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FEI 2013 Boston: The Top New Four Take-Aways from a Conference filled with Innovation Experts and Enthusiasts
I had the pleasure of attending my fourth Front End of Innovation
conference, held this year in Boston.
The place was packed with the most creative, smart (and by definition) innovative people one could hope to meet. If satisfying your intellectual curiosity is important to you, this was a great place to engage in wonderful conversations. I did A LOT OF listening!
conference, held this year in Boston.
The place was packed with the most creative, smart (and by definition) innovative people one could hope to meet. If satisfying your intellectual curiosity is important to you, this was a great place to engage in wonderful conversations. I did A LOT OF listening!
The list of attendees numbered over 400.
Each of these folks spend their day job work day focused on how to be
innovative, how to produce innovative products, how to use innovation processes
at their companies or they just plain study the topic of innovation. If you didn't get a chance to go, here are a
few notes on my experience.
Each of these folks spend their day job work day focused on how to be
innovative, how to produce innovative products, how to use innovation processes
at their companies or they just plain study the topic of innovation. If you didn't get a chance to go, here are a
few notes on my experience.
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Here's a panoramic view of the exhibit floor during lunch.
There are generally four types of people at the show.
- There are those who are interested in
launching a collaborative innovation program at their company. - There are those whose focus is on innovative
design. - There are a number of people who
are chartered to find exciting new products or services that their company can
license or buy (I call them 'scouts'). - And lastly there are a slew of folks
like me, presenting a technology or consulting offering that can facilitate the
innovation process.
There were half a dozen authors at the show and upon my
departure my suitcase was laden with signed copies of new books with the word 'innovation'
in the title. Oh yeah, I also got a free
mini umbrella, two small stuffed animals and a T-shirt in a pretty trendy
color.
departure my suitcase was laden with signed copies of new books with the word 'innovation'
in the title. Oh yeah, I also got a free
mini umbrella, two small stuffed animals and a T-shirt in a pretty trendy
color.
Here are some of the things I learned this year.
1. New
Information Presented in New Ways
Information Presented in New Ways
During one session focused on how to get the people on your
team to participate in the innovation process, the person sitting next to me
commented that they'd heard this type of message before.
team to participate in the innovation process, the person sitting next to me
commented that they'd heard this type of message before.
But I pointed out that our presenter
- was
delivering some new insights based on his experience actually launching
programs; - that he was offering some best practices gleaned via trial and error;
- and that for many in the audience, this was the first time they heard that
Adoption and Engagement was an important topic deserving attention.
We learned (at least) that rolling out an innovation
program needs to be done properly'and that you likely get only one chance to
get it right lest you lose the confidence of your team.
program needs to be done properly'and that you likely get only one chance to
get it right lest you lose the confidence of your team.
The speaker also pointed out you need a few
high quality participants, not a high volume of participants.
high quality participants, not a high volume of participants.
2. New Innovative
Approaches to Get the Word Out
Approaches to Get the Word Out
There seemed to be fewer vendors represented on the show
floor, although at least eighteen companies stepped up to man a
booth. It is no small expense to have a
booth at a show like this, and each of these companies have enough confidence
in the innovation arena to put forth this significant investment.
floor, although at least eighteen companies stepped up to man a
booth. It is no small expense to have a
booth at a show like this, and each of these companies have enough confidence
in the innovation arena to put forth this significant investment.
Plus a number of companies offered their
sponsorship in other ways.
sponsorship in other ways.
- Some
companies sponsored 'Tracks'; the topic of the day. - Others sponsored the presentation of case studies
during sessions. - Still more sponsored
lunches, cocktail parties and even the lanyards for our name tags.
The audience
got to hear the messages of a variety of different innovation companies in a
variety of different ways.
got to hear the messages of a variety of different innovation companies in a
variety of different ways.
3. New
Players in the Innovation World
Players in the Innovation World
As usual I had great conversations with very smart people
during shared meals, in the halls between sessions and on the exhibit
floor. I heard from companies who are
just getting into innovation and came to learn what the leaders have already
accomplished. I spoke with organizations
that have embraced innovation for at least a decade and came to share their
successes (and hear about the success of others). Some came to hear what people are doing in
other industries with the hope that they can take those experiences and use
them in their own field.
during shared meals, in the halls between sessions and on the exhibit
floor. I heard from companies who are
just getting into innovation and came to learn what the leaders have already
accomplished. I spoke with organizations
that have embraced innovation for at least a decade and came to share their
successes (and hear about the success of others). Some came to hear what people are doing in
other industries with the hope that they can take those experiences and use
them in their own field.
4. New
Business Opportunities
Business Opportunities
The most important measure of success when it comes to 'show
participation' for a company like mine, a company offering collaborative innovation
software, is how many companies are kicking off new projects that require our
technology. Not to be too mercenary
about it, but those 'leads' are the benefit we're hoping for with our
sponsorship and our attendance.
participation' for a company like mine, a company offering collaborative innovation
software, is how many companies are kicking off new projects that require our
technology. Not to be too mercenary
about it, but those 'leads' are the benefit we're hoping for with our
sponsorship and our attendance.
And the
good news is a number of very large companies came by our booth to learn more
about our offering. These enterprises
searching for software solutions included several companies in the CPG
category, a major pharmaceutical company, several manufacturers driven by new
product development and a technology company.
They came to the FEI show determined to find out who was offering collaborative
innovation software. I'm glad we had a booth and that I was in
the booth when they stopped by.
good news is a number of very large companies came by our booth to learn more
about our offering. These enterprises
searching for software solutions included several companies in the CPG
category, a major pharmaceutical company, several manufacturers driven by new
product development and a technology company.
They came to the FEI show determined to find out who was offering collaborative
innovation software. I'm glad we had a booth and that I was in
the booth when they stopped by.
Did I mention that Boston has Seafood?
Lastly I'd like to point out the meeting was held on Boston's
waterfront and I had the pleasure of eating fresh crab, lobster, shrimp, and oysters
while enjoying great views of shiny, tall
buildings, waves lapping up against the harbor and a modern, cavernous meeting
space. So'good information, new and
interesting people and profitable experiences.
It was a great show.
waterfront and I had the pleasure of eating fresh crab, lobster, shrimp, and oysters
while enjoying great views of shiny, tall
buildings, waves lapping up against the harbor and a modern, cavernous meeting
space. So'good information, new and
interesting people and profitable experiences.
It was a great show.
About the Author
Ron Shulkin blogs researches and
writes about enterprise technology focused on social media, innovation, voice
of the customer, marketing automation and enterprise feedback management. Ron Shulkin is Vice President of the Americas
for CogniStreamer', an innovation ecosystem. CogniStreamer serves as a Knowledge
Management System, Idea Management System and Social Network for
Innovation. You can learn more about CogniStreamer here
. Ron manages The Idea Management Group
on LinkedIn (Join Here) . You can follow him Twitter. You can follow his blogs at this Facebook
group. You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn.
writes about enterprise technology focused on social media, innovation, voice
of the customer, marketing automation and enterprise feedback management. Ron Shulkin is Vice President of the Americas
for CogniStreamer', an innovation ecosystem. CogniStreamer serves as a Knowledge
Management System, Idea Management System and Social Network for
Innovation. You can learn more about CogniStreamer here
. Ron manages The Idea Management Group
on LinkedIn (Join Here) . You can follow him Twitter. You can follow his blogs at this Facebook
group. You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn.