How to Train People in Innovation?

Training people to be innovative is not just about teaching a specific range of skills. It is far more complicated. Managers looking to create a high-performance and innovative team will also face several cultural challenges. Fortunately, there are also some strategies to overcome the obstacles and get some results in the midterm.

Unleashing The Power of Innovation: What is Innovation?

Innovation is a recurrent topic in many companies. As business men and women we all know that we need it for our businesses to thrive in the mid-term. Today, this is almost common knowledge. But it is not so common to find someone who really knows what innovation is, and how is it actually done.

How Bable Is Reinventing How Smart Cities Develop New Solutions

BABLE Smart Cities wanted to grow faster. Its work was still tied to project fees. In a three-step program we mapped the current model, generated platform ideas with the team and set priorities for new services. BABLE now has a clear platform roadmap and uses AI to deliver knowledge at scale.

How Hansgrohe Sparked a Method-Based Innovation Culture

Hansgrohe wanted employees who can spot digital trends and act on them. In a short boot-camp program we mixed theory, hands-on tools and peer work. Participants left with clear methods and the courage to push new ideas.

How Andritz Aligned Four Divisions on One Digital Roadmap

Andritz ran many digital projects but lacked a single vision. In six months we helped map the current state, align four divisions and create a group-wide roadmap. A steering committee now guides delivery and every initiative follows clear priorities.

Introducing the Circular Economy Navigator – Your systematic approach to make Circular Economy work

The Circular Economy Navigator book is a practical guideline that takes organizations from their first insights to a truly circular transformation. Our Managing Consultant Richard Stechow co-developed the methodology and we offer the 8-step approach and the Pattern Cards through consulting, training, and sprints.

How Voestalpine set up a new Business Incubator in two Months

Voestalpine wanted a repeatable way to turn steel know-how into new revenue. In a two-month project we trained the incubator team in Business Model Innovation tools and applied them to two live ideas. The process is now the standard path for every major innovation project inside the steel division.

How ZF Brandenburg Plotted Life After Combustion Gearboxes

ZF’s Brandenburg plant makes manual and dual-clutch gearboxes, about 120 000 units a year. As demand shifts to electric drives the work will dry up. In twelve months we ran the Business Transformation Navigator with staff and external experts. Together we shaped three new business models and built full investment cases, giving the site a clear future path and protecting jobs.

How Schaidt Turned Insolvency Into an E-mobility Comeback

When its last audio-electronics contracts vanished, Schaidt Innovations filed for insolvency. Instead of closing the plant, we ran a fast business-model innovation sprint that created a new plan to build electric-vehicle charging stations. The strategy convinced Webasto to acquire the site and keep 170 jobs.

How a Refractory Leader Tripled its Recycling Rate

A global supplier of refractory products wanted to scale battery recycling and make circularity pay. In one year we used the Circular Economy Navigator to pick the right business model, test it with customers and build a roadmap. The work led to a joint venture that tripled the company’s recycling rate and cut waste costs.

How Roche Builds Innovation Capabilities Across its Global Workforce

Roche wanted its people to spot and shape new business opportunities. We designed a four-part learning journey that teaches business-model thinking, design and testing. The program has already trained hundreds of employees and helped internal teams push new venture ideas forward.

How a Nuclear Technology Leader Entered EV Battery Recycling

A French industrial group known for nuclear fuel cycles wanted to use its metallurgy skills in electric-vehicle battery recycling. Over three years we mapped the market, designed business models and set clear decision points. The work led to joint ventures for battery components in northern France and a pilot recycling plant that is now under construction.

Managing the Path Forward: Six Insights on Developing Business Models for the Circular Economy

Don’t be afraid of twists in the path to a circular future. Many companies are here, too. Here's how to manage and predict this transition.

How is AI Transforming Operations and Business Models?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a game-changer across industries, transforming how businesses operate. Let's delve into the numerous ways AI is reshaping business models and operations, helping organisations stay ahead in today's fast-paced digital world.

