Steve Jobs: 10 innovation lessons

1-      Don’t worry about the cost

If there is anything that steve jobs proved over the years it’s that when it comes to innovation getting it right doesn’t come with a cost. Jobs invested millions of dollars in products with the eventual hope of seeing a return on that investment. And just about every time he did. We realize you may have trouble convincing your CFO that this is the right approach but remember that Apple was all the more successful because of it

2-      Give Customers what they don’t know they want

Steven Jobs believed that consumers didn’t know what they really needed. Instead it was his job he believed to show them what they needed. Try shaping your own IT innovation strategy with this philosophy. Sure user involment is important, but you may find that your users don’t know what they need until you put it under their noses. And then they won’t be able to live without it.

3-      Don’t be afraid to create new markets

Jobs understood when it was time to innovate in such a way that it created a new market. For example, with the ipod the transformed the music industry business model. Think about what “new markets” you can create by using technology within your enterprise

      4-      Design Matters Most

Jobs understood the importance of elegant industrial design and graphical user interfaces. Today’s technology user expects all interfaces to work like Apple’s. As you develop or procure devices and applications for your users remember to put design and user interface at the top of your priority list

      5-      It’s a Marathon not a sprint

Nowhere is this philosophy more evident than with the ongoing improvements to the Mac OS. Instead of accepting that windows would dominate indefinitely, Apple continued to innovate on software until Mac OS X became a viable Widows contender. Persistence is the lesson here- and faith in a good project worthy of your time and investment.

6-      Roll it out slowly

Jobs is a master of planned obsolescence ( one of the qualities tha drove most CIOs crazy). With each product iteration, Apple gives people enough to make them want to buy that product now, but not enough to make them not want to buy the next device. The lesson here is that it’s good business sense to give your users just enough to get them excited about new features each time you upgrade. Engaged users equal happy users.

7-      Strive to do more than seems possible

Jobs always wanted to deliver more tha what his customers thought was possible. And he was right almost every time. Learning to think in terms of limitless possibilities is the hallmark of a tue innovator in any industry.

8-      Every last detail counts

Jobs examined all the minute details of Apple’s products to ensure that they were on target. In the process, he delivered some of the most innovative ( and sough-after) products in the world. The lesson here is that minding the details is just as important as dreaming up the lofty ideas.

9-      The Value of surprise

Part of Jobs’ innovation strategy was to change the way in which people learn about products. At Apple, the longer it takes for details to emerge, the better. In an era in which the business side is demanading more and more transparency from IT this may be a challenge. But there’s value in holding back some elements of your projects that you know will delight ad engage your users.

10-   Think you’re better, prove you’re better

Some observers criticize the corporate culture at Apple, saying that jobs created an environment in which employees are encouraged to believe that they are better than average. But Jobs proved that a leader who can make employees believe they’re better than the rest is one who can drive true innovation.


http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/IT-Management/The-Legacy-of-Steve-Jobs-10-Innovation-Lessons-438632/