Managing innovation - creating value from ideas podcast artwork

PODCAST · business

Managing innovation - creating value from ideas

Innovation doesn't just happen. It's not like the cartoons - a lightbulb flashes on above someone's head and that's it. No - it's a journey and we need to understand how best to prepare for that journey, whatever kind of value we are trying to create. This podcast is about some useful lessons we might take on board to help develop our capabilities.For more, see my website:https://johnbessant.org

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  1. 142

    Listening to a Ghost: What Miles Davis Teaches Us About Innovation

    Creativity, Constraints, and the Art of Enabled ExplorationHow can a legendary jazz trumpet player change the way we think about modern innovation? In this video, we explore the genius of Miles Davis on what would have been his 100th birthday year. From the improvised magic behind the soundtrack to L'ascenseur pour l'échafaud to the groundbreaking recording sessions of Kind of Blue, Miles proved that true creativity isn't an accident—it's a deliberate process. Discover the five core innovation lessons hidden within his iconic music and approach:The Power of Improvisation: Creating out of the unknown and relying on active listening. Creativity Loves Constraints: How pressure, flaws, and limits force extraordinary creative breakthroughs. Diversity & Friction: Assembling diverse talent to generate fresh, unexpected ideas. Reinvention: The discipline of "creative destruction" and constantly challenging your own success. The Space Between: Finding the crucial balance between structure and freedom. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or thinker, these timeless lessons offer a fresh lens on how to make something truly new.

  2. 141

    Making a big noise: How the lightbulb made rock'n'roll loud

    How did we get from quiet acoustic strings in village squares to massive walls of Marshall stacks blasting at outdoor festivals? 🎸⚡In this episode, we explore the surprising, accidental, and brilliantly creative history behind guitar amplification. The journey to getting heard wasn't just about making bigger instruments; it required breakthroughs from completely unrelated industries—including Thomas Edison’s lightbulb experiments, telephone technology, and the invention of vacuum tubes. Join us as we chart the evolution of sound, tracing the path from the lute to lap steels, the birth of solid-body icons like the Stratocaster and Telecaster, and the birth of classic rock distortion. Plus, we break down the core lessons this history teaches us about how innovation actually works in the real world. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why acoustic guitars struggled to cut through early 20th-century bands. How Thomas Edison’s "sooty lightbulb" problem led to valve amplifiers. How user-innovators like Les Paul, Merle Travis, and Leo Fender reshaped the instrument. Why guitarists embraced speaker distortion—starting with a razor blade and a speaker! Key innovation frameworks: Dominant designs, user-led innovation, and ecosystem shifts. #ElectricGuitar #GuitarHistory #MusicTechnology #GuitarAmps #innovation #Fender #MarshallAmps #LesPaul #EdisonEffect #VacuumTubes #GuitarTech #AudioHistory #entrepreneurship

  3. 140

    Pedal power - the surprising innovation journey of the bicycle

    How did an odd wooden "walking machine" from 1817 evolve into a global industry with over 2 billion bicycles today? In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating history of the bicycle—from Baron von Drais’s pedal-less Laufmaschine (born out of a volcanic disaster!) to the High-Wheelers, the "penny-farthing," and John Kemp Starley's game-changing Safety Bicycle.More than just a story about two wheels, this episode explores some of the fundamental rules of innovation:- Why "first movers" don't always win (and how intellectual property loops alter history)- How climate events and economic crises drive breakthrough ideas- The phenomenon of "multiple independent innovation" - Why scaling an idea requires building an entire system, not just a productIf you're interested in history, engineering, or how brilliant ideas transform into mass-market adoption, tune in!You can find a transcript here---------------------------------------------------⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction: The 2 Billion Bike Industry00:45 - What Happened After the Wheel Was Invented?01:30 - 1817: Baron von Drais & The "Year Without a Summer"03:00 - The Laufmaschine (Draisienne) & The Early Business Problem04:15 - How London Dandies & Copycats Stole the Market05:30 - The Evolution: Treadles, Pedals, and Scottish Blacksmiths07:15 - Pierre Michaux & The Paris Bicycle Boom08:30 - The Penny-Farthing Era & High-Wheeler Hazards09:45 - John Kemp Starley & The Invention of the Safety Bicycle11:30 - Lessons in Innovation: Scaling Systems, Not Just Products---------------------------------------------------🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment sharing your thoughts on the episode!#BicycleHistory #Innovation #Podcast #HistoryOfTechnology #Entrepreneurship #Invention

