Welcome toSPIN Focused Innovation Workshop: Welcome to SPIN Focused Innovation Workshop Berge Boyadjian, M.S. SM Founder & Improvement Catalyst Knowledge Capture and Transfer Facilitated by


Expect Great Outcomes : Expect Great Outcomes Have fun Learn Six Thinking Hats Focused Innovation Workshop Apply Six Thinking Hats approach to improve the quality and productivity of your future meetings Focused Innovation Workshop to generate innovative improvement ideas for a specific software process in this workshop and other areas in the future After the workshop use the tools on your own successfully Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


Agenda : Agenda Organize into groups Introduce Six Thinking Hats Apply Six Thinking Hats Introduce Focused Innovation Workshop (FIW) Select an element of software process Apply FIW process Share and prioritize results


Workshop Rules Applied To Enable Free Flowing ofCreative Ideas: Workshop Rules Applied To Enable Free Flowing of Creative Ideas Have fun! - it decreases stress; improves creativity, cooperation, and communication All are strongly encouraged and are expected to participate to reap the benefits Stay focused - with the help of each of the participants, facilitator and “THE BALLS” No criticism or use of innovation “killer phrases” * during idea generation Build on each other’s ideas Wild ideas are encouraged * - Killer Phrases are attached for reference


Killer Phrases Are Not Used During Idea Generation*: Killer Phrases Are Not Used During Idea Generation* 1. "Yes, but. . . " 2. "We tried that before." 3. "That's irrelevant." 4. "We haven't got the manpower." 5. "Obviously, you misread my request." 6. "Don't rock the boat!" 7. "The boss (or competition) will eat you alive." 8. "Don't waste time thinking." 9. "Great idea, but not for us." 10. "It'll never fly." 11. "Don't be ridiculous." 12. "People don't want change." 13. "It's not in the budget." 14. "Put it in writing." 15. "It will be more trouble than it's worth." 16. "It isn't your responsibility." 17. "That's not in your job description." 18. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." 19. "Let's stick with what works."C 20. "We've done all right so far." 21. "The boss will never go for it." 22. "It's too far ahead of the times." 23. . . . laughter. . . 24. . . . suppressed laughter. . . 25. . . . condescending grin. . . 26. . . . dirty looks. . . 27. "Don't fight city hall!" 28. "I'm the one who gets paid to think." 29. "What will people say?" 30. "Get a committee to look into that." 31. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." 32. "You have got to be kidding." 33. "No!" 34. "We've always done it this way." 35. "It's all right in theory. . . but. . ." 36. "Be practical!" 37. "Do you realize the paperwork it will create?" 38. "Because I said so." 39. "I'll get back to you." 40. . . . silence. . . * Reference: “What A Great Idea” by Charles “Chick” Thompson, 1992, HarperCollins Publishers


Too many Hats*?: Too many Hats*? “Could you head up another committee, Bob …. Or do you feel that you’re wearing enough hats already?” * Ref. Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


Dr. Edward de Bono: Dr. Edward de Bono Leading international authority Conceptual thinking Thinking skills Has written 27 books My favorites Six Thinking Hats Lateral Thinking Application of these concepts were attributed to the success of 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles


Six Thinking Hats® by Dr. Edward de Bono: Six Thinking Hats® by Dr. Edward de Bono Effective use of the Six Thinking Hats® can: Improve meeting outcomes Focus thinking more clearly Lead to more creative thinking Improve decision making and communication


White Hat Thinking: White Hat Thinking Neutral and objective in presenting information - like a computer Two-tier system of information: checked and proven facts facts that are believed to be true Spectrum of likelihood ranging from: “always true” to “never true” Usable levels in between: “always” “sometimes” “occasionally”


Red Hat Thinking: Red Hat Thinking Legitimizes emotions and feelings as an important part of thinking Provides a convenient method for a thinker to switch in and out of the feeling mode Never attempt to justify feelings or provide a logical base for them Two broad types of feelings: Ordinary emotions, e.g., fear, dislike, suspicion Complex judgments, e.g., intuition, sense


Black Hat Thinking: Black Hat Thinking Negative assessment, i.e., points out: What is wrong, incorrect, or in error Something does not fit experience or expected knowledge Why something will not work, risks, dangers, faults Can ask negative questions Not argument; objective attempt to identify negative elements May judge an idea against the past to see how it fits what is known May project an idea into the future to see what may fail or go wrong Not to be used for negative feelings which should use Red Hat


Yellow Hat Thinking: Yellow Hat Thinking Positive assessment, constructive, optimistic Positive spectrum ranging from logical and practical to visions, dreams, and hopes Seeks to put forward soundly based optimism; probes and explores for value and benefit Effectiveness and making things happen, i.e., concrete proposals and suggestions Speculative and opportunity seeking


