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Beyond The Obvious by Phil McKinney- #Innovation #Book #Review: 5 Killer Questions-Your #Customer #Offerings

Is your company (regardless of size), eager to become more innovative?

If so, Phil McKinney, author of the new book, "Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation," leads the way.

McKinney is an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Hewlett Packard; and also leads innovation boot camps.

He admits that being innovative is hard work, but, to those committed to the process (and it is a process), success awaits them.

McKinney's groundwork towards becoming more innovative uses a three-step approach:

1. Identify your industry and company assumptions about what is true in today's business world.
2. Manage your industry and company jolts; that are inevitable.
3. Neutralize your company antibodies (naysayers).

Once done, adopt McKinney's FIRE method towards innovation, which stands for:

Focus, Ideation, Ranking and Execution.

Then, distribute company funds to develop ideas based on the Gated Funding model. Here, monies are given on an incremental basis depending on certain benchmarks accomplished toward a final product or process.

Use McKinney's Killer Questions to hone your innovation efforts. Those questions address:

• Getting to Know Your Who.
• What Is Your What?
• How It Gets Done.

Getting To Know Your Who addresses your:

• Current customers.
• Potential customers.
• Future customers.

What Is Your What defines your product, whether it be a physical, experiential, or service product. It also determines how you're going to keep developing and evolving it over the course of its lifetime.

To discover the first five of McKinney's 10 Killer Questions to help define what you're offering customers, you're welcome to read my book review published on ezinearticles.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks -Murder by SUV in Newark, New Jersey-Mystery Book Review

Brad Parks returns with his third mystery novel featuring amateur sleuth and newspaper reporter, Carter Ross.

Eagle-Examiner carrier, Nancy Marino is a victim of a hit-and-run while delivering the newspaper on an early Friday morning.

A witness identified a speeding SUV as the murder weapon.

Who'd have reason to kill Nancy Marino?

Enter Carter Ross and his inquisitive nature to investigate Marino's death.

Parks combines mystery and humor in his novels.

For more insight into The Girl Next Door, you're welcome to read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

Beyond The Obvious by Phil McKinney- Innovation Book Review: 3 Killer Questions Defining Your Future Customers

Is your company (regardless of size), eager to become more innovative?

If so, Phil McKinney, author of the new book, "Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation," leads the way.

McKinney is an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Hewlett Packard; and also leads innovation boot camps.

He admits that being innovative is hard work, but, to those committed to the process (and it is a process), success awaits them.

McKinney's groundwork towards becoming more innovative uses a three-step approach:

1. Identify your industry and company assumptions about what is true in today's business world.
2. Manage your industry and company jolts; that are inevitable.
3. Neutralize your company antibodies (naysayers).

Once done, adopt McKinney's FIRE method towards innovation, which stands for:

Focus, Ideation, Ranking and Execution.

Then, distribute company funds to develop ideas based on the Gated Funding model. Here, monies are given on an incremental basis depending on certain benchmarks accomplished toward a final product or process.

Use McKinney's Killer Questions to hone your innovation efforts. Those questions address:

• Getting to Know Your Who.
• What Is Your What?
• How It Gets Done.

Getting To Know Your Who addresses your:

• Current customers.
• Potential customers.
• Future customers.

To discover McKinney's 3 Killer Questions to help define your future customers, you're welcome to read my book review published on ezinearticles.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond The Obvious by Phil McKinney- Innovation Book Review: 5 Killer Questions Defining Your Potential Customers

Is your company (regardless of size), eager to become more innovative?

If so, Phil McKinney, author of the new book, "Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation," leads the way.

McKinney is an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major technology companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

He admits that being innovative is hard work, but, to those committed to the process (and it is a process), success awaits them.

McKinney's groundwork towards becoming more innovative uses a three-step approach:

1. Identify your industry and company assumptions about what is true in today's business world.
2. Manage your industry and company jolts; that are inevitable.
3. Neutralize your company antibodies (naysayers).

