Newcastle app developer hedgehog lab is to host an event for decision makers, aimed at showing how new technologies and non-traditional ways of working can help businesses thrive in an increasingly complex world.
The digital consultancy has undertaken a string of innovation projects with national and international brands, seeing firsthand how small investments in exploring new ideas can lead to numerous benefits.
Yet many businesses – particularly SMEs – are understandably hesitant when it comes to the unfamiliar.
Through Innovate Now: Exploiting Opportunities, the company is therefore hoping to demystify the process, providing real world illustrations of innovation in action.
The free event, which takes place at its Newcastle headquarters on August 17, will be the first of a series on the subject, and will focus on topics such as:
- Innovation frameworks and processes
- Developing innovative cultures
- Design thinking and agile design
- Identifying areas for improvement
- Implementing positive change
Among the speakers will be Paul Sutherland, a Senior Partner at +ADD Strategy, who has more than 20 years’ experience in design thinking and technology commercialisation.
He said: “It is impractical to sustain and manage businesses in a traditional and systemic way. It is vital to recognise that the world around us is moving too quickly and is simply too complex for individuals, teams and organisations to know everything and make decisions with absolute knowledge and certainty.
“New mindsets are required to enable organisational vision. We need to provide frameworks for flexible and responsive – even experimental – change, to move quickly and try new approaches and methods.”
He added that +ADD strategy focussed on integrating enterprise, agile and design-led thinking to create commercially sensible methods to “de-risk innovation, change and better support transformation.”
“Our talk will explore how organisations can become more effective at agile and design-led innovation, and the impact this has, through reviewing case studies with various large corporates,” he said.
Also on the bill will be Kimberley Abbott, Engineering Innovation Lead at Thales Group, who will present a case study of hedgehog lab’s recent work with the multinational.
Based on an innovation sprint, this centred on a project in the UAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System) industry, and generated not just immediate solutions but long-term proposals.
Ms Abbott, a popular public speaker, has years of experience in innovation, her past achievements including helping create the world’s most advanced artificial heart and working as a civil advisor on the Australian government’s delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
In 2013, she was named by the Financial Review as one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence.
Ms Abbott said: “I think the case for innovation is clear to most businesses and leaders, but the reality is that ‘doing innovation’ is about combining the innovative processes, mechanisms and targets with the right culture, mindset and support.
“Only then can you create visionary, energetic change agents who want to, and are empowered to, make a difference to the business.”
She added that new approaches were needed to tackle the “non-traditional” problems businesses now face.
“By sharing the mindsets, processes and tools that work, we can enable people to solve some of the greatest challenges society faces and have a positive impact on people, societies and the world,” she said.
Established in 2010 as a post-PC technology consultancy, hedgehog lab builds apps for mobile, tablets and similar devices.
Through its Immersive Technologies division, it also offers high-end Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality services.
CEO Sart Pediredla said: “We understand innovation can be a daunting prospect for businesses that have maybe not explored the likes of new technology before.
“However, when done properly, the approach pays dividends, so we hope to inspire business leaders to implement positive change.
“And, of course, should attendees need further support following the event, we’re there to help.”
Innovate Now, which will include refreshments and networking opportunities, is an invite-only event.
To apply for an invite, visit: http://innovatenow.tech/
