Presentation

Overview Of Team Project:
Overview of Team 5 Workplace Innovation Project: Our purpose is, for each of us on the team to learn the “cycle of innovation.” This “cycle of innovation” consists of ideas such as; visualizing ideas, measuring gaps, strategizing, projectizing, and orchestrating. We are going to learn and experience this “cycle of innovation” through the process of creating a new and innovative product. Our team will then be responsible for a final presentation about our experiences in discovering a new product and our use of modern technology to make it happen.
In this project, we are going to use Andrew Papageorge 5 Phase Cycle of Innovation and Joel Barker’s Innovation at the Verge concept to create our new innovated product. To do this, we are going to use the 5 Phase Cycle of Innovation to dream up a list of different products and their different combinations. Then from this list, we will choose a product combination, as the basis for our new and innovative product. This is to be a new and innovated product, so it should not currently exist in any form, known on the face of the earth. Then we will “identify” and “measure” the gap between the products in our combination and the new and innovated product. From there, we will “strategize” on how we will close this gap and then “projectize” our work needed to close this gap. As we, as a team, move through the “cycle of innovation,” we will always be reflecting on how our team project activities are being preformed and look for necessary improvements.
Some of the following modern technologies have been, are, and might be, used in Team 5’s Workplace Innovation Project, for communication and collaboration, and they are but not limited to; this blog at http://workplaceinnovationteam5.blogspot.com, also each team member has created their own blog. Some members have created personal Wiki accounts at www.pbwiki that could be used on this project. The team started this project using a Blackboard discussion board at http://blackboard.nwtc.edu and e-mail, when other forms of contact would not perform. Nevertheless, as of this moment, unless things change, the main work, communications, collaboration, and final project will be done at this blog post; workplace Innovation Team 5

Disscussion on the challenges in creating a new innovative product:

We discovered the challenges that we, as a team, face in creating a new and innovative product can seem overwhelming . However, one big problem we had in creating a new product is, we can’t just take two random items in a room and try to put them together to come up with something creative. The creative juices just will not flow using this process. It seemed to us, most of our product ideas would come when we would try to think of something to no avail, and then forget about the project. Low and behold, minutes, hours, and even a day later, when our mind are occupied with something else, we get a product idea! This is fine and dandy, however, as we learned the hard way by getting too excited, it may be a great idea, but someone else thought of it first. This is where the research of the “maybe” new and innovated product idea comes in. Mainly, we would use different internet search engines, using different key words and different word combinations of our idea, to see if the product is out there in the world. It is hard to believe at first, but most of what we thought would be a new and innovated product idea, is already a product being sold in the world. The kicker to this is that we never heard of this product before, never seen it, never even saw an advertisement for it. So this brings us back to square-one, of finding a new and innovated product.

Overview: Project Technology; Learned, Use, & Challenges
This is an overview on what we as a team learned from working with various technologies, how we used it, and what our challenges were. To start with, myself and the other team members had some similar experiences in what we learned in using the technologies and the challenges we faced. Much of the web technologies were new to us.we hadn’t even looked at them before this project. Some of the other web technologies; I had looked at, but never had sat up my own account. Some of the challenges I faced was to set up an account of my own on some these web technologies. Not only that, I had to learn to setup my page on the account and from there with the team members, we had to figure out how to contact each other using a web technology that was new to most of us. We as a team also had to figure out (a challenge) which web technology would work the best for us to do this team project, with the time we have to do the project and our technical savvy taken into account. Almost all the web technologies we looked at, we learned, members working on a team project do not have to communicate in real time. One member could be awake at their computer at the office, writing information to the other members who are sleeping at home. When the sleeping members wake up and read the information, they can write back and the first member could be the one sleeping. A problem can arise though, with many of the web technologies, as we know, a person doesn’t have to be there in real time to receive information, it can sometimes take awhile before someone sends information back to you because they were busy with other things and didn’t get a chance to look at the message you sent. Some of the technologies try to help with this problem, by an option; people can have a message sent to their cell phone, telling them that a message has been received at their web account. Working in real time does have its advantages, such as Meebo or Instant Messaging; it is quicker and easier for people to play off of each other’s ideas to come up with better ideas. However, not everyone is on the same schedule and it is hard to find a time that everyone can agree to get together and talk. Some of the web technologies we looked at and played around with are; Blog (www.blogger.com), Wiki (www.pbwiki.com), Twitter (www.twitter.com), Blackboard (blackboard.nwtc.edu), Google docs (www.google.com), Meebo (meebo.com).
Discussion: Technology Use in the Workplace and Its Challenges
Just look at what’s out there today in workplace technology, computers and laptops with their desktop applications, wireless PDA’s, e-mail, voice mail, and don’t forget all the web applications, such as blogs, Wiki, and Google Doc’s, today’s companies have at their disposal
New technology has been rapidly increasing in use in today’s businesses. Most companies see the use of new technology as a way to increase profits, and to remain competitive in today’s global market place. Much of this new technology of the last few decades has been in the handling of information, known as information technology or IT, things such as e-mail and cell phones. However, in the last decade, many new and innovated technological web based applications came about, gained popularity, or both, such as Twitter, Facebook, and others.
Many businesses find that workers are no longer tied down to a desk in their offices. With much of the technology today, one could say, many workers can take their offices with them where ever they go. This portability has allowed many people the opportunity to work from home and still be in contact with the office. This new technology also offers the opportunities for a worker, to the people across the hall, to across the globe, to work together as a team for a common purpose; this is called a virtual team. Each individual on the virtual team can live and work anywhere in the world at any time, because communication between team members with the new technology, does not have to be in real-time, such as voice mail, e-mail or a blog. Nerveless, if team members across the globe wish to communicate in real time, there is such technology as teleconferencing, video conferencing and others.
A business using the new information technology for meetings and teams, across the building, state, or globe, can save the cost of travel and accommodations. Members don’t have to; many times, change their schedules, travel, or leave their office. However, the challenges with new technology can be many. Computers do not always work right, servers go down, routers go on the blink, the power goes out; push the wrong button, how do I get back where I was? Same goes for doing a project as a virtual team and using this new technology. Everyone one on a virtual team can be on a different schedule, the time to receive an answer to an e-mail or comment on a blog can take awhile; there is not an instant answer, compared to real-time, such as using a cell phone or instant messaging. This will cause a virtual team project to move slower many times, than a team that meets face-to-face. Another challenge is that much of the communication technology is done in written form, such as e-mail, IM’s, or a post on a blog. A person cannot read the other person’s body language using this technology, and this can lead to misunderstandings, of course using video conferencing can reduce this problem.
Of course, the big advantage of the new and innovated communication technology is the amount of time and costs it can save a company compared to face-to-face meetings. However, this technology is not without its problems. But when everything is taken into account, the cost savings compared to the challenges, this new technology is the way to go.

