After studying this module, you will understand the basics of innovations and the design thinking process. You will recognise terms related to innovations and gain knowledge of idea generation/problem-solving methods. For enhanced learning, you can possess information helping to create new value for existing business (for example using blue sea strategy).
Description
Athletes often have to be innovative, both in training and in competition. Innovation skills are an important part of sports. The same skills are a vital part of business, when planning your business and thinking about competitive advantage. A footballer thinks about how to beat the goalkeeper and an entrepreneur thinks about how to find a business idea that will put him ahead of the competitors. Now it’s time to harness those innovations skills and implement them in business planning. Be innovative!
This module provides an introduction to design thinking, idea generation methods and in addition a short trip to Blue Ocean Strategy. The information delivered in this module is just the tip of the iceberg and it should encourage students to gain additional information about this topic.
Innovation skills are essential for entrepreneurs and for those planning to start their own businesses. Entrepreneurs have to be able to keep up with the changes in the market and the operating environment. For example, those entrepreneurs, who were able to innovate new products and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, have had the best chance to survive from the rapid changes. Crisis sometimes means new opportunities.
Understanding the design thinking process and the ability to implement it to own business' development is one of the basic skills of an entrepreneur. This module describes the process behind design thinking and helps students to understand it’s non-linear nature.
A couple of idea generation methods are introduced as well. Blue Oceans Strategy is considered to be a very important “tool” for an entrepreneur seeking new ways to avoid unnecessary and frustrating competition. In this module, the students produce their own four actions framework to develop current or future business.
“The only sure way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas.” - Albert Einstein
Contents in bullet points
• Design thinking process • Idea generation methods • Blue ocean strategy
Contents INNOVATION SKILLS - how to harness innovation in sports to business?
Design thinking is a process for solving problems by prioritizing the consumer’s needs above all else. It relies on observing, with empathy, how people interact with their environments, and employs an iterative, hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions.
Design thinking is “human-centered,” which means that it uses evidence of how consumers (humans) actually engage with a product or service, rather than how someone else or an organization thinks they will engage with it. To be truly human-centered, designers watch how people use a product or service and continue to refine the product or service in order to improve the consumer’s experience. This is the “iterative” part of design thinking. It favors moving quickly to get prototypes out to test, rather than endless research or rumination.
In contrast to traditional problem-solving, which is a linear process of identifying a problem and then brainstorming solutions, design thinking only works if it is iterative. It is less of a means to get to a single solution, and more of a way to continuously evolve your thinking and respond to consumer needs.
Brainstorming is about generating lots of ideas, about collaboration and openness to wild solutions. Avoid discussions of why ideas may not work. This behaviour kills creativity and shifts the group mindset from a generative one to a critical one. The only way to get to good ideas is to have many to choose from. There are many variations on how to run a brainstorming, using flipcharts, sticky notes, using techniques such as “brainwriting”, “alphabet”, “grid” or “circle brainstorming”. Below you find a set of instruction for guiding a successful brainstorming.
A popular and lively form of brainwriting is known as 6-3-5. During a 6-3-5 session, brainwriting exercises are split into several rounds. In each round, six people write down three ideas each within five minutes.
After the first round, everyone swaps their piece of paper with someone else, reads what's on it, and then writes down three more ideas. These can be new ideas, or build on ideas that have already been shared.
After six rounds, the pieces of paper are collected, and all the suggested ideas are discussed and next steps agreed.
Although this example uses six people, you can invite any number of people to your brainwriting session. Other details can also be adapted to suit your needs, including the number of rounds and the amount of time given for each one. But most people find that aiming for three ideas in each round brings the best results.
Like brainstorming, brainwriting is a great way to share new ideas, encourage creativity and develop innoative ideas. It was designed by German marketing expert Bernd Rochback in 1969. Shy or intoverted team members may be reluctant to speak up in grop brainstorming session. Brainwriting overcomes these limitations by allowing them to write down teir ideas instead, giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate. It also encourages people to take more time to formulate their thoughts, and enables them to develot ideas offered up by others.
1. Defer judgement. You never know where a good idea is going to come from. The key is to make everyone feel like they can say the idea on their mind and allow others to build on it.
2. Encourage wild ideas. Wild ideas can often give rise to creative leaps. In thinking about ideas that are wacky or ‘out-there’ we tend to think about what we really want without the constraints of technology or materials.
