In any business or organization is there an inventive opportunity by using an innovation management strategy in all departments? Some areas of organization such as project management are sometimes thought of as a place for timely deliverables that are measurable, a place to reduce risk and develop constraints in short a home for expertise in trained linear thinking. Can this also be a place for leadership and enhancing value by utilizing creativity and innovation?
A Competitive Advantage in Marketing and Sales: Enhancing Innovation, Creativity and Value Series for Marketing and Sales
Inventive Opportunity – Finding ways for competitive advantage and Inventive Opportunity by adding value and enhancing differentiation capabilities are a constant and ongoing challenge for the individual and organization. In times of constraint such as recessions or financial hardships accomplishing more with less becomes a necessity. Differentiation is used in product marketing to make the product or service attractive in specific markets or segments. In sales we differentiate our products and services that are offered to clients by looking for unique features and moving these features to benefits that a client will value.
We were in the midst of a recession. It was bad. The recession hit the automotive, forestry, steel, construction and manufacturing industries and the opportunities did not look good. These industries made up a large amount of our existing business. Some of the company’s product lines were getting squeezed to as low as 5% gross profits. My technical product line offered our company much higher gross profits, but had to be a utilized as a problem solver to receive this value.
Sustainability – Book Review, “Sustainable Energy – without the hot air”.
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Sustainable Energy
I just completed my first read of the free downloadable version of David JC MacKay (Professor, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge) 2009 new book called, “Sustainable Energy – without the hot air”. Included at the bottom of this post is David’s website address – download the free version and find out where to buy a hard copy.
In the section “What’s this book about?” David wrote, “This is a straight-talking book about the numbers. The aim is to guide the reader around the claptrap to actions that really make a difference and to policies that add up.” I agree with what he wrote in the above quote.
An initial observation on the meaning of business sustainability could be concluded as a continuation of a process. Your business is an example and you want it to grow and continue to be successful. Greater insight can be gained by looking at other stakeholders that impact or are impacted by your business (e.g., customers, local community and authorities, consumers, suppliers, employees). Your business is also a stakeholder in: other businesses; the economy; society and the environment. Observations now have moved from the me to the we, realizing that we are part of a much larger sustainable system, where decisions are made that affect your business. Participating in business sustainability can open doors to business opportunity.