a F e a t u r e t a c t i c s t o
a s k c i t i z e n s w h i c h p r o g r a m s
t h e y w o u l d f u n d o r c u t .
B o n u s f e a t u r e : C u t t i n g p r o g r a m s t o
r e t u r n m o n e y t o p l a y e r s t o i n v e s t i n
m o r e d e s i r a b l e p r o g r a m s

19. L o o k i n g f o r s o m e o n e t o
p r o c t o r i n n o v a t i o n g a m e s i n
y o u r w o r k p l a c e ?
b i t . l y / i n n o v a t i o n g m
C o n t a c t u s t o l e a r n m o r e !

20. I N N O V A T I O N
G A M E S
Pruning the Product Tree
Product Box
20/20 Vision
Remember the Future
Show and Tell
The Apprentice
Me and My Shadow
Speed Boat

21. C O N T A C T U S
405 340 0208
lydia@smalltalkcode.com
501 N Broadway Ave
Edmond, Oklahoma 73034
medium.com/smalltalkcode
Twitter: @smalltalkcode