  4. 139

    Creating the innovation edge - the 400 year-old lesson that still applies today

    The Real-Life "Valyrian Steel" That Built a Global EmpireBefore Silicon Valley, there was 16th-century Toledo, Spain. In this episode of Unlocking Innovation, we explore how an unlikely culture of co-existence allowed Christian, Muslim, and Jewish craftsmen to solve the ultimate blacksmith's dilemma and invent Toledo Steel.Think "open innovation" and "ecosystems" are modern tech buzzwords? Think again. In this episode we travel back to the 16th century to the fortress city of Toledo, Spain—the Silicon Valley of the renaissance. For centuries, sword smiths faced a fatal dilemma: how do you make a blade sharp enough to hold an edge, but flexible enough not to snap in the heat of battle? The answer didn't come from a lone genius or elven magic. It came from La Convivencia—a unique period of history where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish craftsmen combined their distinct traditions of chemistry, metallurgy, and battlefield design into a literal open innovation ecosystem.Discover how diversity became the ultimate competitive edge, how the Spanish Empire scaled its weapon procurement, and what modern business leaders can learn from the ancient masters of Toledo steel.

  5. 138

    A 150 year overnight success - the surprising innovation history of the dishwasher

    The appliance sitting in your kitchen is the result of 150 years of obsession, failure, and brilliance. And most people have never heard the real story.It starts in 1850 with a leaky wooden contraption patented by Joel Houghton, winds through dozens of competing inventors, and arrives at one remarkable woman — Josephine Cochrane, a debt-ridden widow in Illinois who declared: "If nobody else invents the dishwasher, I'll do it myself." She did. And she changed domestic life forever.In this episode, we trace the full innovation journey: why so many inventors swarmed around the same idea at the same time, how Josephine's 1886 patent became the "dominant design" that still defines modern machines, and what the dishwasher teaches us about how innovation really works — not as a lone-genius moment, but as a slow river of ideas gradually flowing together.Along the way: weapons engineers, soap chemists, a Great Depression, and the accidental chemistry discovery that finally unlocked the mass market.What you'll hear:The surprisingly long race from hand-cranked wooden box to kitchen stapleHow a socialite's broken china sparked a revolutionWhy electricity, hot water pipes, and synthetic detergent all had to arrive firstThe key innovation lesson hiding inside every dishwasher cycleYou can find a transcript here

  6. 137

    The gold in the mine - why your best ideas might already be on your payroll

    You can find a transcript hereAre you missing out on your organization’s greatest untapped resource? Many companies look outward for the next big idea, but the "smartest guys" might already be on your payroll. In this podcast, we dive deep into High Involvement Innovation (HII)—the strategy of engaging every single employee to drive continuous improvement.From Toyota’s 50 million suggestions to the concept of "LIFE" (Little Improvements From Everyone), we break down how to move beyond basic suggestion boxes and build a culture where innovation is "the way we do things around here." In this podcast, you’ll learn:The "Free Brain" Concept: Why every pair of hands comes with a creative mind ready to solve problems. The 9 Core Capabilities: From strategic direction to idea management systems, what you need to make HII stick. Technology as an Accelerator: How modern platforms are replacing clunky manual systems to enable collaboration and rapid feedback. The "Gold in the Mine": Joseph Juran’s classic philosophy on extracting value from internal creativity.

  7. 136

    One night in Bangkok...

