Entrepreneurship: The Fundamentals (and Fun) of Idea Generation

From Anita Borg Institute Wiki

Entrepreneurship: The Fundamentals of Idea Generation

Presenter: Denise Brosseau, President and Co-Founder, Invent Your Future

To teach fundamentals of idea generation, Denise designed two parts idea generation games.

Goal of the session: Learn how you generate ideas?

Participants were divided into three groups. Each group had 15 participants. Groups were given two exercises.

Exercise 1: Improve existing product.
Exercise 2: Think about new product and build new product.

Exercise 1:

Think broadly about entrepreneurship. There are many ways of creating businesses. It does not have to be a brand new idea but can be add on to the existing product or teaching someone how to improve products and consult.

o Think of primary product and how that product can be changed or improved.
o What add-ons would make the product most useful
o Who needs valuable information about the product and how would you go about sharing that information and broadening the span.
o Think from service perspective and think about who needs help with the product & how would you provide it?
o What experience could be created around the product?

Products Given – Computer, Internet, Chair, Shoes, Salad Dressing

Product: Computer

Improve: Reduces eye strain, Faster, Smaller, Cheaper, Outdoor use
Add on: Glasses on screen, computer attached to comfy chair
Information: Communicate benefits vs cons

Product: Chair

Improve: Self adjustable chair, Portable,
Add on: Computer attached to a chair, Massager, Music, Wheels, Slip covers, Lifters
Information: Interior designers, Chair installers/assemblers, Ergo experts Services: Designers

Product: Internet

Improve: Accessibility, Speed, WiFi
Add on: Integrators, Cameras
Information: Press

Challenges:

o Time constraint and pressure is a roadblock to creative idea generation
o Idea generation in big groups is not very efficient
o Not everyone got chance to be heard

Group 2 split themselves in smaller groups and achieved results faster.

Exercise 2:

o Enlighten: How can the product be used for a worthy cause?
o Trend: How can you ride an existing trend to sell more of this product?
o Futurize: How will this product look 100 years from now?
o Expertise: How would the world’s leading scientists and experts improve this?
o Childize: How would a five year old child improve this?
o Globalize: Where in the world could we take this product where it could have the biggest impact? What in the world could we bring here from somewhere else to improve this product?
o Brand extensions: Your company makes computers. What other revenue streams can you add to your bottom line?
o Billionize: How would someone with unlimited resources redesign this product?

Group brainstormed ideas using above guidelines.

Ideas generated:

Solar power based computers
Robotic computers that can help achieve work/life balance e.g. can help with cooking, cleaning etc
Network becomes computer, do not need any additional inputs
Bouncing computer
Rugged hardware which can be easily used by the child.

Summary:

Everyone has inner entrepreneur and innovator.
Give your self permission to innovate, learn new things
Put yourself with others who can encourage you, inspire you and help you.
You do not need degree, billion dollars to change the world.