Navigating Sustainability in Business

A conversation with Richard Stechow and Vera Hermes for Haufe Academy

The Characteristics of Data-driven Business Model Development and how to Succeed

The experience of recent years shows that companies often overestimate the value of their own data and their own ability to generate revenue from it. In practice, very few companies can establish a sustainable business model based on data.

Business Model Innovation Basics Series - Part 3: How to Create Successful Business Models

Understanding the steps for business model creation

Business Model Innovation Basics Series - Part 2: Why Business Model Innovation Matters

Learnings from sports competitions

Business Model Innovation Basics Series - Part 1: What is a Business Model?

Introducing the Magic Triangle of Business Models

Changing Customer Needs Call for new Business Models in Urban Mobility

Urban Mobility is an industry with a long history, but it is also one of the most dynamic industries in recent years. Many new businesses have emerged, some with rather innovative business concepts and others without.

The new Platform Navigator: How to Design and Implement Platform Business Models

What do eight out of ten of the most valuable companies worldwide have in common? They are built upon a platform business model.

Key Trends in 2022 That can Influence Your Business Model

Nowadays it is increasingly complex to keep pace with new market trends, because changes happen very quickly. But we know that it's really important to recognize these industry changes early on in order to be able to keep up with technology for the benefit of long-term business planning, to stay ahead of the curve and prevent rivals from overtaking you.

Our 7 Favorite Newsletters

Newsletters have been around for many many years. Probably even for hundreds of years. We wanted to share our current most popular selection of newsletters with you.

Does AI Replace Human Work?

The world is becoming more and more interconnected and narrow due to technology and is closely connected like a village. Reaching around 126 billion U.S. dollars by 2025 the global artificial intelligence (AI) software market is forecast to grow rapidly in the coming years (Liu, 2020).

Our 7 Podcast Recommendations about Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Did you know? The number of podcasts went through the roof in the past two years! In fact, as of April 2021, PodcastInsights recalls that there are over 48 million episodes available from over 2 million shows worldwide! We think this is just the beginning.

Combining Scenario Management and Business Model Thinking: Why Strategic Agility is the new Way to Define your Corporate Strategy

Strategy implementation often turn into strategy justification - the necessary questioning of changes in the environment or the exploration and testing of alternative options is not perceived as invigorating but as disturbing.

How to Create Business Models for 5G - and Other Disruptive Technologies

“Build only products that customers want” – sounds easy, right? However, in practice, this can be quite hard. Sometimes, companies approach us with requests like “I have developed a new technology but how do I build a business around it?” or “Our technology is superior to our competitors’ – why don’t our customers see that?”.

How to Fight Climate Change With Innovative Business Models

This should not come as a surprise: Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that humankind faces today with a wide range of negative impacts such as droughts, floods, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity. Due to its complexity, there is no easy, quick-fix solution to address it.

How to Explore the Full Potential of Digital Transformation Through Innovative Business Models

Digitization is not new – many digital technologies have been around for more than a decade now and have profoundly changed the way we live. Yet, few established businesses seem to have a clear vision of how to best navigate the change brought about by digitization.

How to Develop Innovative Ideas Together – Online

What do you miss most about working from the office? While many workers are happy to do without long commutes and fixed working hours, there is one thing many of them miss: stimulating exchanges with colleagues, jointly identifying problems and spinning wild ideas.

The Rise of Second-hand: Exploring the Opportunities of Re-commerce

The fashion resale market is booming. By 2029, it is forecasted to reach a value of $80 billion, doubling the size of fast fashion. As used clothing is taking over our wardrobes, we have decided to explore the phenomenon of resale from a business model perspective – and investigate how it can be applied to other industries.

Designing Circular Business Models: From Ideation to Implementation

In the current environment, we see that more and more companies are looking for ways to innovate their business models in order to create sustainable alternatives to current solutions. Implementing a circular ecosystem that solves an environmental problem while offering an attractive value proposition to customers is the ultimate goal.