Green Hat Thinking: Green Hat Thinking Creative thinking; symbolizes fertility and growth Search for alternatives; to go beyond the known and obvious Movement replaces judgment, i.e., move forward from an idea in order to reach a new idea Provocation takes us out of usual patterns of thinking Generate new concepts and perceptions


Blue Hat Thinking: Blue Hat Thinking Control hat; organizes the thinking, calls the other hats like the “conductor of the orchestra” Sets the focus, defines the problems, shapes the questions, determines the thinking tasks Responsible for overviews, summaries, & conclusions Monitors thinking, stops argument, enforces discipline Ensures the “rules of the game” are observed


Six Thinking Hats® by Dr. Edward de Bono: Six Thinking Hats® by Dr. Edward de Bono White: INFORMATION: pure facts and figures Red: FEELINGS: emotions, hunches and intuition Black: CAUTION: negative judgment, devil’s advocate Yellow: BENEFITS: optimism, positive, opportunity Green: CREATIVITY: new and innovative ideas Blue: MANAGING: order, control, process, conclusion, orchestra conductor


Six Thinking Hats Application: Six Thinking Hats Application Minimum of six individuals in a group Recorder Spokesperson Six team members each choose a color hat Wear it any way you want Bandanna Hair ribbon Neck-tie Arm band Shawl Scarf


Six Thinking Hat Process Guidelines: Six Thinking Hat Process Guidelines Expect all to participate in all thinking hats The person wearing the hat is to make sure that all contribute to her/his thinking hat area discussion Spend 5 minutes on each thinking hat, starting with the Blue hat Discuss the specific given topic using the thinking hat Make sure that at least one crazy and unusual idea is discussed and recorded Use the form to document the results Spokesperson and recorder names Notes for each thinking hat and Conclusion Share the conclusion + the crazy idea


Six Thinking Hats Form: Six Thinking Hats Form


Why They’re Called Cursors!: Why They’re Called Cursors! * Ref. Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


Use the process to answer the question: : Use the process to answer the question: “What should anti-terrorism coalition do about anti-western teachings in some mosques and schools around the globe?”


Six Thinking Hats Sample Form: Six Thinking Hats Sample Form


Break: Break “Oh no ……… I must’ve brought in the bag of steer manure, and left the bag of coffee in the car” * Ref. Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


End of Break: End of Break “How to take a longer smoke break” * Ref. Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


Focused Innovation Workshop: Focused Innovation Workshop * Ref. Cartoon is from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999


Background: Background Studied creativity Concluded that all can be creative if they do what creative people do naturally Developed Creativity Workshop Introduce eight creativity tools Apply each to a class project All participants apply them to their chosen technical or non technical challenge Read about benefits of fun at work Combined fun with creativity tools to develop Focused Innovation Workshop


Creativity Rules of Thumb *: Creativity Rules of Thumb * 1. The best way to get great ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away. 2. Create ideas that are fifteen minutes ahead of their time. . .not light-years ahead. 3. Always look for a second right answer. 4. If at first you don't succeed . . . take a break! 5. Write down your ideas before you forget them! 6. If everyone says you're wrong, you're one step ahead. If everyone laughs at you, you're two steps ahead. 7. The answer to any problem "pre-exists." We need to ask the right question to reveal the answer. --Jonas Salk 8. When you ask a dumb question, you get a smart answer. -- Aristotle 9. Never solve a problem from its original perspective. 10. Visualize your problem as solved before solving it. 11. All behavior consists of opposites . . . Learn to see things backward, inside out, and upside down. --Lao-tzu, Tao-te Ching 12. Challenging an assumption can turn obstacles into opportunities. 13. If different shoes don't work, try looking at your problem from a helicopter . . . or a space ship. 14. Think like Nature. Ask "How would Nature solve this problem?" --Jonas Salk 15. Swipe from the best, then adapt. --Tom Peters 16. Make sure that the penalty for failure is not greater than the penalty for doing nothing. 17. Often it's the interesting part of an idea--not the positive or negative--that leads to innovation. 18. Writing down your ideas is like money in the bank. 19. Always start a sixty-minute meeting with a one-minute warm-up exercise. 20. Make friends with your shower. If inspired to sing, maybe the song has an idea in it for you. --Albert Einstein * Reference: “What A Great Idea” by Charles “Chick” Thompson, 1992, HarperCollins Publishers


Focused Innovation Workshop Description : Focused Innovation Workshop Description Focus on a specific topics such as ... Cost savings Process cycle time reductions Technical innovations or problem resolution Strategy development Creating more fun @ work Generate hundreds of unique ideas and innovations within 3 to 8 hours Acquire group buy-in of the selected solutions Generate new patents around patents that are about to expire Generate patents around your competition’s patent Establish a patent protection “umbrella”