    The Power of the "Innovation Mash-Up"Ever had a memory so vivid you’d swear it was true, only to find out you made it up? In this episode, we dive into the world of confabulation—the brain’s habit of "hallucinating" details to make sense of a complex world—and discover how this quirky human trait is actually a secret weapon for innovation. From the neon-soaked streets of Bangkok to the high-stakes world of organic chemistry, we explore how "remixing" existing ideas leads to world-changing breakthroughs. Whether it’s Henry Ford borrowing techniques from meatpacking plants or eye surgeons in India adapting the McDonald’s business model, we’ll show you why the best answers aren’t always "new to the world"—they’re just adapted from a different context. In this podcast, you’ll learn about:The Mandela Effect & Mondegreens: Why our brains are natural storytellers that love to fill in the blanks. Recombinant Innovation: How the "collision point" between two different worlds sparks creativity. The Science of Incubation: Why your best ideas often come when you’re dreaming or "switched off." Practical Creativity: How to use tools like "random juxtaposition" to force-fit new connections and solve hard problems. Stop waiting for a lightning bolt of original genius. Learn how to become an "Idea DJ" and start remixing your way to your next big insight. You can find a transcript here

  8. 135

    Fighting a Different Kind of War: Inside the WFP Innovation Accelerator

    In a world that has moved beyond "VUCA" (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) to become BANI—Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible—the old ways of tackling global crises are broken. While world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss traditional defence, a few blocks away, the World Food Programme (WFP) was hosting its annual Innovation Forum to tackle a different security threat: the silent conflict of global hunger.In this episode, we dive into how the WFP is moving beyond "big hearts and good intentions" to build a high-performance innovation engine. We explore how they use a systematic approach—mapped to the ISO 56002 international standard—to transform "glimmers of ideas" from internal and external entrepreneurs into life-saving reality.We take a closer look at:Innovation as a System: How the WFP Innovation Accelerator uses venture capital models, incubators, and boot camps to reach over 104 million people annually.High-Tech vs. Frugal Tech: From Building Blocks (a blockchain-based aid system saving millions in fees) to Clean Cooking (heat-retention bags that cut energy needs by 70%).The Scale Challenge: Why most "promising pilots" fail and how the WFP’s Scale Enablement Programme helps them grow.Based in Munich, the Accelerator has supported over 500 ventures across 90+ countries and was recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s "Most Innovative Companies".Amongst its success stories we look at:ShareTheMeal: The fundraising app that has shared over 220 million meals.H2Grow: Low-tech hydroponics allowing refugees to grow food in deserts using 90% less water.SMP PLUS: An AI tool that generates nutritious, cost-optimized school menus in minutes rather than weeks.SCOUT: A forecasting engine that has already saved $6 million in logistics costs.

  9. 134

    The invisible man of innovation

    Have you ever used a safety pin, a fountain pen, or a sewing machine? You might know the famous brands behind them, but you likely don’t know the man who actually invented them.Meet Walter Hunt, the "Yankee mechanical genius" who could solve almost any problem but struggled to profit from a single one. Perhaps the person who best deserves the title of 'the greatest inventor you've never heard of'In this episode, we dive into the incredible life of a man who changed the world with a piece of wire and a few hours of "hand-wringing".Learn about: The $15 Debt that Changed Everything: How the modern safety pin was invented in just three hours to pay back a draughtsman.The Sewing Machine Wars: Why Walter Hunt actually invented the lockstitch machine 12 years before Elias Howe—and why he refused to patent it until it was too late.A Legacy of Innovation: From the repeater rifle (the precursor to the Winchester) to disposable paper collars and even "antipodean apparatus" for walking on ceilings, Hunt’s imagination knew no bounds.Principles Over Profit: Why this "benevolent Quaker" often prioritized social concerns and the joy of problem-solving over building a Gilded Age fortune.Walter Hunt was a man who found joy in the quest rather than the goal. Join us as we uncover the story of the prolific inventor who holds hundreds of patents for items we still use today, yet remains a hidden figure in history.

