LEAD-USER RESEARCH FOR BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION Lead-user research can help companies uncover both unmet customer needs and the innovative solutions that leading-edge users are developing to meet those needs. Ivy Eisenberg OVERVIEW: The best companies often work closely with their customers to uncover needs and wants that can be translated into new or improved product or service offerings. The lead-user research method goes a step further‚ looking not only to the typical customer‚ but to those
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INNOVATION AT 3M CORPORATION: CASE STUDY There are two major issues highlighted in this case study: 1. Is the ‘lead-user’ process‚ an effective method for research and subsequent product innovation? 2. Should the Medical-Surgical Markets Division (MSMD) lead-user research team present its revolutionary new approach to treating infection to senior management despite the fact that it challenged the existing business strategy? QUESTION 1 The answer to the first question is ‘yes’. By the
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Innovation at 3M 3M attributed much of its growth to its innovative products and incremental/extensions of existing products. However‚ of late they hadn’t come up with anything significant and they were stagnating. At this point‚ Ms. Rita Shor implemented the “Lead User Research” methodology to come up with four recommendations on new innovative products and strategy. In my opinion‚ Ms. Shor should put forward their first three recommendations to Mr. Dunlop. They consisted of development of three
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1. How the 3 M innovation process evolved from the time the company was found? Answer: The innovation process at 3M has typically been a focus area for the upper management. The company had taken a getoutoftheway attitude towards the product developers who in turn have worked accordingly towards innovation. Along with technicians each team had a process engineer to ensure that the product was efficiently made. The entire team did not face any risk if the product failed.
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1. How has 3M’s innovation process evolved since the company was founded? Why‚ if at all‚ does 3M known as a "hothouse" of innovation‚ need to regain its historic closeness to the customer? First‚ they discover their first product by accident. Technician bypass purchasing agents in order to better understand product needs. Walked into factories and workplaces and talk directly to workers. Then‚ one developer discovered some success ignoring company order. Causing the attitude. It is better
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| | | CONTENTS Question 2 3 Determine 3M’s core competencies and assess if 3M has a sustainable competitive advantage. Support your claim. Question 3 9 Critically evaluate the success of 3M’s strategies (acquisition included) in 2006‚ from both a strategic and financial perspective. Question 4
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Topic: How 3M draws up sales and spending forecasts? Questions: 1. Sketch out the 3M organization structure from the board of directors to the production foreman as best as you can from the information in the article Management committee (President‚ seven group vice presidents and nine vice presidents of staff departments) Controller Groups of divisions (Group vice presidents and Group head) Divisions (General managers) Departments (Department managers) Top aides Foreman 2. How many
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Case Studies 3M1: Rethinking Innovation Background Large (70K employees‚ $15bn sales)‚ global operations (200 countries)‚ multi-product (50K range)‚ multi-market business. Innovation ‘Claim to Fame’ This company has been around for just over 100 years and during that period has established a clear reputation as a major innovator. Their technical competence has been built up by a long-term commitment to R&D on which they currently spend around $1bn p.a.; this has yielded them a regular position
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Individual Research Paper 3M Prepared for: TC Sydney Graduate School of Management By: Surbhi Suri: 16453584 Submitted On: 09/11/2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3M is a multinational company with branches operating all over the globe. 3M is looking to grow in the new markets for its long term strategy‚ and decided to service China‚ India‚ and Singapore. 3M expansion in the international markets and business strategy is build around its core competency of innovation. 3M has adopted product differentiation
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3M Introduction 3M is fundamentally a science-based company. We produce thousands of imaginative products‚ and we’re a leader in scores of markets - from health care and highway safety to office products and abrasives and adhesives. Our success begins with our ability to apply our technologies - often in combination - to an endless array of real-world customer needs. Of course‚ all of this is made possible by the people of 3M and their singular commitment to make life easier and better for people
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