What Gore, IDEO, Frogdesign, and Google have in common
Almost nothing frustrates me more than narrow minds, empty terminology, and the general inflexibility of systems and tools. I’m writing this in the TGV train somewhere in France in the area of Dijon – traveling makes me reflect on things very much. This post is about where I think real corporate innovation originates, which also tends to be the only cure for my frustration.
I’ve shortlisted four highly innovative brands of which I think do not only set an example by raising the bar far above the corporate norm in terms of thinking (and acting!) outside the box, but each of them also contributes to improve how business is being executed in general. Feel free to share other brands you have in mind at the end of this post.
Here we go:
Gore
Yes, these are the guys that make the waterproof jackets made from breathing fabric. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. is a privately-held company headquartered in Newark, Delaware, USA. They caught both my interest and respect when someone sent me this article – it’s an interview with their CEO Terri Kelly. In a nutshell, since their start in 1958 their progressive management model – based on innovation and putting trust in its own employees - has never made a loss! Besides the fact that Gore has a CEO it has a furthermore totally flat management structure, meaning that there’s no hierarchy. I enjoy reading about them and how they keep on winning prizes and recognition around their business model. They already were ahead of the game 50 years ago.
IDEO
Since I wrote my post about Innovation in Switzerland, people keep on referring me to this company. Honestly, until recently I had never really immersed myself in what IDEO does – I just knew about their Swiss opponent Brainstore. IDEO seems to know what it’s doing in terms of business development and how to evolve in terms of working habits & ethics internally, which unfortunately can not be said about Brainstore. IDEO seems to have it all; the entire company is based on innovation through listening and collaboration in the widest sense possible. It facilitates the opposite corporate culture of the existing “this is how we’ve been doing things around here” mentality. To me, working in such environment would make every day an exciting one (remembering my words “excitement is the more practical term for happiness” well). This interview with IDEO CEO David Kelley convinced me that this company would be an awesome place to work if you live and breathe innovation and you are a realist day-dreamer.
Much has been said and written about working at Google. I’ve visited their Headquarters in Zurich several times (visual impressions here) and I also occasionally have Google executives speaking at SOMESSO events. One of them, Wesley Chan – investment partner at Google and one of the first 100 guys to be hired at the company – mentioned in an opening slot that he will stop doing what he does if he doesn’t almost get fired for his actions. In this short interview after his talk he even mentions that Google fails all the time. How’s that for a no-bullsh*t approach? This rocks! Back to the topic of “the office”; what you feel when you’re walking through their premises is that you want to participate in whatever they are doing. This is definitely something every company should want to achieve. Strangely, most firms still do not seem to incorporate “a creative habitat” into their GTD lists for achieving more out of their employees. I admire Google for not only the way how they engage their employees in everything, but especially for their sustainable “market-leader position system” they have built for themselves. My interpretation of their formula:
Hire only the best –> ask employees continuously how to improve things –> do not listen, benchmark, or “best practice” with competition –> gain + keep market-leader position –> employee engagement (employees live the brand and will defend it with their lives. Do your employees also voluntarily wear “my firm is cool” t-shirts to the office?!) –> less employee turn-over –> happier employees –> more revenue & competitive edge. The old saying stands: your people are your most valuable asset, but there’s a big difference in saying it and living it. Awesome!
Frogdesign
Frogdesign is, like IDEO, a leading American design firm that bases its activities around collaboration and innovation. They have American roots, but luckily also have offices in Europe; in Amsterdam, Milan, and Munich. I’ve been following them for a while and out of natural curiosity I just want to know more and more about their activities. Their mission literally states that they are fanatical about improving the world, and that they strive to change minds, touch hearts, and move markets. These are strong promises that they dare to put on their website! Just check out their about page and read these strong one-liners of what they’re about. I feel that they don’t actually describe their corporate culture; they are describing their employees’ understanding of the world. I’d love to help these guys set up shop in Zurich – there’s a sea of opportunities and work to be done here!
What do these brands have in common?
a) They continuously change their own behaviours and leadership models to revisit norms and values to a continuously changing economy
b) They LISTEN to their own employees & surroundings and act accordingly
Gore, IDEO, Frogdesign, and Google all in their own way contribute to the continuous reinforcement of the corporate standard of how business is conducted. Continuous adjustment is necessary to be able to lead in a continuously changing economy, in which delivery on large scale is reducing and becoming less popular. Over time and due to the rise of the Internet we continuously need new structures for the ways we organise ourselves and do business. Gore, IDEO, Frogdesign, and Google have all made a strong start into a new era and I just can’t wait to see what firms will join or even surpass them.
Firms like these will keep on challenging the status quo of the majority of companies in our developed world economy, as they are the ones on the edge of business and art, making new rules (and breaking existing ones), and are pulling in creativity and innovation into the corporate environment. To me, such progressive firms that listen to their internal and external surroundings are the true innovators and it is with them where true corporate innovation originates.