  10. 133

    A Winter's Tale

    A seasonal story to inspire some New year's innovation (re) thinking...On a cold Christmas Eve, Jimmy Weston sits in a crowded wine bar with a crushing email in his pocket: his family business’s biggest customer has just walked away. Facing the "rocks" of potential bankruptcy and the weight of three generations of legacy, Jimmy is visited by three "ghosts" who offer more than just nostalgia—they provide a blueprint for radical reinvention.In this podcast, loosely based on Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' , we explore some of the challenges around innovation through a different lens.Whether you’re a business leader facing a "winter" of your own, an entrepreneur looking for a spark of New Year inspiration, or just looking for a good read this story is a reminder that the "pony" is always hidden in the pile—you just have to dig!

  11. 132

    Murder on the dance-floor - why your organization needs innovation routines

    Why does innovation often feel like awkward "dad-dancing" at a party? Because repeating success requires more than just luck—it demands disciplined innovation routines. This podcast uses the metaphor of dance to explain how organizations create value from ideas through practiced, shared behavior patterns , from searching for opportunities to developing prototypes. But the "music"—the external market environment—is constantly changing. When new technology or new rules emerge, static routines will fail.That's why organizations need 'Dynamic capability'—the meta-skill to step back and deliberately review, refresh, or completely replace their existing routines. We look at companies like 3M and P&G, who have maintained success by constantly upgrading their deep-seated routines. P&G famously shifted its routines to source 50% of its innovation externally, adapting to a changing landscape.We also examine two humanitarian heroes: Field Ready, which augmented its high-tech 3D printing routine with local, low-tech skills for co-creation , and Translators without Borders (TWB), which switched from a manual, in-person model to a high-speed crowdsourcing platform. The lesson is universal: build strong routines, but build the dynamic capability to change them when the market demands a new move. Watch to learn how to choreograph your long-term success!(You can find a transcript here)

  12. 131

    Gadgets or global good - why we need hopeful innovation

    We're in something of an 'invention crisis'. On one side, you have the latest futuristic gadgets—like a stringless AI guitar or a robot cat that cools your coffee. On the other, you have millions who still lack basic human needs like healthcare, clean water, and shelter. This podcast challenges the direction of modern ingenuity and showcases why hopeful innovation dedicated to social good matters most.It showcases powerful examples of necessity-driven solutions, including "frugal innovation" success stories, like the model that made cataract surgery affordable for all (Aravind) and the Mark 2 handpump that changed the game for clean water access (UNICEF). We explore systemic innovations like CMAM (using PlumpyNut) that fight acute malnutrition and the simple 'plant in a box' that decentralizes oxygen supply for pneumonia. And we look at how modern technology is applied for good—from Zipline delivery drones to Community Health Workers (CHWs) using mHealth platforms to close critical care gaps globally.Innovation is a precious resource. Watch/listen now to explore the difference between novelty and necessity, and be inspired by the people and organizations actively creating a better, more equitable world.You can find a transcript here

  13. 130

    Sewing up the competition: The larger-than-life story of Isaac Merritt Singer

    (You can find a transcript here)Isaac Merritt Singer, the "father of the sewing machine" , was a larger-than-life character whose life was as dramatic as the stages he loved to tread. Born in 1811, Singer's early passion was acting, but he was also a shrewd entrepreneur and inventor. After running away to join an acting troupe at age twelve , he later used his machinist skills to invent a rock-drilling machine and then a wood-carving machine.His greatest success came in 1851 with his improved sewing machine. Despite early legal battles and the "Sewing Machine War" over patents , Singer became the world's largest manufacturer by 1860. He pioneered mass production, international manufacturing, and marketing techniques like instalment plans and attractive showrooms. This is the story of the entrepreneur, actor, and innovator who transformed a simple piece of equipment into a global industrial and social phenomenon

