Managing innovation - creating value from ideas

John Bessant

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Innovation doesn't just happen. It's not like the cartoons - a lightbulb flashes on above someone's head and that's it. No - it's a journey and we need to understand how best to prepare for that journey, whatever kind of value we are trying to create. This podcast is about some useful lessons we might take on board to help develop our capabilities.For more, see my website:https://johnbessant.org

7H AGO

Fighting a Different Kind of War: Inside the WFP Innovation Accelerator

In a world that has moved beyond "VUCA" (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) to become BANI—Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible—the old ways of tackling global crises are broken. While world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss traditional defence, a few blocks away, the World Food Programme (WFP) was hosting its annual Innovation Forum to tackle a different security threat: the silent conflict of global hunger. In this episode, we dive into how the WFP is moving beyond "big hearts and good intentions" to build a high-performance innovation engine. We explore how they use a systematic approach—mapped to the ISO 56002 international standard—to transform "glimmers of ideas" from internal and external entrepreneurs into life-saving reality. We take a closer look at: Innovation as a System: How the WFP Innovation Accelerator uses venture capital models, incubators, and boot camps to reach over 104 million people annually. High-Tech vs. Frugal Tech: From Building Blocks (a blockchain-based aid system saving millions in fees) to Clean Cooking (heat-retention bags that cut energy needs by 70%). The Scale Challenge: Why most "promising pilots" fail and how the WFP’s Scale Enablement Programme helps them grow. Based in Munich, the Accelerator has supported over 500 ventures across 90+ countries and was recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s "Most Innovative Companies". Amongst its success stories we look at: ShareTheMeal: The fundraising app that has shared over 220 million meals. H2Grow: Low-tech hydroponics allowing refugees to grow food in deserts using 90% less water. SMP PLUS: An AI tool that generates nutritious, cost-optimized school menus in minutes rather than weeks. SCOUT: A forecasting engine that has already saved $6 million in logistics costs.

24 min
JAN 21

The invisible man of innovation

Have you ever used a safety pin, a fountain pen, or a sewing machine? You might know the famous brands behind them, but you likely don’t know the man who actually invented them. Meet Walter Hunt, the "Yankee mechanical genius" who could solve almost any problem but struggled to profit from a single one. Perhaps the person who best deserves the title of 'the greatest inventor you've never heard of' In this episode, we dive into the incredible life of a man who changed the world with a piece of wire and a few hours of "hand-wringing". Learn about: The $15 Debt that Changed Everything: How the modern safety pin was invented in just three hours to pay back a draughtsman. The Sewing Machine Wars: Why Walter Hunt actually invented the lockstitch machine 12 years before Elias Howe—and why he refused to patent it until it was too late. A Legacy of Innovation: From the repeater rifle (the precursor to the Winchester) to disposable paper collars and even "antipodean apparatus" for walking on ceilings, Hunt’s imagination knew no bounds. Principles Over Profit: Why this "benevolent Quaker" often prioritized social concerns and the joy of problem-solving over building a Gilded Age fortune. Walter Hunt was a man who found joy in the quest rather than the goal. Join us as we uncover the story of the prolific inventor who holds hundreds of patents for items we still use today, yet remains a hidden figure in history.

21 min
JAN 4

A Winter's Tale

A seasonal story to inspire some New year's innovation (re) thinking... On a cold Christmas Eve, Jimmy Weston sits in a crowded wine bar with a crushing email in his pocket: his family business’s biggest customer has just walked away. Facing the "rocks" of potential bankruptcy and the weight of three generations of legacy, Jimmy is visited by three "ghosts" who offer more than just nostalgia—they provide a blueprint for radical reinvention. In this podcast, loosely based on Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' , we explore some of the challenges around innovation through a different lens. Whether you’re a business leader facing a "winter" of your own, an entrepreneur looking for a spark of New Year inspiration, or just looking for a good read this story is a reminder that the "pony" is always hidden in the pile—you just have to dig!

