Former Innovation Management Roundtable, March/November 2003

Achieving higher business growth through Cross-Business Innovation

Speakers at the events included: SCHOTT Glas, Siemens ICN, Shell, Henkel KGaA.

Two 1-day Innovation Management Roundtables on the topic Cross-Business Innovation were held in March and November 2003. At each Roundtable around 20 managers from well-known international companies attended to explore the possibilities of tapping the potential of Cross-Business Innovation.

What is Cross-Business Innovation? There is great opportunity for business growth through better managing disconnected functions and business units in organizations. Companies using Cross-Business Innovation techniques have taken advantage of new growth opportunities by combining diverse capabilities and market insights while maintaining decentralized organizations.

But Cross-Business Innovation requires special tools, methods, and approaches to ensure the right mix of ideas and manage the best ideas in order to achieve results. Depending on their industry companies use different approaches looking for knowledge transfer, system innovation, or new business development.

Examples of different kinds of Cross-Business Innovations

Work Group Topics: Several Inspiration Sessions during the conference allowed participants to start in-depth discussions. The sessions were structured around the following themes:

1. Understanding the innovation landscape: What innovation types can be observed? What is the innovation pattern in my industry? What kind of innovation strategies do companies follow and why? What are the implications of the innovation strategy on the innovation management? How does "disruptive innovation" relate to my business?
2. Idea Generation: What tools/approaches are used for generating cross-business ideas? What experiences have companies had with the various approaches?
3. Concept Development and Innovation Transfer: How do I manage concept development in a decentralized organization? What are the challenges in assigning responsibility for product realization after concept approval (innovation transfer)? What are organizational solutions for innovation transfer and when should they be applied?

 

Companies who participated: Merck KGaA, Gambro, Electrolux, Celanese, Bombardier, Shell, Henkel, DSM, Interbrew, BMW, Solvay, Siemens ICN, B.Braun Melsungen, SCHOTT Glas, Basell, Eastman Chemical, SGL Carbon, Jenoptik, Elastogran, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte, Corus, Messer Griesheim