Tag Archives: subtractive thinking
An analogy for using the Blue Ocean Strategy framework
If you’re a strategy guy I’m sure you’re familiar with the Blue Ocean approach to strategy where you set out to create new value by not competing but rather creating and capturing new demand (new market) where you’re the only guy holding the flag.
In a nutshell here’s what Blue Ocean Strategy proposes:
Sounds pretty damn good but the problem is it’s difficult to imagine and do, worse yet is it’s difficult to understand if you’re someone who’s not a CEO, strategist, consultant or marketer. To tackle this problem I thought I’d uncover the hidden truth behind some of the key ideas of the approach. (more…)
Weekend innovation tip: Create new products and services using subtractive thinking
How do you create new products and services that deliver new value?
Using subtractive thinking by:
Additive
+ Create: Develop by designing from scratch
+ Improve: Build upon by enhancing what already exists
Subtractive
- Reduce: Minimize by taking down to the bare essentials
- Eliminate: Remove by doing away with entirely
Subtractive thinking applies to Business Models, Product Design and Brand Development. Here are some successful examples:
- Saturn removed negotiations from the car buying experience.
- Subway removed the traditional kitchen from the fast food restaurant.
- Netflix removed the storefront from video rentals.
- Little Caesar’s removed the restaurant from the pizzeria.
- Apple removed complexity from the user interface.
- Yellow Tail removed the pretension from selecting wine.
Credit: Black Coffee
Must read innovation stories of the week: Can a successful innovation be predicted? Yes
Ronin release
Great innovation builds on what comes before it and does not require people to make radical changes in beliefs or behavior. What often looks like breakthrough innovation is actually a small advance or twist on an established idea. That the change is evolutionary, however, doesn’t keep its impact from being revolutionary. Monitoring market evolution across the globe over time reveals patterns consistent across categories and markets. Consumer needs evolve in predictable ways. There are waves of successful mass-market innovation that mirror a natural evolution in consumer needs.
Can You Predict Successful Innovation? Yes (Adage)
The 7 Signs of a Leader – A Must Read
(Dumb Little Man)
Open your mind to the idea of innovation (Financial Times)
Innovation Matters: Balancing Sustained Versus Disruptive Innovation (Mp Daily Fix)
Research finds leadership skills inadequate to meet current and future demand (The Practice of Leadership)
Stop following the crowd
(Think One Step Ahead)