  14. 129

    Innovation on a plate

    Ever wonder what happens when a devastating setback becomes the spark for a revolution? The remarkable story of Josiah Wedgwood is a masterclass in turning personal tragedy into world-changing innovation. This isn't just about pottery; it's about a man who, forced to reframe his entire world, ended up shaping an industry and a nation.This podcast tells his fascinating innovation storyBefore he became a household name, Wedgwood was an apprentice potter, a craft deeply rooted in his family for generations. But at the age of 11, a battle with smallpox left him with a permanently weakened leg, making the physical labour of the potter’s wheel impossible. A "happy accident," as he would later call it, pushed him away from the wheel and toward the laboratory. It was here, in a world of notebooks and experiments, that he began his journey to transform a "rude uncultivated craft" into an applied science.Wedgwood wasn't just a potter; he was a visionary. He saw the rise of the middle class and a vast new market for beautiful, functional tableware. Unlike his competitors who focused on costly porcelain, Wedgwood chose to innovate, dedicating his life to perfecting earthenware and stoneware. His obsession with experimentation led to groundbreaking creations like the iconic creamware, eventually earning him the royal seal of approval from Queen Charlotte herself. This was the birth of Queensware, a brand that would cement his legacy.But his genius extended far beyond the kiln. He was an early adopter of the factory system, meticulously dividing labor to boost productivity and quality. He wasn't just building a factory; he was creating a planned community for his workers at a site he named Etruria. He was a pioneer in logistics, lobbying for the construction of canals to speed up transportation. Most of all, he was a marketing maverick. From stamping his products to ensure authenticity to offering free delivery and using royal endorsements, Wedgwood invented many of the brand-building strategies we still see today.His crowning achievement was Jasperware, a new material inspired by ancient Roman artifacts. Through thousands of painstaking experiments, he perfected the distinctive matte finish and the famous "Wedgwood blue." The ultimate test came with a commission from Catherine the Great of Russia: a massive, 944-piece dinner service, each piece hand-painted with a unique British landscape. This "Frog Service" was a financial loss but a marketing triumph, proving that Wedgwood's ceramics could rival the finest porcelain in the world.From a disabled boy in a rural workshop to "Vase Maker General to the Universe," Josiah Wedgwood's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest leaps forward are born from the most unexpected setbacks. He took a business with minimal worth and turned it into one of England's most famous and enduring industrial concerns. His legacy is still with us today, a testament to the power of a scientific mind and an unyielding will to innovate.You can find a transcript hereCheck out the 'Managing innovation website' for more stories like these and other resources to help you explore the world of innovation.

  15. 128

    Sweeping the floor with innovation

    The humble vacuum cleaner is a household hero, but its story is far from simple. It's a fascinating saga of grit, genius, and a little bit of luck. Most people have never heard of J. Murray Spangler, the asthmatic janitor who cobbled together the first electric suction sweeper from a broom, a pillowcase, and an old fan motor. His ingenious invention, born from a need to escape a dusty, backbreaking job, was a game-changer. Yet, he hardly sold any of his machines.This podcast reveals how his cousin's husband, a savvy leather goods maker named William Hoover, saw the potential and transformed a struggling invention into a global brand so iconic that its name became a verb.But the story doesn't start or end there. We'll travel back in time to the very beginnings of civilized life and the invention of the broom, tracing its evolution from a simple bundle of leaves to the meticulously engineered sorghum broom of the 18th century. From there, we’ll uncover the forgotten inventors who tried and failed to mechanize cleaning with bellows and hand cranks, paving the way for innovations like the Bissell carpet sweeper, born from a wife’s frustration with sawdust on the floor of her husband's pottery shop.This deep dive into the history of home cleaning isn't just about machines—it's about the people behind them. We'll explore the perseverance of inventors like James Dyson, who battled a skeptical industry for years to prove that a bagless vacuum cleaner using cyclone technology was a superior solution. His long and difficult journey from 5,127 prototypes to market domination serves as a powerful reminder that true innovation often requires unwavering belief. Join us to discover how frustration and a touch of genius led to one of the most significant and overlooked inventions of the modern home.You can find a transcript of the story hereAnd check out my website for many other stories and other resources to help think about and manage innovation