Once done, adopt McKinney's FIRE method towards innovation, which stands for:

Focus, Ideation, Ranking and Execution.

Then, distribute company funds to develop ideas based on the Gated Funding model. Here, monies are given on an incremental basis depending on certain benchmarks accomplished toward a final product or process.

Use McKinney's Killer Questions to hone your innovation efforts. Those questions address:

• Getting to Know Your Who.
• What Is Your What?
• How It Gets Done.

Getting To Know Your Who addresses your:

• Current customers.
• Potential customers.
• Future customers.

To discover McKinney's 5 Killer Questions to help define your potential customers, you're welcome to read my book review published on ezinearticles.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercyhurst University: Cleveland Alumni Reconnect, Reminisce, and Reinvent on April 12, 2012

Pictured: Mercyhurst University alumni at The Corner Alley.

The Mercyhurst University Alumni Relations team embarked on at 12-city tour to announce the exciting news of Mercyhurst University.

On April 12, 2012, alumni reconnected, reminisced, and welcomed reinvention in the prospective students present, along with their parents, at The Corner Alley, downtown. Attendees also received complimentary, commemorative "Mercyhurst University" t-shirts. 

Mercyhurst College, an institution that's been a part of Erie, Pennsylvania's livelihood since 1926, is now recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), as Mercyhurst University.

The new name more accurately reflects who the institution is, while preserving its heritage.

Mercyhurst University has grown from one campus, providing a handful of programs, into five campuses, collectively offering:

• 7 graduate programs.
• 52 undergraduate programs.
• 24 associate programs.
• 7 one-year certificates.
• Online and off-site classes.

The word "university" connotes a higher level of prestige than "college," which is especially true among the school's sizable international student population. 

Mercyhurst ranks as the 15th most internationally diverse university in the region.

In the majority of these students' countries, a "college" refers to a high school. "Mercyhurst University" will be able to attract a more qualified candidate pool, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Mercyhurst Unversity will preserve much of the institution's treasured heritage. That includes the opportunity to learn within a small campus setting, fostering a strong sense of belonging.

Merchurst is committed to its core values and defining characteristics, which include:

• Small class size, typically numbering 25 students or less.
• Classes taught by faculty who promote hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
• High level of personal attention, both inside and outside the classroom.
• Emphasis on Mercy values, on which it was founded.

Visit Mercyhurst University to learn more about this invigorating time at the institution; and live the school's motto of Carpe Diem (seize the day).

 

Beyond The Obvious by Phil McKinney- Innovation Book Review: 5 Killer Questions Defining Your Current Customers

Is your company (regardless of size), eager to become more innovative?

If so, Phil McKinney, author of the new book, "Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation," leads the way.

McKinney is an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major technology companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

He admits that being innovative is hard work, but, to those committed to the process (and it is a process), success awaits them.

McKinney's groundwork towards becoming more innovative uses a three-step approach:

1. Identify your industry and company assumptions about what is true in today's business world.
2. Manage your industry and company jolts; that are inevitable.
3. Neutralize your company antibodies (naysayers).

Once done, adopt McKinney's FIRE method towards innovation, which stands for:

Focus, Ideation, Ranking and Execution.

Then, distribute company funds to develop ideas based on the Gated Funding model. Here, monies are given on an incremental basis depending on certain benchmarks accomplished toward a final product or process.

Use McKinney's Killer Questions to hone your innovation efforts. Those questions address:

• Getting to Know Your Who.
• What Is Your What?
• How It Gets Done.

Getting To Know Your Who addresses your:

• Current customers.
• Potential customers.
• Future customers.

To discover McKinney's 5 Killer Questions to help define your current customers, you're welcome to read my book review published on ezinearticles.com. 

 

 

 

 

Northeast Ohio Writers Share Their Talents at the 21st Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference, March 31, 2012

Pictured: Deanna Adams, Tim Zaun and Claudia Taller

Saturday March 31, 2012 saw the 21st Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference convene at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio.

Accomplished writer and conference coordinator, Deanna Adams, lined up a half-day offering of area literary professionals, eager to share their talents.