27 min
12/01/2025

Murder on the dance-floor - why your organization needs innovation routines

Why does innovation often feel like awkward "dad-dancing" at a party? Because repeating success requires more than just luck—it demands disciplined innovation routines. This podcast uses the metaphor of dance to explain how organizations create value from ideas through practiced, shared behavior patterns , from searching for opportunities to developing prototypes. But the "music"—the external market environment—is constantly changing. When new technology or new rules emerge, static routines will fail. That's why organizations need 'Dynamic capability'—the meta-skill to step back and deliberately review, refresh, or completely replace their existing routines. We look at companies like 3M and P&G, who have maintained success by constantly upgrading their deep-seated routines. P&G famously shifted its routines to source 50% of its innovation externally, adapting to a changing landscape. We also examine two humanitarian heroes: Field Ready, which augmented its high-tech 3D printing routine with local, low-tech skills for co-creation , and Translators without Borders (TWB), which switched from a manual, in-person model to a high-speed crowdsourcing platform. The lesson is universal: build strong routines, but build the dynamic capability to change them when the market demands a new move. Watch to learn how to choreograph your long-term success! (You can find a transcript here)

17 min
11/05/2025

Gadgets or global good - why we need hopeful innovation

We're in something of an 'invention crisis'. On one side, you have the latest futuristic gadgets—like a stringless AI guitar or a robot cat that cools your coffee. On the other, you have millions who still lack basic human needs like healthcare, clean water, and shelter. This podcast challenges the direction of modern ingenuity and showcases why hopeful innovation dedicated to social good matters most. It showcases powerful examples of necessity-driven solutions, including "frugal innovation" success stories, like the model that made cataract surgery affordable for all (Aravind) and the Mark 2 handpump that changed the game for clean water access (UNICEF). We explore systemic innovations like CMAM (using PlumpyNut) that fight acute malnutrition and the simple 'plant in a box' that decentralizes oxygen supply for pneumonia. And we look at how modern technology is applied for good—from Zipline delivery drones to Community Health Workers (CHWs) using mHealth platforms to close critical care gaps globally. Innovation is a precious resource. Watch/listen now to explore the difference between novelty and necessity, and be inspired by the people and organizations actively creating a better, more equitable world. You can find a transcript here

22 min
10/15/2025

Sewing up the competition: The larger-than-life story of Isaac Merritt Singer

(You can find a transcript here) Isaac Merritt Singer, the "father of the sewing machine" , was a larger-than-life character whose life was as dramatic as the stages he loved to tread. Born in 1811, Singer's early passion was acting, but he was also a shrewd entrepreneur and inventor. After running away to join an acting troupe at age twelve , he later used his machinist skills to invent a rock-drilling machine and then a wood-carving machine. His greatest success came in 1851 with his improved sewing machine. Despite early legal battles and the "Sewing Machine War" over patents , Singer became the world's largest manufacturer by 1860. He pioneered mass production, international manufacturing, and marketing techniques like instalment plans and attractive showrooms. This is the story of the entrepreneur, actor, and innovator who transformed a simple piece of equipment into a global industrial and social phenomenon