The 5 Business Model Patterns You Should Follow in 2021

The world is digital – that is, at least since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many current examples of digitization that are interesting and prove the importance of a robust business model.

Implementing New Circular Business Models with the Circular Navigator Methodology

The focus of many companies is currently on sustainability, however a big gap still exists between the actions taken and the current state of the planet.

150+ Tools to Easily and Quickly Test Your Business Model

“Which tool do we need to test this business model?” This is the most frequently asked question since we started implementing innovative business model ideas with our clients. The answer? There is no perfect tool for your test. There are a lot out there and the key is to select the one that best suits your needs.

COVID-19: The Digital Transformation Catalyst of Banking Business Models

The banking industry faces change, probably in a never known pace and relevance than before. Although COVID-19 had a positive impact on some banks due to a high increase in asset trading volumes and associated commissions, it also acts as a transformation catalyst. COVID-19 is assumed to substantially change the consumer behavior towards a cashless society. The trend towards a hybrid banking customer is continuing.

Introduction to the Circular Economy

The environmental issues humanity is experiencing on the planet nowadays are unprecedented and require new innovative solutions from businesses, which have mostly been operating in a linear manner.

4 Inspiring Ideas to Overcome Challenges when Testing Innovative Business Models

Following our recent article about the most common challenges faced by companies when testing innovative business models, we decided to highlight 4 inspiring initiatives that seem to be effective practices to overcome these challenges.

What we Have Learned About Testing Business Models

A superior business model is the base of sustainable business success. Studies show that 90% of business ideas change several times before achieving commercial success and over two new products/solutions out of three fail to meet customer expectations.

7 Steps to Prepare Your Business Model for Post-COVID-19

Uncertainty and risk will remain high. How can we deal with these difficulties? COVID-19 has influenced many industries and companies. Together with our customers, we discussed an approach to tackle this uncertainty.

The 5 steps for Implementing Digital Business Models

The increasing popularity of creativity methods such as Design Thinking and the St. Gallen Business Model Navigator have led to a state where companies are now well equipped to generate many innovative ideas. The better the first step of business model innovation is mastered, the clearer it becomes that the true challenges for companies lie in the following phases: translating ideas into validated business model concepts and turn them into profitable businesses.

Business Model Innovation from the CES 2020

The CES Las Vegas is the first global show of the year for companies thriving on the business of consumer technologies. As passionate innovators, we looked at the innovations presented at this year’s show and analyzed them from our business model innovation point of view.

Business Models – Definition and Reason

When you read about anticipated changes due to IoT, Industrial IoT, or Industry 4.0, you inevitably come across the term business model. Usually, it is the conclusion based on the changes anticipated by the IoT: You have to innovate or change your business model. But more often than not, that’s all you get and you’re left to figure out how to do that on your own.

How Omya Built a Focused AI Strategy in Industrial Minerals

Omya wanted a clear plan for using artificial intelligence across its operations. In a four-phase project we assessed readiness, set goals, selected pilot uses and built a scale-up roadmap. The result is a ranked list of AI priorities and a governance model that keeps efforts aligned.

How PostAuto Reinvented its Business Model for the 21st Century

With a fleet of 2,400 vehicles, a network spanning more than 12,000 kilometers, and 155 million passengers transported every year, PostAuto is the market leader in public bus transport in Switzerland. For more than 100 years, the subsidiary of the Swiss Post has provided regional and rural bus services throughout the entire country.

How a Traditional Industrial Manufacturer Unlocked the Value of Software-based Solutions

Founded in the first half of the 19th century, Europe’s largest industrial manufacturer looks back on a long and eventful history. With the passing of decades, the company has grown into a truly global player with 350k+ employees and 200+ production facilities around the world.

How an Ag-tech Leader set up Value-based Pricing with Farmers

A global ag-tech company wanted to sell its high-performance seeds straight to farmers. We led a one-year BMI Launchpad project, co-developed a value-based pricing model and tested it in three countries. The pilot showed that farmers gained better yields and the company captured more value when both sides shared risk and reward.