Presenters included:

Gail Bellamy, an executive food editor at Penton Publishing. Bellamy's presentation, entitled, "Writing for Trade Specialties," provided the following tips:

• Use a specific vs. general approach when writing for trade magazines.
• Use your main job as an entry into writing for trades.
• If you're in Northeast Ohio, you have a better chance of being accepted to write for out-of-town trades looking to cover conferences, events, etc. happening here in town.

Julie Anne Lindsey, a Canton-based romance writer, taught "Get the Facts, Make a Plan, Get Published." Lindsey, a social media maven (with over 24,000 Twitter followers), gave great advice on reaching your writing goals. She reminded the audience "Never ever give up. This is your dream. No one else is going to chase it for you."

Claudia Taller, is a corporate columnist for Paralegal Today; and the author of Ohio's Lake Erie Wineries. Taller presented, "The Writing Life: Reading & Thinking Like a Writer." She also served on the Q & A Panel, answering questions about writing.

Save the Date: If you're a Northeast Ohio writer looking to improve your craft, plan to attend the all-day 29th Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference and Workshop, September 29, 2012 at Lakeland Community College.

 

 

Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation by Phil McKinney-Knowing Your Customers-Business Book Review

 

“Innovate” has become one of the most popular mantras in today’s hyper-competitive business world. True innovation requires hard work; and for those companies, regardless of size, dedicated to the process (and it is a process), a competitive advantage awaits them.

Phil McKinney is the author of the new book, Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation. He’s an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major technology companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

McKinney’s innovation paragon is based on laying the groundwork, which includes addressing your industry and company assumptions, managing the inevitable jolts, and neutralizing your corporate (or company) antibodies (naysayers). 

From there, he advocates using the FIRE (Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution) method to generate viable ideas, along with the gated funding model. 

Once done, you can concentrate on your current, potential and future customers. Here, the focus is McKinney’s beliefs about customers in general.

For additional insight regarding McKinney's take on knowing your customers, please read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation by Phil McKinney-Business Book Review-Gated Funding Model

 

 

Phil McKinney is the author of the new book, “Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation.” McKinney is an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

McKinney admits that true innovation is hard, but with a disciplined, strategic approach, any size company can become more innovative. He’s devised a set of Killer Questions to guide your innovation efforts.

But, he says, before you can become more innovative, you must first address your industry and company assumptions, manage the inevitable jolts and neutralize your corporate antibodies (naysayers). Then, incorporate his FIRE method (Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution) for developing ideas, while using his gated funding model for best results. 

To learn the details of McKinney's gated funding model, please read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

Trespasser by Paul Doiron-Crime Fiction Book Review: Asian Murder, ATV Adventure, and Amore

 

Twenty-five-year-old Mike Bowditch is a passionate Maine state game warden. It’s been seven months since the ordeal with his father, Jack Bowditch at Rum Pond (consider reading Doiron’s award-nominated debut novel, The Poacher’s Son as a preface to Trespasser).

Bowditch responds to a dispatcher’s call to investigate a deer/car collision on Parker Point Road. He arrives to find a damaged, red, rental sedan, and deer bloodstains in the middle of the road, but no driver, no deer. 

What happened to the driver and the deer? Who anonymously alerted the authorities from the pay phone at Smitty’s Garage two miles away about the accident?

For additional information about Trespasser, please read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation by Phil McKinney-Business Book Review-FIRE Method: Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution

 

Today’s hyper-competitive, global marketplace demands organizations continually play their A game; whether it concerns their customers, products and services or operations. New, viable ideas are key to reinvention and capturing your competitive advantage. Yet, generating ideas can seem like a chaotic process.

Phil McKinney is the author of the new book, Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation. He’s an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major technology companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

McKinney advocates using his Killer Questions and FIRE method (Focus, Ideation, Ranking, Execution) to produce strategic order to the innovation process.

To learn how you can capture your competitive advantage using McKinney's FIRE method for innovation, please reference my book review published on EzineArticles.com.