Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byGervais Moris Holt Modified over 9 years ago
1
1 Courtney Pratt President & CEO July 14, 2003 The Dynamic Tension Between Ideas and Solutions Toronto Hydro Corporation
2
2 OPENING REMARKS Great ideas range from products to technology to public policy Managing innovation is a tough leadership and management challenge Dynamic tension between empowering ideas and practical solutions Where is the line between ‘leading edge’ and ‘bleeding edge’?
3
3 EMPOWERING IDEAS Willingness to invest in people and technology Canada ranks 15 th in OECD for R&D spending Risk tolerance Mistake tolerance “Champion” tolerance Culture of trust, openness, confidence Executive leadership
4
4 PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS Management controls Hurdles or gateways Technology Markets Talent Competency ‘fit’ Executive leadership
5
5 CASE STUDIES Magnola plant, Noranda Inc. Interval metering Biodiesel fuel project, Toronto Hydro
6
6 MAGNOLA PLANT - NORANDA INC. New idea: Proprietary technology to extract magnesium from serpentine tailings in Asbestos, Quebec 63,000 tonnes to be produced each year $733 million in construction costs Lab and pilot plant testing Market studies Push to build full-scale plant
7
7 MAGNOLA PLANT – NORANDA INC. Challenges: Increased, pervasive competition from low-cost Chinese producers Depressed global prices Outcomes: Shut-down of plant in 2003 for one year Permanent closure is likely $811 million in write-down costs
8
8 MAGNOLA PLANT – NORANDA INC. Lessons learned: Excitement for a great idea was not tempered by a strong and independent process of review Mistakes were made because of “project momentum” No such thing as asking too many questions
9
9 INTERVAL METERING New idea: Moving interval metering from large commercial customers to the mass market to manage demand Barriers: Government policy – prices fixed through 2006 Unit costs of meters - $300 Consumer education and behavior
10
10 INTERVAL METERING Challenges: Burning platform Technology Cost reduction Billing issues Market Mass installation People Lifestyle change
11
11 BIODIESEL FUEL New idea: Use soybean oil, canola oil, animal fats and recycled cooking oil as a clean, renewable substitute for diesel fuel 30% less ground-level ozone Barriers: Availability of fuel, storage issues Make green initiative cost neutral Challenges: Fleet size and emissions Shareholder Direction
12
12 BIODIESEL FUEL Outcomes: Pilot program started in Sept ‘01with 80 vehicles 400 biodiesel fuelled trucks now First fleet in Canada to implement
13
13 BIODIESEL FUEL Lessons learned: Empowering ideas Practical solutions Risk tolerance Mistake tolerance ‘Champion’ tolerance Culture of trust, openness and confidence Executive leadership
14
14 THE POWER OF A GOOD IDEA Spin-off effects: Removal of 14.7¢ / litre road tax by provincial government Removal of 4 ¢ / litre excise tax by federal government Federal government commitment to produce 5 million litres in Canada by 2006, part of Kyoto commitment
15
15 THE POWER OF A GOOD IDEA New plant in Sudbury will provide $13 million in economic growth to region, crops grown locally Full implementation by City of Brampton, City of Toronto, Kingston Transit, City of Guelph, Bruce Power Pilot program: Winnipeg transit system, Montreal transit system, Calgary fire department
16
16 CLOSING REMARKS New ideas become great ideas when they are managed effectively and the stars align “If you don’t drill wells, you won’t find oil” Great champions and great execution Great ideas can produce a domino effect Industry growth Product extensions New technology Changes in public policy
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.