Why Aren’t We Doing Big Ideas Anymore? A Call to Arms for New Product Development Professionals

Join the Pittsburgh Chapter next Monday, September 16th, for an engaging Innovation Forum presented by Chris Miller, Ph.D., NPDP: 

Why Aren’t We Doing Big Ideas Anymore?: A Call to Arms for New Product Development Professionals

Where:  Catalyst Connection, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
When: 6:00 - 7:00 pm; September 16, 2013

In a world full of problems, why are we so focused on redoing what has already been done?  Can we really say that the world is better off because of our work?  Could we do better work, more important work?

As innovation professionals, we have a special responsibility to lead, to show the way, to make a difference.  It’s not about process, though process is important; it’s not about voice of the customer, though those who choose to ignore the customer do so at their own peril; it is not about technology mapping, or open innovation, culture or cross-functional teams, as important as these things are.  Success in innovation is driven by a passion to bring technology into the service of humanity in a meaningfully differentiated way.

Registration and networking will begin at 5:00 pm.  The cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.  Seating is limited, so be sure to register early.  

REGISTER NOW

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Often called a cheerleader for innovation, a prolific author, Chris Miller deals with everything that helps us to bring technology into the service of humanity, from how we explore for ideas and the mental processes involved in innovation, to success blockers that get in the way of discovery engineering.  Miller calls on his audiences to step up to the challenges of innovation by engaging in rigorous repeatable processes many of which are fundamental to how people have worked together to bring about change for hundreds of years.

Miller is a past President of the Product Development and Management Association, on the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, formerly on the Board of Trustees for the Lancaster General Health Innovations Corporation, and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner.

He is also an avid supporter of bicycle commuting, and of creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities.

LOCAL EVENT: 3rd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference | Sept. 17, 2013

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference on September 17, 2013 hosted by Catalyst Connection and the National Energy Technology Laboratory-Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA).  

“The Energy and Innovation Conference brings together people who are driving technology development and creating new products in our region,” said Petra Mitchell, president and CEO of Catalyst Connection. “This year, our Conference will judge exciting new innovations. We’ll assess the next energy ‘game changer’ in this region while focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector today.”

Conference details are as follows:

• WHO: Manufacturers, business leaders, researchers, venture capitalists, and energy users. 
• WHAT: The event will showcase a search for the region’s next game changing innovation as well as sessions focused on innovation, industry partnerships and the challenges, needs and opportunities of key energy leaders.
• WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe,1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA
• WHEN:September 17, 2013. 

Registration is available at http://www.cvent.com/d/3cq6xk. 


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PDMA Pittsburgh is a professional association dedicated to improving the effectiveness of individuals and organizations involved with product development, product management, and innovation. Want to share an upcoming event with us? We'd love to hear from you, email us now.                               

Pittsburgh STEM Summit - Aug. 15 | Why the Pipeline of STEM-educated People is Mission Critical to Product Innovation

For our nation, and our region, to remain economically and environmentally strong and sustainable, we must recruit and educate the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians who will solve the complex problems of our times. Maintaining the pipeline of STEM-educated people is mission critical to the success of any company developing, producing, and managing any product or service offering.

   

Because a STEM-ready workforce is fundamental to product development and management, we are pleased to let you know about the upcoming Pittsburgh STEM Summit, to be held at the Doubletree Pittsburgh Hotel on August 15, 2013.  The summit will feature exciting keynote presentations, information about interesting STEM partnerships, and opportunities to network among STEM leaders in business, formal and informal education, and nonprofits.  The Pittsburgh Technology Council is organizing the summit, which is co-sponsored by STEM Asset Education, Google, Bayer, and the Carnegie Science Center.  

Pittsburgh PDMA members are invited to attend the summit at the reduced cost of $75; the regular admission fee is $99. To register at the special PDMA rate please email events@pghtech.org or call 412-918-4229 and reference the PDMA Pittsburgh Chapter.

Click here for more information and a detailed agenda: http://stem.pghtech.org/

Why does STEM matter?  Here is one example of the cost of lost opportunity:

"The United States could enjoy a remarkable increment in its annual GDP growth per capita by enhancing the math proficiency of U.S. students. Increasing the percentage of proficient students to the levels attained in Canada and Korea would increase the annual U.S. growth rate by 0.9 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. Since long-term average annual growth rates hover between 2 and 3 percentage points, that increment would lift growth rates by between 30 and 50 percent.

When translated into dollar terms, these magnitudes become staggering. If one calculates these percentage increases as national income projections over an 80-year period (providing for a 20-year delay before any school reform is completed and the newly proficient students begin their working careers), a back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests gains of nothing less than $75 trillion over the period. That averages out to around a trillion dollars a year."

Source: L. Woessman, P.E. Peterson, E.A. Hanushek, C.X. Lastra-Anadón, 2011. Globally Challenged: Are U.S. Students Ready to Compete? Program on Education Policy and Governance, Harvard University.

For more STEMtistics (sm), click here:  http://changetheequation.org/why-stem

We hope you'll be able to participate in this important initiative.

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New White Paper on the Strategic Side of Marketing - Dr. Ken Saban, Duquesne University

For marketers to capture the attention of CEOs, they must look beyond the tactical four Ps and become more involved in strategic initiatives. 

For example, they must help companies shift from being sales-driven to market-driven. This requires:   

1) having the vision and environment to generate breakthrough ideas; and

2) maintaining the capital, fortitude, and risk tolerance to persevere and give the radical idea a fair chance to succeed; and 

3) finding under-served markets, developing radically new value propositions, and creating new delivery mechanisms.

While traditional textbooks focus on the “tactical” side (four P’s) of marketing, they often overlook the “strategic” side of marketing. This leaves students thinking that marketing is all about tactics like running promotional events or sales contests. In reality, Marketing Management in the 21st Century is by far more strategic in nature. This White Paper speaks to both sides of marketing management.

For more information contact Dr. Ken Saban, Duquesne University

 

 

June 27 Webcast: Gerry Katz on Voice of the Customer (VOC)

Hijacked Again! Three Trends in the Field of Voice of the Customer - Some Welcome, Some Not

June 27 Webcast
2-3 pm EST

If you weren’t able to attend the April Pittsburgh Chapter Innovation Forum where Gerry Katz presented, be sure to catch this Webcast at the end of the month.

In this highly informative and entertaining webinar, Gerry Katz Executive Vice President of Applied Marketing Science (and product development guru) will lay out three major trends in the field of Voice of Customer (VOC), which he classifies as:

• The Naysayers

• The Stretchers

• The Technovangelists

He’ll then discuss some of the pluses and minuses of these trends and what companies can do to take advantage of the benefits and avoid the pitfalls. Finally, Katz will challenge the conventional wisdom about the role of Social Media in VOC.

June 20 Webcast: Social Networking

Learn Social Networking from IBM - How to Get the Biggest Payback

June 20 Webcast
2 - 3 pm EST

Can social networking help you build better products or be a better product manager? According to IBM executive and author Ed Brill, the answer is yes. In this webcast, Brill will discuss “Opting In,” lessons in merging product management and social networking from IBM’s use and leadership over the last decade. You will learn how, where, when, and why to participate in online communities, what the payback will be, and how to justify the effort internally.