Patent Umbrella Example: Patent Umbrella Example Before my workshop Boeing had only one patent on Propellant Densification As a direct result of my Focused Innovation Workshop on Propellant Densification, Boeing was awarded the following four new US patents: US06164078: 12/26/2000 - Cryogenic liquid heat exchanger system with fluid ejector US06151900: 11/28/2000 - Cryogenic densification through introduction of a second cryogenic fluid US06131397: 10/17/2000 - Slush producing process and device US06073450: 06/13/2000 - Combined diffuser and re-circulation manifold in a propellant tank


Focused Innovation Workshops Produce Outstanding Results: Focused Innovation Workshops Produce Outstanding Results Two day workshop on Propellant Densification Generated 12 innovation disclosures Four US patents were awarded in 2000 Four workshops produced 69 innovations in the areas of space vehicle structures, thermal protection, systems, and health management Two four-hour workshops on Wireless Micro-Instrumentation Generated 24 innovations Two four-hour sessions on Shuttle Configuration Verification Accounting System Produced 130 improvement ideas Implementation cost for the top 13 ideas is estimated to be about $750,000 Estimated cost savings of $4,000,000 per year for the next five years Six of these ideas are implemented already, actual savings of $414,000/year Within six hours 50 Space Shuttle Subsystem Managers agreed on their top five issues and the next five steps and accountabilities to implement the improvements


Typical Workshop Agenda: Typical Workshop Agenda Objectives Team members & roles Workshop rules/process Introduction of process or technology challenge Idea generation Prioritization Clarification of key innovations Selection of key innovations Next steps and commitments defined


Participant Selection and Adherence to Rules is Key To FIW Success : Participant Selection and Adherence to Rules is Key To FIW Success Typically there are 6-10 individuals in workshop: Content clients (1-2) Technology or process experts 1-2) “Wild Ducks” (2-4) [creative, “out of the box” thinkers] Facilitators (1-2) Workshop rules: Have fun, stay focused, no criticism allowed, build on each other’s ideas


Team Members & Their Roles Are …: Team Members & Their Roles Are … Content Clients - Technical lead and a “wild duck” Role: Define the problem, key questions, select resources and direct the sessions Experts - Technology, process, or subject area Role: Contribute ideas, suggestions, concerns and perspective “Wild Ducks” to promote lateral thinking, “Out of Box” thinking Role: Contribute ideas, suggestions, concerns and perspective Change champion(s) Role: One or two members who commit to follow through and facilitate documentation / application of the selected ideas Facilitators Role: Guide session in the direction set by the content clients and record generated ideas, strategies & recommendations


Idea Generation Process Is Simple But Very Effective: Idea Generation Process Is Simple But Very Effective Session one (springboard) Develop a list of open questions, comments, observations on the specific technology or process or challenge. (How to..., I wish..., If only we could …. , In what ways might we ..., Or specific questions, or suggestions) Key question: “What is impossible today that if it was possible, it would drastically change the way we do it?” Quietly, individually write down ideas/questions foils for five minutes Share an idea, document, share related ideas, build on previous ideas, repeat till all ideas are covered Multiple follow-on sessions (as directed by content clients) Focus subsequent iterations on items from springboard or other sessions Follow the rest of the process above, generate ideas, share, document, … . Concluding efforts Categorize, combine ideas Prioritize and select promising innovations Generate more ideas on the selected innovations (if time permits) Determine next few steps


SPIN FIW Application Process: SPIN FIW Application Process Select an element of software development process to generate improvement ideas on Collect all ideas Rate them: A: Vital, B: Important, C: Nice to have Prioritize the A’s to A1, A2... All teams share their selected A1 process Gather selections from all teams and select the process for all to focus on Conduct springboard session by gathering ideas on the question “In what ways might we decrease the process cycle time by at least 50%?” Take five minutes, quietly each write answers Share answers with your team Record answers Prioritize using the rating process above; rate each as A, B, or C, select A1-3 Select and share top three ideas Facilitate selection of the topic for the next session Conduct a second session Conduct a second session (if time permits)


FIW Form: FIW Form


After the Workshop ….: After the Workshop …. Document workshop summary and conclusions Place it on SPIN website within one week Expect all participants to apply both Six Thinking Hats Focused Innovation Workshop Feel free to contact me, Berge Boyadjian, at (562) 598-2972 bergevb@alumni.usc.edu http://home.earthlink.net?~bergevb


“I could get more work done around here, if the boss would just get off my back!*”: “I could get more work done around here, if the boss would just get off my back!*” * Ref. Cartoons are from the book “Create Fun @ Work” by Berge Boyadjian and Ron Paul, published by KCT, Long Beach, CA, 1999