3. Build on the ideas of others. Being positive and building on the ideas of others takes some skill. In conversation, we try to use “and” instead of “but.”
4. Stay focused on the topic. Try to keep the discussion on target, otherwise you can diverge beyond the scope of what you are trying to design for.
5. One conversation at a time. Your team is far more likely to build on an idea and make a creative leap if everyone is paying full attention to whoever is sharing a new idea.
6. Be visual. In live brainstorms write down on sticky notes and then put them on a wall. Nothing gets an idea across faster than drawing it.
7. Go for quantity. Aim for as many new ideas as possible. In a good session, up to 100 ideas are generated in 60 minutes. Crank the ideas out quickly and build on the best ones.
There are many variations on how to run a brainstorming, using flipcharts, sticky notes, using techniques such as “brainwriting”, “alphabet”, “grid” or “circle brainstorming”.
Brainwriting sessions can also be hosted online in a remote or virtual meeting; for example Online whiteboard for Visual Collaboration www.miro.com.
5Y/The 5 Whys Problem Solving Methodhttps://youtu.be/B-M3YlA2KDg gets you to the root of a problem quickly. The 5 Whys technique is true to this tradition, and it is most effective when the answers come from people who have hands-on experience of the process or problem in question. The method is remarkably simple: when a problem occurs, you drill down to its root cause by asking "Why?" five times. Then, when a counter-measure becomes apparent, you follow it through to prevent the issue from recurring. (https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_5W.htm)
Six Thinking Hats(R) Methodhttps://youtu.be/oHiwpz7r4wY This method helps you to look at a decision in different ways with a role-playing model developed by Edward de Bono in 1986. Eeach has represents a different lens or pespective on a particular issue and is an insightful activity that prevents narrow thinking. It serves as a team-based problem solving and brainstorming technique that can be used to explore problems through various perspectives in order to uncover options that might otherwise be overlooked. (https://www.groupmap.com/map-templates/six-thinking-hats/)
Blue ocean strategy is the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, thereby making the competition irrelevant. (https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/what-is-blue-ocean-strategy/
Title
Innovation skills - how to harness innovation in sports to business?
Keywords
Innovation skills, design thinking, ideas, creativity
Author
KARELIA
Languages
English
For enhanced learning, you can possess information helping to create new value for existing business (for example using blue sea strategy).
Description
This module provides an introduction to design thinking, idea generation methods and in addition a short trip to Blue Ocean Strategy. The information delivered in this module is just the tip of the iceberg and it should encourage students to gain additional information about this topic.
Innovation skills are essential for entrepreneurs and for those planning to start their own businesses. Entrepreneurs have to be able to keep up with the changes in the market and the operating environment. For example, those entrepreneurs, who were able to innovate new products and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, have had the best chance to survive from the rapid changes. Crisis sometimes means new opportunities.
Understanding the design thinking process and the ability to implement it to own business' development is one of the basic skills of an entrepreneur. This module describes the process behind design thinking and helps students to understand it’s non-linear nature.
A couple of idea generation methods are introduced as well. Blue Oceans Strategy is considered to be a very important “tool” for an entrepreneur seeking new ways to avoid unnecessary and frustrating competition. In this module, the students produce their own four actions framework to develop current or future business.
“The only sure way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas.” - Albert Einstein
• Design thinking process
• Idea generation methods
• Blue ocean strategy
Contents
INNOVATION SKILLS - how to harness innovation in sports to business?
DESIGN THINKING
Introduction to design thinking
Design thinking is a process for solving problems by prioritizing the consumer’s needs above all else. It relies on observing, with empathy, how people interact with their environments, and employs an iterative, hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions.
Design thinking is “human-centered,” which means that it uses evidence of how consumers (humans) actually engage with a product or service, rather than how someone else or an organization thinks they will engage with it. To be truly human-centered, designers watch how people use a product or service and continue to refine the product or service in order to improve the consumer’s experience. This is the “iterative” part of design thinking. It favors moving quickly to get prototypes out to test, rather than endless research or rumination.
In contrast to traditional problem-solving, which is a linear process of identifying a problem and then brainstorming solutions, design thinking only works if it is iterative. It is less of a means to get to a single solution, and more of a way to continuously evolve your thinking and respond to consumer needs.
Design Thinking process
1. Take the users’ perspective and empathise with the problem they experience.
2. Define the problem in detail by aggregating the available dispersed information.
3. Brainstorm various possible solutions for the problem by combining imaginative insights and generate the broadest possible range of ideas.
4. Prototype the solution to identify new paths and highlight strengths and weaknesses.
5. Test the prototype by soliciting feedback from the final users
(EntreComp Playbook, p 26)
Idea generation methods
Introduction to Brainstorming
Brainstorming is about generating lots of ideas, about collaboration and openness to wild solutions. Avoid discussions of why ideas may not work. This behaviour kills creativity and shifts the group mindset from a generative one to a critical one. The only way to get to good ideas is to have many to choose from. There are many variations on how to run a brainstorming, using flipcharts, sticky notes, using techniques such as “brainwriting”, “alphabet”, “grid” or “circle brainstorming”. Below you find a set of instruction for guiding a successful brainstorming.
STEPS for Brainstorming
1. Setup
• Frame a question to guide your group into thinking about the issue you want to address
• Illustrate the brainstorming rules, to start with the right mindset
2. Facilitate
• Start with heads-down individual brainstorming.
• Share ideas as a group and build on each other’s concepts.
3. Follow-up
• Harvest the ideas generated to keep track of them
• Develop the most promising ideas into a concept to validate
(EntreComp Playbook, p 64-65)
6-3-5 Brainwriting
A popular and lively form of brainwriting is known as 6-3-5. During a 6-3-5 session, brainwriting exercises are split into several rounds. In each round, six people write down three ideas each within five minutes.
After the first round, everyone swaps their piece of paper with someone else, reads what's on it, and then writes down three more ideas. These can be new ideas, or build on ideas that have already been shared.
After six rounds, the pieces of paper are collected, and all the suggested ideas are discussed and next steps agreed.
Although this example uses six people, you can invite any number of people to your brainwriting session. Other details can also be adapted to suit your needs, including the number of rounds and the amount of time given for each one. But most people find that aiming for three ideas in each round brings the best results.
What is Brainwriting?
Like brainstorming, brainwriting is a great way to share new ideas, encourage creativity and develop innoative ideas. It was designed by German marketing expert Bernd Rochback in 1969. Shy or intoverted team members may be reluctant to speak up in grop brainstorming session. Brainwriting overcomes these limitations by allowing them to write down teir ideas instead, giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate. It also encourages people to take more time to formulate their thoughts, and enables them to develot ideas offered up by others.
RULES for Brainstorming
1. Defer judgement. You never know where a good idea is going to come from. The key is to make everyone feel like they can say the idea on their mind and allow others to build on it.
2. Encourage wild ideas. Wild ideas can often give rise to creative leaps. In thinking about ideas that are wacky or ‘out-there’ we tend to think about what we really want without the constraints of technology or materials.
3. Build on the ideas of others. Being positive and building on the ideas of others takes some skill. In conversation, we try to use “and” instead of “but.”
4. Stay focused on the topic. Try to keep the discussion on target, otherwise you can diverge beyond the scope of what you are trying to design for.
5. One conversation at a time. Your team is far more likely to build on an idea and make a creative leap if everyone is paying full attention to whoever is sharing a new idea.
6. Be visual. In live brainstorms write down on sticky notes and then put them on a wall. Nothing gets an idea across faster than drawing it.
7. Go for quantity. Aim for as many new ideas as possible. In a good session, up to 100 ideas are generated in 60 minutes. Crank the ideas out quickly and build on the best ones.
There are many variations on how to run a brainstorming, using flipcharts, sticky notes, using techniques such as “brainwriting”, “alphabet”, “grid” or “circle brainstorming”.
For brainstorming methods, go to https://www.mycoted.com/Brainstorming
Brainwriting Online
Brainwriting sessions can also be hosted online in a remote or virtual meeting; for example Online whiteboard for Visual Collaboration www.miro.com.
Blue Ocean strategy
Introduction to Blue Ocean Strategy
Blue ocean strategy is the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, thereby making the competition irrelevant. (https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/what-is-blue-ocean-strategy/
Differences between red ocean and blue ocean
This video describes the six ways of how to move from red ocean to blue ocean: https://youtu.be/NUWKiC2Jg-A
Hands-on exercise: Make your own Four actions Framework from your current business of the one you are planning. (https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/tools/four-actions-framework/)