Verging two products into one:

During our creative thinking process, we came up with a number of good ideas for our project. We thought about making a magnetic workbench wall for holding tools, a caulk gun that was drill powered, and a paint brush that automatically dispensed paint through a tube system. Although most of the ideas were good ones, we found out many of these were already on the market.

Ben came up with an idea for hiking boots that have waterproof compartments in each heel to hold a small survival kit and other essential items. At first, this seemed like something for Maxwell Smart or Inspector Gadget, but after thinking about some of the challenges hikers can face, it started to sound more sensible. Hikers can get lost, separated from their group, or even lose their backpack/equipment in a freak accident, but they’ll always have their shoes.

By having a hollow heel that can hold small items like matches, a needle with some thread, fishing line and a few hooks, a small compass, and a mirror or whistle for signaling, the hiker can feel confident that they have a few essential items that may save their life.

The heel could be totally removable or have a compartment that merely opens from the side, but when attached or closed it would be sealed in order to make it waterproof. Having one in each boot would allow for more items like important medication, first aide items, etc.

Our team thinks this is a great idea and after researching the web for any and all items that related to hiking boots or shoes, and survival kits, we could not find anything similar on the market.

Summarized list of potential products:

gel insert for Bras: We thought combining Dr. Scholl's and Bras to make them more comfortable, but after research we found they exist.

Rubber Duckie and wash clothe: I came up with this one while babysitting my wife's nephew and we had to give him a bath. The product would allow to use the wash clothe while he can look at the rubber duckie.

Swiffer sweeper/ shoes: Shoes for kids to allow them to clean the floor with their shoes. After research we found them online.

Couch with storage containers: We thought this would be a good simple product, you could store movies or toys under he seats of your couch. After research we found it exists.

Magnetic notebooks: The cover of the notebook would be magnetic so or pen would stick to it and you wouldn't lose so many pens.

Picture frame/ TV tray: This idea we actually didn't find that it exists and thought is would be a fine product. For all those people who eat in front of the TV. After they are done they could take the tray hang it on the wall and it would also be a picture frame with a family photo.

magnetic Tool board: For all those people who have a messy work bench and cant seem to find all their tools. You could just put all you tools on the board and they would hang up so you can find them. After research we found that this exists.

Battery powered caulk gun: I use a caulk gun at work a lot and it can be hard on the hand to squeeze the trigger. So if it was battery power it takes the work out of it. They already make them and they are not that expensive.

Paint brush with hollow bristles to deliver paint: We thought if you could paint and never have to dip a paint brush in paint again. If you had hollow bristles that could deliver paint through the bristles instead of on the bristles. We decided to go with another product even though we didn't find this one in research.

Hiking Boots with airtight container in sole: This is the ideas we final went with. Imagine your hiking in the majestic northwoods of Wisconsin and you slip into a river and your phone had fallen out of your pocket. Once you get out of the water you don't know where you are, your cold, and you lost your phone so you can't call for help. But you still have your boots because they were tied to your feet. You remove the soles off you boots and reveal the airtight container that contains many essential tools like dry matches, flint, compass, needle/ thread, and medicine.

Research of information on product and potential market:

After Many failed ideas, we as a team decided to research our ideas of a hiking boot with a compartment in the sole to store useful material. Two of the most common alments to occur while in the wilderness are, being injured in some way or becoming lost. Both can be scary and life changing experiences, but no matter what the situation you always have your boots tied on your feet. We have searched the top boot companies in the world and found no evidence that this product currently exists. This companies include, Cabelas, Carolinas, Red Wing Shoes, and Timberland. As a team we feel this is a new and innovative product.
There are many different reasons people buy boots, hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, camping, and backpacking. According to a 2006 study by the national survey of fishing, hunting, and wildlife associated recreation, 1,394,000 residents and nonresidents fished in Wisconsin. This survey also found that the average expenditure for each fisherman was $1,180. This survey also found that 697,000 hunters registered spending and average of $1,868 per hunter and that 2,039,000 spent time wildlife watching spending an average of $357 per person. The 2006 survey found that Wisconsin residents and nonresidents accumulated 3.9 billion dollars in revenue and fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching recreation. There are 103 different state trails and hiking areas in Wisconsin totaling 2,865 miles, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource.

The market for recreation activity in the state of wisconsin is high. A lot of revenu is derived from hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation, causing us to belief in our product making a immediate impact and a high seller for outdoor enthusiets.

Conclusion:
We feel we have come up with a new and innovative product and feel we have learn how to use the 5 phase cycle of innovation and apply them in future products.

Show the product prototype: