Harvard ManageMentor ® Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization

2 Harvard ManageMentor: Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization Discussion Topics  Engaging customers in the pursuit of new ideas  Using Web research to generate creative ideas  Building your network of creative influencers © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

3 Harvard ManageMentor: Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization Engaging Customers in the Pursuit of New Ideas  If we had 20 minutes to pick the brains of our customers, what are some key questions we would want to ask them that would help us become more innovative?  Which specific customer(s) do we expect would provide the greatest insight? Why? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

4 Harvard ManageMentor: Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization Using Web Research to Generate Creative Ideas  What types of Web sites would provide the best “food for thought” about our: Industry? Competitors? Products or services?  What other Web resources outside our industry might our team track and review as a source of fresh ideas? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

5 Harvard ManageMentor: Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization Building Your Network of Creative Influencers  In small groups, discuss: Who are the two or three people that you know outside of our team whose ideas, insights, and experience could help our team to generate innovations in our work? With what areas of our work could these people be most influential?  As a large group, discuss: Who are the “creative influencers” we should target to help our organization become more innovative? © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

6 Harvard ManageMentor: Creative Ideas from Outside the Organization Next Steps  Agree on a plan for contacting customers, creative influencers, and researching Web resources.  Share ideas and outside contacts with each other.  Review Harvard ManageMentor Tips for Providing Outside Stimulation for Your Group. © Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.