S O F T W A R E D E V E L O P M E N T

S M A L L T A L K C O D E

H O W T O I N N O V A T E Y O U R W A Y T O

S O L U T I O N S I N T H E W O R K P L A C E

S P E A K E R :   L Y D I A B E N H A M , C E O

I N N O V A T I O N

C r e a t i v i t y i s t h e n a t u r e o f c r e a t i n g s o m e t h i n g n e w ,

e i t h e r a n e w i d e a , c o n c e p t , o r m e t h o d . I n n o v a t i o n i s

u s i n g c r e a t i v i t y t o e n h a n c e p e r f o r m a n c e o f a p r o c e s s ,

p e r s o n , t e a m , o r o r g a n i z a t i o n . B u s i n e s s e s ,

f o r - p r o f i t a n d n o n p r o f i t , a r e f a c i n g c h a n g e l i k e n e v e r

b e f o r e .

W H Y I N N O V A T E ?-Increasing competition

-Increasing globalization

-Increasing consumer expectation

-Advanced technology

-Changing workforce demographics

-Changing how we work

B L A C K S W A N T H E O R Y

R a n d o m a n d u n p r e d i c t a b l e e v e n t s t h a t c a n n o t   b e a n t i c i p a t e d

I n n o v a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t t o o r g a n i z a t i o n s b e c a u s e i t

f o s t e r s n e w i d e a s f o r p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s , g i v e s s t a f f m e m b e r s a s e n s e o f j o b

s a t i s f a c t i o n , e n c o u r a g e s t e a m w o r k , a n d a l l o w s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o f i n d

c o m p e t i t i v e a d v a n t a g e s i n t h e m a r k e t p l a c e .

W O R K P L A C E D I L E M M A S

-Employee conflict

-Not being noticed by a superior/boss

-Co-workers taking credit for your work

B U Y A F E A T U R E

I N N O V A T I O N G A M E

B U Y A F E A T U R E I N A C T I O N

-Deciding which fires to put out first

-Planning strategic goals (x will bring in x amount of extra revenue but will cost x to get started - is it worth it?)

-Planning family vacation

S T E P S

S T E P 1 :

S T E P 2 :

S T E P 3 :

Hunting and gathering - find who needs to participate & gather their suggested input regarding the issue/problem. Sometimes your options might be predetermined.

Assign a value to each feature.

Set up play. Make sure all participants have access to features before start of game. Assign each player a hand of $$. 

S T E P S

S T E P 4 :

S T E P 5 :

S T E P 6 :

Select a neutral monitor that is experienced with the game and the rules. 

Begin play.

Once everyone has run out of money, log winners to begin implementing ASAP. Retain losers for future.

B U Y A F E A T U R E P R O T I P S

-Suggest smaller groups

-No more than 8 or it gets unruly

-Diverse group

-Clearly define Features before play

-No more than 1/2-1/3 of total cost should be handed out

-Can be played digitally from a spreadsheet as well

T H E I S S U E S

-Last minute speaker cancellation

-Conference budget decreased by 15%

-Retaining guest attention

O U T C O M E S

-Inclusivity

-Decision making empowerment

-Buy-in

- Collaboration

T h e c i t y o f S a n J o s e f a c e d a s e r i o u s b u d g e t s h o r t f a l l a n d u s e d B u y a F e a t u r e t a c t i c s t o a s k c i t i z e n s w h i c h p r o g r a m s

t h e y w o u l d f u n d o r c u t .  

B o n u s f e a t u r e : C u t t i n g p r o g r a m s t o r e t u r n m o n e y t o p l a y e r s t o i n v e s t i n

m o r e d e s i r a b l e p r o g r a m s

L o o k i n g f o r s o m e o n e t o p r o c t o r i n n o v a t i o n g a m e s i n

y o u r w o r k p l a c e ?  

b i t . l y / i n n o v a t i o n g m

C o n t a c t u s t o l e a r n m o r e !

I N N O V A T I O N G A M E S

Pruning the Product Tree

Product Box

20/20 Vision

Remember the Future

Show and Tell The Apprentice

Me and My Shadow

Speed Boat

C O N T A C T U S405 340 0208

lydia@smalltalkcode.com 501 N Broadway Ave

Edmond, Oklahoma 73034

medium.com/smalltalkcode Twitter: @smalltalkcode