All posts tagged: design thinking

Climate Change As A Business Opportunity

Published by Gert Christen

The most enormous business opportunity since the invention of the PC! In the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change, a new frontier of business opportunities emerges, where sustainability and profitability intertwine to shape a better future for our planet and economy. Computers were the source of the 20th century’s wave of growth and prosperity. Climate change is the equivalent opportunity for the 21st century. Innovation and entrepreneurship are the keys to unlocking it. Tackling issues as significant as climate change can seem daunting. Still, our most fantastic opportunity lies in leveraging the knowledge and tools we already use every day, tools that are in our pockets right now! In our connected world – which we have spoken about extensively in past Digigram newsletters – our always-on lifestyles can and should intersect with sustainability in big and small ways. Climate change is not about lamenting and tree-hugging. It is about creating innovations and taking them to market thru entrepreneurship. Using today’s tools, we can effectively address climate change challenges. In November 2021, President …

Design Thinking your way into new markets – Introducing The USA Launching Pad:

Published by Gert Christen

Ever since I returned to California 5 ½ years ago, companies from abroad have been contacting me for help with the U.S. market. A very flattering and humbling experience – that so many entrepreneurs remember me when seeking help to start their businesses in the States. To my surprise, the inquiries didn’t stop even during COVID, which motivated me to think about how modern methods could improve the chances of success of new market entries. If product-market fit has been found in one market, how might the fit with a new market be tested as quickly as possible? How to find out what works and what needs to change—fast? If we had a systematic method to test before the rollout, we could eliminate costly trial-and-error, lower the risk, eliminate basic mistakes, create the best bang for the buck, recruit the best people for the plan, and more. The result is the “Launching Pad” methodology. It’s a systematic way to test and iterate to find the fit in a new market in five strategic areas: strategy, …

“Cracking the Code of Public Sector Innovation” included in Yea(h)rbook

Published by Gert Christen

The Institute of Digital Business at HWZ University in Zurich, Switzerland, included my article about how to create a method to innovate in the public sector in their yearbook 2018. Very happy and proud to make a contribution and to see my learnings being shared and used! The full article can be read here. The yearbook can be ordered here. My thanks to the team who worked with me on this project at City Innovate Foundation, namely Garrett Brinker, Katy Podbielski, Luke Kim, and Carlos Cruz-Casas of Miami-Dade County as well as all the experts, researchers, writers, advisors and supporters. It was a pleasure and together we created something unique!  

Cracking the Code of Public Sector Innovation

Published by Gert Christen

What I learned from developing an innovation method for the public sector: Design thinking and user-centered approaches can innovate for public organizations, if … The focus on users, not technologies. Design thinking is used to create a 360° view of the problem. Industry is involved to map out solutions to use cases and for personas. However, adoption by residents is the ultimate objective and measure of success. The first playbook by City Innovate Foundation was announced last week. It documents how Miami-Dade County’s public transit systems can interface with private transportation services such as Lyft ride-hailing or Zipcar car sharing. Not only is it the first of its kind playbook but it was also created thru a new approach to public sector innovation. The process leading to the playbook was the “Collider Methodology”, which I developed for City Innovate over the last 15 months. It was truly an experience of- “Cracking the code of public sector innovation” The starting point was the idea to map out solutions by “colliding city officials, industry representatives and independent experts on one urban problem”. And the objective was to create …