The State of Innovation – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Im Gespräch mit Alexandra Stefanov, Gründerin von China Impulse und Expertin für chinesische Innovationskultur

In dieser Folge von The State of Innovation werfen wir einen Blick über den Tellerrand – nach China.

Ich spreche mit Alexandra Stefanov über die Innovationskultur eines Landes, das sich vom “Made in China” zum “Created in China” entwickelt hat.

Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage:

👉 Was macht China im Bereich Innovation anders – und was können wir in Europa davon lernen?

💡 Themen der Episode:

• Warum Agilität in China gelebt wird – und kein Buzzword ist

• Wie Trial & Error und echte Kundenzentrierung Innovation vorantreiben

• Wieso Vielfalt und gemischte Teams mehr sind als ein Soft Skill

• Was WeChat als Super App über technologische Integration verrät

• Und: Warum Innovation in China oft chaotisch – aber extrem dynamisch ist

Ein Gespräch über kulturelle Unterschiede, Denkweisen und konkrete Learnings für Unternehmen in Europa, die agil und zukunftsfähig bleiben wollen.

Zitat aus der Episode:

„In China wird einfach gehandelt.“

📌 Jetzt reinhören – und neue Perspektiven auf Innovation entdecken.

Im Gespräch mit Alexander Hochmeier, Vice President IT & Security bei FACC AG

Veränderung ist für viele Unternehmen eine Herausforderung – oft verbunden mit Unsicherheit und Widerstand. In dieser Episode von The State of Innovation zeigt Alexander Hochmeier, wie man Veränderung erfolgreich gestaltet: durch Vielfalt, Klarheit im Purpose und eine neue Denkweise in der IT-Strategie.

Wir sprechen über:

• Warum Vielfalt mehr als nur ein Buzzword ist – und wie sie zur Resilienz beiträgt

• Weshalb Unternehmen Flightpaths statt Roadmaps brauchen

• Wie ein gelebter Purpose hilft, Aktionismus durch langfristige Visionen zu ersetzen

• Was es bedeutet, eine Fehlerkultur wirklich zu leben – und warum Träumen wichtiger ist als Wünschen

Alexander verbindet technologische Exzellenz mit echtem Leadership und einer klaren Haltung zu Diversität, Inklusion und Menschlichkeit in der IT.

„Besser Träumen statt Wünschen. Besser Machen statt Jammern.“ – ein Satz, der hängen bleibt.

📌 Jetzt reinhören – und entdecken, wie Zukunft aktiv gestaltet wird.

Now online: State of Innovation podcast episode 20!

I’m joined by Product Manager Reinhold Lüppen to dive into a critical topic: Merging Multiple Product Portfolios – and How to Manage Your Stakeholders.

💼 What does it really take to merge two product portfolios successfully? This question is top of mind for many companies facing a merger. Reinhold and I explore the key steps to harnessing the strengths of both portfolios, from collaborating with stakeholders to navigating operational challenges.

Key Takeaways: 🔹 Start early but stay adaptable: Initiate the process early without making final portfolio decisions too soon.
🔹 Balance customer needs with internal goals: A successful portfolio combines the best of both worlds while simplifying the customer experience.
🔹 Engage stakeholders and align with leadership: Set clear objectives, present options, and foster a shared vision across all levels.
🔹 Prepare for compromises: Some features, products, or technologies may need to be phased out, but the added value of a unified portfolio should more than make up for this.

We share practical insights and real-world experiences on overcoming the challenges of portfolio consolidation and maximizing value - a must-listen for anyone navigating a merger or acquisition.

#PortfolioManagement #MergersAndAcquisitions #StateOfInnovationPodcast #CorporateStrategy

The latest episode #19 of The State of Innovation is now live! 

In this episode, I continue my deep dive with Lisa Kuttner, Head of Innovation Programs & Intrapreneurship at Raiffeisen Bank International AG, as we explore ‘Defining the Role of an Innovation Department – Part 2: From Objectives to Action.’ 

