John W Lewis

Category: management

  • The discontinuous nature of innovation

    Making sense of the field of innovation is not simple. This is partly because of the range of aspects of innovation that are frequently discussed. In this interview with Brightidea, the leading provider of innovation management systems, Keith McConnell, of Sara Lee, makes a distinction between innovation and “continuous improvement” in the first 25 seconds, when he…

  • Some things work now

    Some things work now

    It’s 2014! Some things still work (and some things don’t work any longer) Some things work now (and some things don’t work yet) You choose.

  • Gordon Edge, remembering a great innovator and leader

    It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent death of Gordon Edge. These are some of my memories of a great technology innovator and business leader. For a period of almost three years, during the 1980s, I was privileged to work at PA Technology, near Cambridge. This was a great place to…

  • To innovate or not to innovate? That is not the question!

    Sooner or later continuous improvement, by any individual or organisation, runs out of steam. Marching up the slope ahead of us makes sense as an effective way to move onwards and upwards, until we reach the summit. But the summit of what? Most likely it is not the summit, it is just a summit. There…

  • Any riots in the clouds?

    Earlier this week, I overheard an interesting and unusual support call being handled at a company which provides business systems. On the face of it, you might enjoy this topical little story, but it might also get you thinking, as it did me, about some rather more substantial issues. This customer was calling because he…

  • “Service design” is what exactly?

    The term “service design” seems to have been cropping up in a variety of contexts recently. This sounds interesting, possibly useful and, perhaps even, ground breaking. However, based on initial investigation, I am non-plussed and increasingly sceptical.

  • Organising for innovation

    Aspects and characteristics It is unlikely that anyone doubts that the ability of an organisation to innovate is strongly dependent on the nature of that organisation. Its nature can be described by various characteristics (including cultural, behavioural and structural characteristics) and by several aspects (including the static and dynamic aspects) of those characteristics. 

  • Standards: who’d have them?

    Whether to standardise? “If only there were a standard!” How often have we heard this lament about the need for consistency and the benefits of uniformity? Standards free us from decisions and incompatibilities, and are extremely useful in many situations. On the other hand, there is the sceptical approach: “The great thing about standards is…

  • It’s not about the technology! Or is it?

    New experiences, behaviours and techniques come along from time to time. As children, at school, there was always the latest “craze” whether it was for conkers or marbles or assegais (remember those?). As adults, at work and at play, we call them innovations, whether they are new materials, techniques, goods, services, fashions or whole new…

  • No, Nokia, No!

    Oh dear, what a crying shame! Today is an awful day in the mobile communications industry. Symbian is dead; Nokia jumps to Windows Phone 7 Many predicted it, some welcome it, others are horrified. I am horrified. This seems such a long time ago: Go, Nokia, Go! What is there to say? … oh well,…