In Milestone One, you recommended an innovation option (incremental or discontinuous) to the organization from the course scenario. Now that senior management of this organization has approved your recommendation, your task is to ensure your recommended innovation option gets implemented effectively and efficiently. Remember that your perspective is still that of a middle manager for one of the top U.S. producers of luxury and mass-market automobiles and trucks.
In this assignment, you will read a case study and write a report that compares the organization’s innovation processes with 3M’s processes. This report will help your cross-functional team identify the organization’s process gaps when implementing IoT in the product line and will help to eliminate potential process inefficiencies.
Prompt
Using the information in the overview above and referring to the 3M: Rethinking Innovation case study in this module’s resources, compare the organization from the course scenario with 3M and identify process gaps within the organization. Your study should include the following points:
Analyze 3M’s experience for a process-based approach toward innovation.
How does 3M manage innovation?
What is the innovation strategy and leadership style within 3M?
How does 3M enable the innovation process?
Identify significant features or processes that promote innovation from the case study.
How does the management team within 3M recognize and reward employees?
What is the importance of permission to play within 3M?
How do the 3M attributes of patience and acceptance of mistakes enhance an innovative culture?
Compare the organization from the course scenario with 3M. You will need to reference the Organization Overview document when comparing the two companies.
What are the differences between the two organizational structures?
What is the difference in formal and informal innovation management?
How does the organizational structure in each company affect communication? Why is this important to innovation?
Identify the process gaps of the organization. You will need to reference the Organization Overview document when identifying process gaps.
What needs to be done to make the organizational structure support innovation?
What rewards could your organization utilize to motivate innovative behavior?
How should your organization examine its timeline to identify ways for longer-term projects to be more successful?
Guidelines for Submission
Submit a 2- to 3-page Word document using 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. If references are included, they should be cited according to APA style. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.
Powerpoint Slides:
In Milestone One, you recommended an innovation option (incremental or discontinuous) to the organization from the course scenario. Now that senior management of the company has approved your recommendation, your task is to find an efficient process for your cross-functional team to follow during the development of your innovation. Remember that your perspective is still that of a middle manager for one of the top U.S. producers of luxury and mass-market automobiles and trucks.
You and your team are considering using Cooper’s stage-gate process for new product development. This is a standard process that shows the journey of an idea from conceptualization to the market. You will create a detailed flowchart to share with your cross-functional team on one possible process for implementing the innovation recommendation you have made.
Prompt
Create a PowerPoint presentation with the following requirements, including a detailed flowchart. Ensure the presentation is useful in helping your team understand the stage-gate process. Your presentation should include the following:
Describe the major elements of the stage-gate process (1–2 slides).
How many stages are in the process?
What is the purpose of each stage?
Create a stage-gate process flowchart (1 slide) using proper shapes for each step in your flowchart.
In the flowchart or speaker notes, list an example of an activity at each stage.
In the flowchart or speaker notes, list a decision criterion at each stage using the company. Some examples of decision criteria include:
Filter ideas to the preliminary investigation
Filter projects to business opportunities
Filter projects to product or process development
Filter products to limited launch
Filter products to international marketing
Discuss the implications of using the stage-gate process (1–2 slides).
When is the use of the stage-gate process appropriate?
How could the stage-gate process slow down innovation?
Is the stage-gate process more conducive to an incremental or discontinuous innovation?
Guidelines for Submission
Using PowerPoint, create a presentation that is 3 to 5 slides with detailed speaker notes that highlight the important points you want to emphasize to your team. If references are included, they should be cited in APA format. Consult the Shapiro Library APA Style Guide for more information on citations.