33 min
08/29/2025

Innovation on a plate

Ever wonder what happens when a devastating setback becomes the spark for a revolution? The remarkable story of Josiah Wedgwood is a masterclass in turning personal tragedy into world-changing innovation. This isn't just about pottery; it's about a man who, forced to reframe his entire world, ended up shaping an industry and a nation. This podcast tells his fascinating innovation storyBefore he became a household name, Wedgwood was an apprentice potter, a craft deeply rooted in his family for generations. But at the age of 11, a battle with smallpox left him with a permanently weakened leg, making the physical labour of the potter’s wheel impossible. A "happy accident," as he would later call it, pushed him away from the wheel and toward the laboratory. It was here, in a world of notebooks and experiments, that he began his journey to transform a "rude uncultivated craft" into an applied science.Wedgwood wasn't just a potter; he was a visionary. He saw the rise of the middle class and a vast new market for beautiful, functional tableware. Unlike his competitors who focused on costly porcelain, Wedgwood chose to innovate, dedicating his life to perfecting earthenware and stoneware. His obsession with experimentation led to groundbreaking creations like the iconic creamware, eventually earning him the royal seal of approval from Queen Charlotte herself. This was the birth of Queensware, a brand that would cement his legacy.But his genius extended far beyond the kiln. He was an early adopter of the factory system, meticulously dividing labor to boost productivity and quality. He wasn't just building a factory; he was creating a planned community for his workers at a site he named Etruria. He was a pioneer in logistics, lobbying for the construction of canals to speed up transportation. Most of all, he was a marketing maverick. From stamping his products to ensure authenticity to offering free delivery and using royal endorsements, Wedgwood invented many of the brand-building strategies we still see today.His crowning achievement was Jasperware, a new material inspired by ancient Roman artifacts. Through thousands of painstaking experiments, he perfected the distinctive matte finish and the famous "Wedgwood blue." The ultimate test came with a commission from Catherine the Great of Russia: a massive, 944-piece dinner service, each piece hand-painted with a unique British landscape. This "Frog Service" was a financial loss but a marketing triumph, proving that Wedgwood's ceramics could rival the finest porcelain in the world.From a disabled boy in a rural workshop to "Vase Maker General to the Universe," Josiah Wedgwood's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest leaps forward are born from the most unexpected setbacks. He took a business with minimal worth and turned it into one of England's most famous and enduring industrial concerns. His legacy is still with us today, a testament to the power of a scientific mind and an unyielding will to innovate. You can find a transcript hereCheck out the 'Managing innovation website' for more stories like these and other resources to help you explore the world of innovation.

29 min
08/18/2025

Sweeping the floor with innovation

The humble vacuum cleaner is a household hero, but its story is far from simple. It's a fascinating saga of grit, genius, and a little bit of luck. Most people have never heard of J. Murray Spangler, the asthmatic janitor who cobbled together the first electric suction sweeper from a broom, a pillowcase, and an old fan motor. His ingenious invention, born from a need to escape a dusty, backbreaking job, was a game-changer. Yet, he hardly sold any of his machines. This podcast reveals how his cousin's husband, a savvy leather goods maker named William Hoover, saw the potential and transformed a struggling invention into a global brand so iconic that its name became a verb. But the story doesn't start or end there. We'll travel back in time to the very beginnings of civilized life and the invention of the broom, tracing its evolution from a simple bundle of leaves to the meticulously engineered sorghum broom of the 18th century. From there, we’ll uncover the forgotten inventors who tried and failed to mechanize cleaning with bellows and hand cranks, paving the way for innovations like the Bissell carpet sweeper, born from a wife’s frustration with sawdust on the floor of her husband's pottery shop. This deep dive into the history of home cleaning isn't just about machines—it's about the people behind them. We'll explore the perseverance of inventors like James Dyson, who battled a skeptical industry for years to prove that a bagless vacuum cleaner using cyclone technology was a superior solution. His long and difficult journey from 5,127 prototypes to market domination serves as a powerful reminder that true innovation often requires unwavering belief. Join us to discover how frustration and a touch of genius led to one of the most significant and overlooked inventions of the modern home. You can find a transcript of the story here And check out my website for many other stories and other resources to help think about and manage innovation

22 min

Innovation doesn't just happen. It's not like the cartoons - a lightbulb flashes on above someone's head and that's it. No - it's a journey and we need to understand how best to prepare for that journey, whatever kind of value we are trying to create. This podcast is about some useful lessons we might take on board to help develop our capabilities.For more, see my website:https://johnbessant.org

Creator

John Bessant
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

140
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© John Bessant
Show Website

Managing innovation - creating value from ideas