Posts Tagged ‘Books’
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Overview of Review: Morgen Witzel of the London Financial Times read and reviewed the book “The Design of Business”. The original article was picked up by the LA Times and reprinted.
Thoughts on this Review: It seems a bit odd to review a book review, but it seemed important to offer an opinion in this case.. Overall, Witzel seems to give a pretty solid overview of the book. However, in what seems to be an attempt to belittle the Design Thinking process that the book outlines, Witzel says that this is a rehash of old concepts that date back to the 1800’s. I assume (maybe incorrectly) that Morgen Witzel has read the book that he references, but I do not agree with the comparison and conclusion. I have included a link to the book in the article below for those of you who have A LOT of time to read pages of very detailed manufacturing issues. The concept that Babbage introduced in that book was one of strict and detailed systematic analysis – not design as Martin makes the case for in his book. While Morgan Witzel is a very respected historian and business author, I think the “added” information in the review takes away from his credibility as a reviewer on this topic.
What makes innovation work isn’t really a mystery…
The idea that a systematic approach to design is key to success isn’t as novel as ‘The Design of Business’ may make it seem — the concept was introduced in the 1800s. Still, the book is worth a read.
 How McDonald’s Corp. got its start is discussed in “The Design of Business.” In the 1950s, the McDonald brothers figured out what American families wanted to eat when they went out for the evening: a simple, quick and tasty meal. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times / March 12, 2009) |
By Morgen Witzel November 9, 2009
What distinguishes truly innovative businesses?
Over the years, we have been told that innovative companies master the art of knowledge management; focus on their core competencies; get close to and listen to customers; have a long-term strategy for innovation and invest in the future; or are superior in identifying disruptive technologies.
Now, in “The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking Is the Next Competitive Advantage” comes a new idea, or what purports to be one. Roger L. Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, argues that the key to success is design, or what he calls “design thinking.”
This attempts to harness the creative talents within a business and give them a focus toward a goal. Traditionally, says Martin, businesses have relied on one of two models of creative thinking. (more…)
Tags: Books, Design of Business, Morgen Witzel, Roger Martin
Posted in Book Reviews | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Overview of Article: This is a summery/review of Tim Brown’s new book “Change By Design” from the NY Times.
Thoughts on this Article: This is a simple overview of the book, but doesn’t really capture the heart of the book. Tim Brown is arguably the most visible spokesperson on the topic, and often sets the tone for what will happen in that industry. The NY Times reporter presents Tim as a designer who now practices Design Thinking, when in reality – he is an industrial products person, who understood the importance of design in creating a marketable product. That is a significant difference.
Redefining a Profession
By ALICE RAWSTHORN
LONDON — The bet was for $50,000. It was offered by George Washington Hill, president of the American Tobacco Company, to the designer Raymond Loewy, in 1940. The challenge was to spruce up the packaging of Lucky Strike cigarettes. Loewy accepted the wager, and Hill asked when he expected to finish. “Oh, I don’t know,” drawled the designer. “Some nice spring morning I will feel like designing the Lucky package… I’ll call you then.”
Loewy won the bet, and claimed the credit for the subsequent increase in Lucky Strike’s sales. That was nearly 70 years ago, and design has changed dramatically since then, as the designer Tim Brown relates in his new book, “Change by Design.” “Few designers today would even touch this type of project,” he writes of Loewy’s assignment. “What excites the best (design) thinkers today is the challenge of applying their skills to problems that matter.”
He’s kind of right and kind of wrong. Much as I’d like to believe that designers are too altruistic to bother fiddling with the graphics on cigarette packets, many still do. But it is true that more and more designers are devoting their time to serious stuff, like repairing environmental damage or kindling economic recovery, and it is their work that concerns Mr. Brown. (more…)
Tags: Books, Ideo, NY TImes, Tim Brown
Posted in Brainstorming, Ideo | No Comments »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
Overview of Article: Matthew E. May (In Pursuit of Elegance) proposes his “must” reading list for those who are students and practitioners of Design Thinking.
Thoughts on this Article: Matthew is one of the important voices in the Design Thinking community. His views and recommendations are worth listening to.
Original Post HERE: From Open Forum/ Idea Hub
This is the year that Design Thinking tipped as a full-fledged management approach. The wave has been building for a few years and now seems to be cresting, as indicated by the spate of new books on the subject. Of the many books coming out, here’s my list of picks to round out your D-Think library. (While all are new this year, not all are out yet.) (more…)
Tags: Books, Matthew May, Open Forum
Posted in Articles | 1 Comment »