  16. 127

    Innovation alchemy: How an unlikley partnership sparked a global inudtsry

    Welcome to the ‘Managing innovation’ podcast, where we uncover the stories behind some of history's most fascinating innovations! In this episode we look at how a runaway alchemist's impossible dream of turning base metals into goldinadvertently led to the creation of "white gold" – porcelain – and sparked a global industry.Join us as we explore the journey from initial breakthroughs to widespread adoption, examining pivotal moments like thestrategic partnerships that made the impossible, possible ,and the painstaking discipline of experimentation that triumphs over mere luck.Discover how entrepreneurs of the past strategicallyidentified and nurtured wealthy market niches, eventually scaling their luxury products to become desirable commodities.Our episodes reveal the timeless principles of innovation and entrepreneurship, demonstrating how even in the face of intense imitation, differentiation and value proposition can secure lasting success. From the challenges of protectingintellectual property in an era before patents to the impact of shifting consumer trends like the rise of tea and coffee, we connect historical ingenuity to the complexities of modern entrepreneurship. If you're an innovator, a budding entrepreneur, or simplycurious about the forces that drive progress, then please subscribe to ‘Managing innovation. Podcast – and tell your friends! Transcript available here And many other innovation resources available on my website,here.

  17. 126

    Connecting the world

    Skype is no more. The familiar blue and white logo has quietly disappeared, retired by Microsoft back in May. But this was always much more than a powerful piece of software; it was an innovation which changed the world. In this podcast we explore the surprising origins of Skype, from music compression in a German PhD student's lab to file-sharing turmoil with Kazaa. Join us as we unravel how Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis transformed peer-to-peer technology into a global communication giant, making international calls virtually free. We’ll explore Skype's meteoric rise, its eventual "retirement" by Microsoft, and the profound lessons it offers about disruptive innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and why some good ideas eventually fade, leaving behind a powerful legacy. You can find a transcript here

  18. 125

    Fashioning an innovation revolution

    This May marks a huge anniversary for a brand that utterly transformed the way we dress, a company that became a chameleon, adapting instantly to the hottest trends. We’re talking about Zara, celebrating 50 years of disrupting the fashion world! How did a small operation, started in A Coruña, Spain, by an entrepreneurial couple, Amancio Ortega Gaona and his wife Rosalia, become a global powerhouse worth over $171 billion? What was the secret behind Zara’s "fast fashion" model, a system so agile it could take a design from sketch to store in a mere two weeks, while competitors were still planning months ahead?Join us as we explore the revolutionary pillars of Zara's success: from their pioneering vertical integration and rapid design turnover to their incredibly efficient distribution and unique "scarcity" strategy that keeps you coming back for more. But it's not all glamorous runways and record sales. We'll also delve into the significant challenges Zara faces today – from intense competition with ultra-low-cost rivals like Shein and Temu, to the increasing backlash against fast fashion's environmental and social impact. Can Zara truly pivot towards sustainability while maintaining its core DNA of speed and volume?You can find a transcript hereAnd click here for more stories, songs, and stimulaing innovation resources

  19. 124

    Neuroplastic entrepreneurs!

    Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to rewire itself, is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs. This video explores how this capability allows individuals to reframe problems and envision new possibilities, drawing parallels between historical innovators and modern-day ventures. Learn about Malcolm Maclean's container shipping revolution and James Brindley's pioneering canal systems during the Industrial Revolution. Discover how the concept is applied today by companies like Gridless, which uses an innovative approach involving bitcoin mining to provide sustainable energy access in underserved regions of Africa. Understand the challenges they faced and the systems thinking required to turn vision into reality. This podcast highlights the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and long-term vision in driving significant change.You can find a transcript hereAnd check out my website for more innovation resources:

  20. 123

    Audacious bubbles - the secret ingredient in innovation success

    A classic story of entrepreneurial grit, a passion for something and the willingness to persevere when things don’t go quite according to plan. Central to it all was a remarkable woman – Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin. Born in 1777 she went hard against the grain of what women were expected to do, creating and championing what became one of the most famous champagne houses in the world. 'Veuve Cliquot' - a legacy built on innovation.You can find a transcript hereAnd more like this here

