New Tab. Top 100 Global Innovators. New Tab. Historical Timeline. Resources What was born as a small-scale mining venture in 1902 has grown into a global powerhouse whose products improve the daily lives of people around the world.
When the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. —as the company that would grow into 3M was known at the time—began more than a century ago, the five founders had a simple goal: to harvest a mineral known as corundum from a mine called Crystal Bay. Ultimately, the mine didn’t produce much corundum, but something more important was born that year: the spirit of innovation and collaboration that forms the foundation of today’s 3M. The fledgling company turned to other materials and other products, building up sales little by little. Today, one third of 3M’s sales come from products that were invented within the past five years. A Rich History of Ideas William L. How Reframing A Problem Unlocks Innovation. Editors’ note: The following is an adapted excerpt of InGenius (Harper One) by Tina Seelig.
What is the sum of 5 plus 5? " "What two numbers add up to 10? " The first question has only one right answer, and the second question has an infinite number of solutions, including negative numbers and fractions. These two problems, which rely on simple addition, differ only in the way they are framed. In fact, all questions are the frame into which the answers fall. Mastering the ability to reframe problems is an important tool for increasing your imagination because it unlocks a vast array of solutions. A classic example of this type of reframing comes from the stunning 1968 documentary film Powers of Ten, written and directed by Ray and Charles Eames.
Starting at a picnic by the lakeside in Chicago, this famous film transports us to the outer edges of the universe. Another valuable way to open the frame when you are solving a problem is to ask questions that start with "why. " Why the 'most innovative companies' aren't. By Jeff DeGraff (TheMIX) -- Pull out the list of the "most innovative companies" from your favorite business magazine.
With the exception of their brand recognition, which is the entry fee for these beauty pageants, they have few innovation practices in common that would distinguish them from the rest of the rabble, whether it's unique strategies, unusual financing, or novel ways of hiring and staffing. The fact is that one size never fits all. What makes innovation companies unique is, well, unique.
They are highly adapted for their specific situation. Corporations spend billions of dollars on innovation training every year. While important, the problem is that these subjects don't get at the real issue that stops companies from innovating. Unlike most other forms of value, innovation doesn't belong to any one department, discipline, or region.
Consider the 2010 BusinessWeek innovation survey of thousands of senior leaders in dozens of countries. So, what do you do with this? Designers: Learn To Code! Here's How To Start. A friend, formerly a competitive fighter, once asked me: "Have you ever been punched in the face?
" He and I were about to get in a bar fight. He needed to know if I could handle myself: Apparently, the fear of getting punched in the face holds you back from being effective in a fight. But once you’ve been punched in the face, you realize it’s not so bad—it’s easy to fling yourself into a fight without hesitating. Similarly, learning how to code can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before.
But whatever you don’t know is bound to hold you back from learning. The first punch I want you to download Processing. If you want to just download the code, it’s here. Once you get it typed out, hit the play button and see what cool stuff you just made with the code. Playing around is fun, but how does this all relate back to your work? When you start playing with these tools and you understand how they work, you’ll start adding these things into what I call your "mental toolbox. " Designers: Learn To Code! Here's How To Start.
History - 3M US Company Information: McKnight Principles. Resources William L.
McKnight, who served as 3M chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966, encouraged 3M management to "delegate responsibility and encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. " His management theories are the guiding principles for 3M. Our heritage dates back more than 100 years, and McKnight's principles continue to accompany us in the 21st century. William L. William L. Many believe McKnight's greatest contribution was as a business philosopher, since he created a corporate culture that encourages employee initiative and innovation.
His basic rule of management was laid out in 1948: "As our business grows, it becomes increasingly necessary to delegate responsibility and to encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. "Mistakes will be made. "Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made kills initiative. Back to History.