Monday, March 30, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
The McKinsey Quarterly asked Brad Bird from Pixar: what does stimulating the creativity of animators have in common with developing new product ideas or technology breakthroughs? This post on Gigaom.com extracted its 9 key lessons.
http://gigaom.com/2008/04/17/pixars-brad-bird-on-fostering-innovation/
Friday, March 27, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
| Tags: india,
sir roger bone,
car industry,
boeing uk,
biofuels,
tata,
aerodynamics,
ryanair,
nano,
federal reserve
Small, is the new big. Tata Motors is combusting old car industry models with the launch of its petite Nano – a car so small you can put it on your credit card. News of the Nano got analysts engines running a little faster, which was a surprise, given that the Nano is to be made in India. Its tiny price point, at about $2000, is the spark set to revolutionise our concept of value – this will be the most important product pitch in a generation.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
As President of Boeing UK, Sir Roger Bone is responsible for advising the main board on political and economic developments in the
UK, and also oversees Boeing’s UK outreach and philanthropic activities
“The excitement about innovation is the uncertainty and that’s why you’ve got to be brave….open minded….courageous and just go for it”
Friday, March 20, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
| Tags: innovation,
desalination,
open innovation,
professor john beddington,
manhattan project,
nuclear fusion,
jet
Kennedy began the US space race. Obama is going to cure cancer. And the United Kingdom, is, er, um, going to – make the trains run on time, maybe. Personally, that seems a little too mission impossible for my kind of optimism. How about? “This generation of Britons will harness controlled nuclear fusion for civilian use.”
Friday, March 13, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
Categories:
Business
| Tags: innovation,
great depression,
economic downturn
Apple. Those crazy guys. They’re about to launch an up-scaled IPod Shuffle, and rumours grow of a new touchscreen device. Recently, they previewed a refreshed desktop range. What’s with all the innovation Steve, there’s a recession on? Maybe a depression. Even with cool little headphones jammed in your ears you can hear the world collapsing, or maybe Apple is too in tune with a different beat.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories:
Business
| Tags: innovation
Will King, CEO of KMI (King of Shaves) talks about the role innovation has played in his career, from studying Mechanical Engineering which gave him a grounding in design and manufacturing, to his views on innovation in the UK.
“What happens in a recession is that creativity and common sense comes to out-weigh cash. People can’t simply rely on getting the cash in to do the job, they’ve got to use their brain and be creative and challenge things…...the currency of common sense is coming to the fore rather than the currency of cash.”
What do you think?
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
Categories:
Business
| Tags: sir roger bone,
boeing uk,
open innovation,
innovation island,
imperial college business school,
professor david gann,
darwin,
innovation nation,
newton,
5-d modelling
A new innovation eco-system is needed for Britain - that is the message delivered by guest panellists at the launch of Innovation Island, an Economist conference, sponsored by Grant Thornton.
Distinguished panellists, from industrial and research disciplines throughout the United Kingdom, gathered to discuss whether the UK remains an innovative nation. The answer is ‘Yes’, Britain is building on a strong innovative heritage, but it needs to address some persisting weaknesses if it is to deliver economic growth and a prosperous future.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories:
Business
| Tags: innovation
Don Elgie, Chief Executive Officer of Creston PLC gives his view on promoting innovation in the UK, what the obstacles are and how the economic downturn will affect the UK's position on the world stage.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
Categories:
Business
| Tags: innovation
Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle had this advice for the British film industry: “Persist. Keep going. Do all you can do… and keep Film 4 well funded.” As companies trim budgets and stare at slumdog sales charts, Danny Boyle’s advice will pay dividends.
Hard times compel the ambitious, inspire the creative. Will King, creator of the King of Shaves grooming range, launched a global business at home, from a back room, in 1992, when he had just lost his job. Poor thing, all that time on his hands to make a fortune.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | Posted by: Brian Maguire
Categories:
Business
| Tags: innovation
Picasso, pedantic? Not likely. For all the angst of Guernica, the turmoil of a crying woman, Picasso is probably best loved for his child-like sketches. And Dali, didn’t he do well? But you wouldn’t want him at your house for dinner, or careering around Downing Street.
Deconstructing the conventional and building something new, vigorous and bold, requires not just imagination, but a form of mania best enjoyed from a distance. Innovative high achievers are thought to benefit from a particular pressure on the prefrontal cortex. They won’t know it, but their lifestyle will be an indicator. Prodigious work output and the appearance of a consuming passion must draw on a vital inspiration source.
We commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit to survey UK executives on how assumptions on business models have changed, and how companies are planning to adapt over the next 18 months.