The traditional role of product designers

The traditional role of product designers and developers is undergoing a profound transformation in the wake of generative AI’s surge. As we delve into 2023, professionals worldwide are wrestling with how to leverage new toolchains to enhance their value proposition. McKinsey wrote an article in 2020 about ‘how generative design could reshape the future of product development’, indicating more than anything else that most consultants were underestimating the potential of this new technology.

At the core of product design lies the principle of human-centered design, a cornerstone of the design thinking methodology. It’s about getting into the users’ shoes and seeing the world from their perspective. Yet, reaching and understanding certain customers can prove challenging. For some in the B2B ecosystem, the challenge is even bigger.

Another major archetypical blueprint in the design process is the double diamond (Discover – Define – Develop – Deliver), mostly in combination with portfolio management and stage-gated governance. Leading companies have been optimizing their development processes to implement agile PM principles to increase speed to insight and speed to market.

With the surge of generative AI, the window of competitive advantage is rapidly narrowing. It’s time for product developers and innovators to seize the opportunity and embrace this transformative technology. By harnessing the power of generative AI, professionals can streamline their processes, accelerate innovation, and gain a decisive edge in the marketplace.

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Charles H. Green’s Trust Equation, denoted as (C + R + I )/ E, offers a powerful framework for understanding and building trust within an organization. Let’s delve into this formula:

C – Credibility
Credibility involves aligning words and actions. It’s the trustworthiness that comes from keeping promises and delivering on commitments. In the context of innovation, it means that when an organization says it will support and nurture innovative ideas, it does exactly that.

R – Reliability
Reliability focuses on the consistency and dependability of an organization, ensuring that when a course of action is committed to, it will be followed through consistently. For innovation culture to thrive, reliability assures employees that their ideas will be given fair consideration and support.

I – Intimacy
Intimacy creates a safe space where individuals can share ideas without fear of embarrassment or ridicule. It fosters open and honest communication, encouraging employees to freely express their thoughts and creativity in the context of innovation.

E – Ego
Ego reflects the organization’s focus. Is it primarily self-centered, obsessed with its own success, or does it genuinely prioritize the well-being and growth of its employees and customers? In an innovative culture, the organization’s ego should revolve around fostering an environment where contributors thrive.

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How can you empower your employees’ ideation and validation process with generative AI? Which product and project management tools help you streamline your innovation engine? This track provides an exclusive glimpse of the most popular courses of Verhaert Innovation Academy! Check out the presentations from the Innovation Day of 2023 on:

• Harnessing the power of generative AI in innovation
• The right toolset, skillset and mindset for innovation excellence
  By Jasper van Sas, Manager Innovation Acceleration, and Stijn Smet, Managing Director at Verhaert Innovation Academy

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The learner engagement equation is a powerful framework that encourages learners to absorb new skills and knowledge and retain them for the long term. Let’s dive into each component of the equation and see how it can improve the way we deliver training:

I – Me, the self
This represents the individual learner receiving the training. What’s in it for them? When learners understand the personal or organizational value of the training, they become more motivated and engaged

F – First impression
Just as first impressions are crucial in personal interactions, they matter in training too. A positive initial experience sets the tone for the entire training program. If learners perceive the training as relevant and beneficial from the start, they’re more likely to stay engaged.

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During this session, Johanna will share insights on initiating culture-building programs from the top. She currently oversees hiring and resourcing at Friesland Campina Professional and previously held the same position at Danone. She’s also deeply committed to fostering people and engagement, as well as shaping culture and organization.

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Want to learn more on our innovation programs and courses? Check out our website!

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Effective strategies for managing different learning styles and maturities, and leveraging the support of a collaborative team to drive meaningful change is what Elke will discuss. She’ll also offer some practical tips for implementing and sustaining organizational change through effective communication and engagement. Elke is a corporate rebel, Academic Change Agent and Managing Director of Dinobusters.

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Want to learn more on our innovation programs and courses? Check out our website!

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At ZEISS Ventures, Nathalie coordinates innovation programs. She’ll dive into the integration of education aspects in innovation programs, with a particular focus on project delivery. She’ll also share:

• • insights on the strategies
  • best practices that can be employed to ensure that education elements are seamlessly integrated into innovation initiatives
  • how they can support the delivery of successful projects.

Whether you’re an innovation manager, project lead, or team member, this session will provide valuable insights that can help you and your team succeed in today’s dynamic business environment.

Watch the recording

Want to learn more on our innovation programs and courses? Check out our website!

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Stijn offers insights into various learning formats that are suitable for different occasions and learner profiles. Drawing on his experience in supporting innovation (learning) programs, he shares best practices to help you design effective learning programs that drive innovation and enhance organizational capabilities.

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View the presentation

Want to learn more on our innovation programs and courses? Check out our website!

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Mindset, skillset and toolset for innovators

First of all, let’s investigate when peak performance happens when you execute work. You work in a certain way because:

• You WANT to work like this. You believe it is meaningful, consistent, transparent or whatever your set of values holds
• You are ABLE to work like this. You know how to do it in an efficient and effective manner
• You are EQUIPPED to work this. You have the tools and means to do it in a proper way

This mix is typically being referred to as the 3 pillars of successful task execution. To make it more practical for an innovation setting, let’s deconstruct each of them.

Mindset

A set of beliefs, a way of thinking, how you perceive things. Your mental attitude determines your behavior and outlook and how you will interpret and respond to situations.

• Be curious; listen and try to understand (rather than checking out). Be empathic with problem owners without pitching your solution. Dig deeper to understand behavior and hidden needs
• Be adaptive to context and continually change to meet the challenges of complex conditions. Question yourself and validate your assumptions often. Change your mind based on new insights
• Think of growth in possibilities, synergetic partnerships, product roadmaps. Be ambitious

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Building maturity is the same as building an ambidextrous organization that is successful in the long term, and allows you to explore new ideas. What are the most common challenges when it comes to concept valorization? How much of the success of an innovation is contributable to the leading intrapreneur? Frank will explain when and how to involve operational management when it comes to re-integrating the innovation back into the core business. Frank is the author of Lean Scale-up and Scaling-up Corporate Start-ups, among others. During his session, he’ll discuss how you can keep the end in mind and why you should consider how to monetize and scale your ideas and bring them back into your business.

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