  21. 122

    Working backwards to move forward – a surprising recipe for innovation success

    This episode explores PR/FAQ in a fascinating interview withMarcelo Calbucci, an experienced entrepreneur who has extensive hands-on experience of using the 'Press release/FAQ' framework.  Developed over a decade ago and widely used within Amazon this simple approach forces anyone with a change proposal to make their ideas come alive through the medium of a simple story.  He’s now a self-proclaimed evangelist for the method and the author of a new book which explains the considerable power behind this deceptively simple approach. Check out his website hereYou can find a transcript here And check out my website here for many other innovationresources

  22. 121

    The data alchemists - how an entrepreneurial couple helped start a retail revolution

    The story of dunnhumby, a small entreprenurial business which changed the face of retailing by bringing the concept of consumer data science into the mainstream with the launch of the Tesco Clubcard.You can find a transcript hereand more resources like this at my website here

  23. 120

    Paralysed by possibilities? How to get to grips with AI

    We grow through what we know. Put simply that’s at the heart of the innovation equation. Innovation is creating value from ideas, a journey which starts with an input of knowledge But when it comes to using external knowledge to help us grow we run into some challenges - as this podcast explores. We need 'absorptive capacity'. You can find a transcript here

  24. 119

    Inspiration for innovation

    Fifty years ago and Keith Jarrett created a legendary performance which was captured on record and became the best selling solo piano album of all time. That experience offers some powerful and inspiring lessons for today's innovation managers, as this podcast highlights. You can find a transcript and more resources at my website here

  25. 118

    Beating the bougainvillea blues

    Managing innovation isn’t a matter of abstract systems or process flow charts; it's much closer to the challenge of planting and tending an orchard. A rich harvest of innovation fruit comes from strong branches on trees which have matured thanks to careful cultivation. Maintaining what's already established and allowing for new shoots, sprouting in new directions, opening up more possibilities for future growth.   This doesn't happen by accident. We need to think about 'innovation horticulture' - how best to manage the orchard. This podcast explores that idea.  Check out my website here for more stories, cases, tool, even some innovation songs!

  26. 117

    Dear Santa...

    It’s the time of year when letters are getting hastily scribbled and sent to the old gentleman in Lapland expressing preferences for possible presents. This is a sample from a somewhat frustrated but ever hopeful innovation manager…. You can find the lyrics and a rich assortment of other innovation resources - songs, cases, videos, podcasts, tools, etc. - at my website here

  27. 116

    AI through the rear-view mirror

    What we can learn from the past to help navigate the AI storm This podcast looks back at the experience of earlier technological revolutions to find some clues about how we might deal with this one You can find a transcript of this podcast here And check out my website here for more blogs, interviews, cases, videos and many other innovation-linked resources. There's even some innovation songs!

  28. 115

    Flying the flag for innovation

    How having an innovation management standard can help — and why it might get in the way (you can find a transcript for this podcast at the 'Managing innovation' website, together with many other useful resources - please check it out) A standard is an old word for a flag. Back in the days of sailing ships you could see a forest of them fluttering at the stern of ships of all shapes and sizes, proudly declaring their allegiance to a particular country. And right now in the innovation world we’ve got a similar display of ‘ships’ — organizations of various shapes and sizes all flying the new ISO 56000 flag — the Innovation Management Standard. This podcast explores the ISO standard and looks at what it means for innovation management practitioners

  29. 114

    Bridging different worlds - unlocking the power of recombinant innovation

    You can find a transcript together with many other innovation-related resources at my website here

  30. 113

    Continuing continuous improvement

    ⁠You can find a transcript together with many other innovation-related resources at my website here⁠

  31. 112

    Irresponsible innovation anyone?

    Why innovation isn't always a good thing - and what we can do to manage that. You can find a transcript, together with many other resources - video, audio, cases, tools, activities, etc - to help explore innovation management at my website here.

  32. 111

    Hitching a ride to higher productivity

    You can find a transcript, together with many other resources - video, audio, cases, tools, activities, etc - to help explore innovation management at ⁠my website here.⁠

  33. 110

    Cartography matters! - the importance of maps in navigating the uncertain journey of innovation

    You can find a transcript on my website here together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  34. 109

    Impact intrepreneurship - leveraging the power of organizations for social innovation

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  35. 108

    In the (innovation) soup....