In this insightful follow-up, Lisa shares how organizations can transform innovation from theory into measurable, actionable outcomes. We discuss the importance of aligning innovation strategies with corporate objectives and avoiding the trap of following trends without purpose. 

Key takeaways from this episode: 

- The necessity of aligning innovation strategy with your broader organizational goals.

- Why it's essential to challenge traditional frameworks and customize approaches to fit your company's unique needs.

- How to make innovation actionable - moving from abstract ideas to tangible results that can be tracked and measured. 

Lisa also tackles a critical question: Should we copy what others are doing just because it’s popular, or should we focus on what works best for our specific goals?

Spoiler: It’s time to innovate on top of proven archetypes! 

This episode is a must-listen for any leader looking to drive innovation in their organization while staying aligned with their overall strategy.

#InnovationLeadership #Intrapreneurship #InnovationStrategy #TheStateOfInnovation 

In this episode, we explore "Off the Beaten Path: When Opportunities Challenge the Strategy." 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jan Tatousek, Senior Business Development Manager Integrated Photonics at TNO | PITC. Jan has extensive experience with Philips and is now deeply involved in the semiconductor and photonics industries. Together, we discuss how stepping off the beaten path can unlock new opportunities, even when they challenge your current strategy. 

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Key takeaways from this episode: 

- The importance of flexibility in innovation strategy when unexpected opportunities emerge. 

- Four types of opportunities you’ll encounter: 

- Validated Opportunity: Clear potential with proven success. 

- Disenchanted Opportunity: Previously promising but now losing traction. 

- Seamless Opportunity: High potential and alignment but requires resource allocation. 

- Off the Beaten Track: Strongly validated but doesn’t fit the current strategy, like new services for product-based companies. 

- How to identify which doors to open in your organization—and yes, even skipping an opportunity requires careful consideration! 

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to challenge the status quo and stay ahead in the innovation game. 

Now online: State-of-Innovation podcast #17 with Reinhard Birke from NTT DATA DACH, Expert in M&A on the topic:
"Surfing the next wave. How to prepare and how to find the right timing." Here’s why YOU should tune in:

- If you’re stuck treating optimization as a one-time fix instead of an ongoing, iterative process: We dive into how regular assessments and refinements can help you stay competitive in a fast-paced world.

- If timing is tripping you up in your innovation journey - whether to scale, pivot, or introduce new strategies: Learn how data-driven decision-making can help you determine the perfect moment to act.

- If you're curious about where innovation is heading next - from AI integration to staying agile in an evolving landscape: This episode is packed with insights on the trends shaping the future of innovation management.

#Innovation #Podcast #ProcessOptimization #TheStateOfInnovation #Optimization #Leadership #AI #InnovationManagement #ContinuousImprovement

Now online #16 of the State-of-Innovation podcast, featuring a compelling conversation with Lasse Boysen on "Balancing Contradictions – How Dialectical Thinking Can Transform Your Innovation Strategy."

How can a single approach reshape your innovation strategy? Lasse Boysen shares his expertise on dialectical thinking—a method that balances opposing forces to create synergy—and revealshow it's deeply rooted in Chinese business culture. We explore how this approach contrasts with Western perspectives, its applications in AI development, and real-world examples like agile project management.

Key Takeaways:

- Understand the power of dialectical thinking to resolve contradictions and drive innovation.

- Learn why a "win-win" mindset is crucial in cross-cultural business settings, especially between the EU and China.

- Discover actionable strategies for integrating diverse business approaches into your innovation strategy.

#StateOfInnovation #InnovationStrategy #CrossCulturalBusiness #DialecticalThinking #Leadership #AgileManagement

Now online: State-of-innovation podcast #15 with Lisa Kuttner 🎧

"Defining the role of an innovation department: Experiences, traps, and success factors."

