Art of Innovation 6. Prototyping is the Shorthand of Innovation

Chapter Takeaway: Prototype early and often.

The Water's Rising
Prototyping may have to be done fast and in less than ideal conditions.

Kid Stuff
Be playful and be iterative.

Build to Learn
Build only the parts that you need, don't worry about the entire thing.

How Amazon Did It
"Quick prototyping is about acting before you've got the answers."
"Think about tackling the problem when you don't have the answers. Once you get in gear, you'll be surprised at how easily some of the solutions appear.

Make Your Luck
"Sketch ideas and make things, and you're likely to encourage accidental discoveries."

Prototypes Beat Pictures
They are wonderfully tangible, they keep things moving.
Living, moving prototypes can help shape your ideas.

Bit by Bit
Check in early and often.

Shoot the Bad Ideas First
Faster to shoot down a bad prototype then a bad concept. *don't think i quite agree with this one*

Art of Innovation 5. A Cool Company Needs Hot Groups

Chapter Takeaways:

• A hot team is not an accident.
• A passionate team is made from passionate individuals.
• Balance of challenge and time pressure is key to innovation.
• Fun + shared goals + trust = good ideas.
  

Great innovation happens from teams, not from lone geniuses. To make such a hot group, consider:

1. Shared goals and dedication.
2. Aggressive deadlines. (*right amount of challenge is key to success*)
   
3. Non-Hierarchical structure.
4. Respect through diversity of skills and backgrounds.
5. Open, eclectic space.
6. Empowered to go and get whatever they needed.

Hot studios...

• ... are small and self-chosen.
• ... are full of passion.
• ... go for crazy deadlines and seemingly unreachable goals (*again, i think balance is key!*)
• ... find opportunities in obstacles.
• ... thrive in close quarters.
• ... allow for teams to co-locate as needed.
• ... have no "they".
• ... cultivate trust.
• ... give unique gifts to reinforce team spirit.
• ... share ideas and accomplishments regularly.
• ... boost morale through celebration and field trips.
• ... meet and eat.
• ... look through the part through custom kit.
• ... need characters...

8 Crazy Characters for Hot Groups

• Visionary
• Troubleshooter: doesn't suffer fools gladly and cuts to the chase.
• Iconoclast
• Pulse Taker: unlocking the insights of exceptional and ordinary people
  
• Craftsmen
• Technologist
• Entrepreneur
• Cross-Dresser: formally educated in 1 area, working in another
  

"end one project by beginning another. That way, when you do take a break, you already have an opening, a beginning to from, rather than starting from scratch".

Art of Innovation 4. The Perfect Brainstorm

Chapter Takeaways:

• Brainstorm through fun thinking & doing.
  
• A facilitator should prepare for the session, including the space, the problem statement, and the know-how to lead productivity.
• Brainstorming should be practiced.
• Sixty minutes is optimum.
• This is a chance for individuals to shine.
  

"The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas." - Linus Pauling

"Brainstorming can be a skill, an art, more like playing the piano than trying your shoes... exercise your brainstorming muscle"

Seven Secrets For Better Brainstorming

1. Sharpen the Focus. Start with a well-honed problem statement, with no particular solution implication.
2. Playful Rules.
3. Number Your Ideas. This can be motivational. Allow jumping around w/ out loosing track of where you are.
4. Build & Jump. Important to keep energy going.
5. The Space Remembers. Cover every wall with paper prior to session.
6. Stretch Your Mental Muscles. Esp when group has not worked together, most of the group does not brainstorm often, or when group is distracted. This can be prior to session or at the beginning.
7. Get Physical. Bring things. Build things. Act things out.

6 Ways to Kill a Brainstorm

1. The boss gets to speak first: send him out of the office.
2. Everybody gets a turn: this is not about going around in a circle.
3. Experts only please: not about degrees, it's about insight.
4. Do it off-site: creativity should buzz through the office.
5. No silly stuff.
6. Write down everything: writing detracts from contributing.