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  36. 107

    AI is a no-brainer...

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  37. 106

    Irrelevant innovation

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  38. 105

    It's not (only) what you know...

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  39. 104

    Beating the scaling innovation blues

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  40. 103

    Changing the world, one innovation at a time

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  41. 102

    Innovation lessons - from a skateboard!

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  42. 101

    Innovation is rubbish!

    ⁠You can find a transcript on my website here⁠ together with many other resources - blogs, videos, cases, tools, interviews - to help you explore the world of managing innovation

  43. 100

    A Christmas innovation fairytale

    Some seasonal thoughts to accompany all good wishes....! You can find a transcript of this, together with many other resources - video, audio, cases, tools, even some innovation songs - at my website here.

  44. 99

    Start-up success - an interview with Faisal Abid, Co-founder and CTO of Eirene Cremations

    Faisal Abid shares some fascinating insights into the do's - and don't's of trying to launch and grow a new venture, drawing on his experience in founding and growing a number of businesses. You can find a transcript of this, together with many other resources - video, audio, cases, tools, even some innovation songs - ⁠at my website here.⁠

  45. 98

    Pathways to scale

    Taking an innovation from a small-sized success story to something which delivers value at scale is not an easy one. You can find a transcript of this, together with many other resources - video, audio, cases, tools, even some innovation songs - ⁠at my website here.⁠

  46. 97

    Growing up fast

    This podcast features Zach Rattner, founder of Yembo and author of ‘Grow up fast!’, a great book which captures some powerful learning about innovation and entrepreneurship You can find a transcript here, together with many other innovation resources including video, audio, cases, tools, even some songs!

  47. 96

    Tell 'em a story - another innovation song

    Innovation is all about trying to convince others — people to help develop your idea, sponsors to back you, markets to buy in to your great new thing. So it makes sense to spend time and effort crafting a tale which will draw them in, intrigue them, capture their attention. ⁠ You can find a transcript here,⁠ together with many other innovation resources including video, audio, cases, tools, even some songs!

  48. 95

    Prove it to me!

    Why evidence is so important for scaling innovation A good idea will sell itself, right? Unfortunately not – Emerson was spectacularly wrong when he suggested that all you needed to do was build that better mousetrap to have the world beating a path to your door. This podcast explores the crucial role which evidence plays in getting innovations adopted. ⁠ You can find a transcript here,⁠ together with many other innovation resources including video, audio, cases, tools, even some songs!

  49. 94

    The entrepreneur's journey - another song

    I'm running a course on entrepreneurship and was looking for a way to help students remember some key milestones on the journey - value proposition, minimum viable product, prototyping, business model development, etc. So trying it out in the form of a song. ⁠⁠ You can find a transcript here,⁠⁠ together with many other innovation resources including video, audio, cases, tools, even some songs!

  50. 93

    Unlocking creativity

    This podcast explores some of the key lessons we've learned from research into creativity. ⁠⁠ You can find a transcript here,⁠⁠ together with many other innovation resources including video, audio, cases, tools, even some songs!

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Innovation doesn't just happen. It's not like the cartoons - a lightbulb flashes on above someone's head and that's it. No - it's a journey and we need to understand how best to prepare for that journey, whatever kind of value we are trying to create. This podcast is about some useful lessons we might take on board to help develop our capabilities.For more, see my website:https://johnbessant.org

HOSTED BY

John Bessant

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Managing innovation - creating value from ideas have?

Managing innovation - creating value from ideas currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Managing innovation - creating value from ideas about?

Innovation doesn't just happen. It's not like the cartoons - a lightbulb flashes on above someone's head and that's it. No - it's a journey and we need to understand how best to prepare for that journey, whatever kind of value we are trying to create. This podcast is about some useful lessons we...

How often does Managing innovation - creating value from ideas release new episodes?

Managing innovation - creating value from ideas has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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You can listen to Managing innovation - creating value from ideas on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Managing innovation - creating value from ideas?

Managing innovation - creating value from ideas is created and hosted by John Bessant.
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