What should an innovation department actually achieve? It’s a question many organizations grapple with, especially when the possibilities seem endless. 

In my conversation with Lisa Kuttner, we explore the crucial steps in defining an innovation department's objectives, from aligning with top management's vision to understanding the unique challenges within different types of organizations—whether traditional production companies or highly digitalized firms. 

Before diving into objectives, we need to establish clarity: what does “innovation” truly mean in your context? We often use the same terms, but they can mean vastly different things depending on the company’s structure and culture. 

Innovation isn’t one-size-fits-all. We discuss the importance of distinguishing between explorative innovation (finding new business models) and exploitative innovation (maximizing current resources). Involving people across the organization is key to understanding these dimensions and setting the right course. 

Takeaways from this episode:

• Establish a shared understanding of what "innovation" means within your organization. 

• Determine clear objectives for each dimension of innovation for your innovation department. 

• Present different strategic options to senior management and align with business units. 

• Define specific activities and use the very tools your department champions to achieve these goals. 

Pro tip: Don’t rush the process—take the time to define your role and innovate within your own department. 

#stateofinnovation #opportunitydiscovery #disruptiveinnovation #trendresearch #jobstobedone 

Now online: State-of-Innovation podcast #14 with Franz Kuehmayer, one of Europe's most influential thought leaders in the new world of work and a sought-after expert on the future of work and leadership, we create a new perspective on what innovation is. 🎧

"Disruption and Opportunities: How Innovation as a social process drives progress." 

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Innovation is NOT a new product.  

Innovation is NOT a new technology. 

Innovation is a new way of how people are achieving things. 

And achieving something completely new. 

When looking at innovation from the perspective of a sociologist, one discovers that the "value" of an innovation is determined by one KPI: Are people making use of it? 

If we create a deep understanding of what it is that people are trying to achieve, and what it is that people most probably will try to achieve in the future…we may build innovation activities around that.  

Spoiler: We will give a possible explanation for the reason why Japan claims to have won the "battle against the floppy disk" just in early 2024.  😉

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In this episode, we discussed:

- Innovation as a social process: It's not just about new products or technologies but about understanding and responding to what people are trying to achieve, both now and in the future.

- The importance of looking outward: Instead of focusing solely on developing and marketing new products, companies should consider societal changes and the evolving needs of customers to drive meaningful innovation.

- The broader impact of innovation: Successful innovation leads to new practices and ways of living, with a focus on change management and societal purpose rather than just selling products.​

#stateofinnovation #opportunitydiscovery #disruptiveinnovation #trendresearch #jobstobedone 

Now online: State-of-Innovation #13 with Sabrina Duda, Principal UX Researcher of Stepstone, author & speaker & mentor - 25 years of experience in UX - Accredited UX Professional - MSc Psychology: 

"The state of corporate innovation: How to discover opportunities and design solutions." 

🎧 Why You Should Listen:

User experience (UX) research can be broadly categorized into two primary fields: generative research and tactical research. Generative research is centred around the discovery of new opportunities that extend beyond current solutions. 

Here is why YOU should listen to that Episode: 

- Why you need to differentiate between the type of research you need depending on your innovation scope

- How you can organize generative research and tactical research in your organization 

- What will change – and what will probably stay the same in the age of genAI 😊

In this episode we discuss why generative research is crucial for discovering new opportunities and driving innovation, while UX research is vital for optimizing and refining existing solutions. By applying the appropriate type of research at the right stage of the innovation process, innovators can effectively address user needs, stay competitive, and achieve their strategic goals.  

By organizing both generative and UX research in a coordinated way, corporations can leverage the strengths of each type of research to drive both innovation and product optimization. A structured approach that includes clear objectives, dedicated teams, collaborative planning, and cross-functional integration will ensure that research efforts are synergistic and aligned with the corporation’s strategic goals. 

#stateofinnovation #opportunitydiscovery #corporateinnovation #designthinking #outcomedriveninnovation #jobstobedone