Posts by Scott Bowden
Innovation in Myanmar
When one thinks of innovation in Southeast Asia, the images that typically come to mind are the gleaming skyscrapers of established major cities, such as the Singapore, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, or the new, rapidly-growing mega-cities of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) or Manila. However, for all the economic prowess of certain parts of Southeast Asia,…
Read MoreInnovation in the Era of COVID-19
Like the majority of the world’s population in April 2020, I find myself unable to implement my preferred method of innovation discovery. Shelter-in-place, social distancing, and international border closures make it difficult to conduct innovation workshops or experience other cultures around the world as a way of finding new insights into problem-solving. Although technology-enabled remote…
Read MoreInnovation with Marco Polo
I spent a great deal of time in 2018 traveling across the world in search of innovation insights. In countries ranging from Colombia to China to Azerbaijan to Bosnia-Hercegovina, I found examples of cases where modern and ancient civilizations applied creative thinking to solve problems. I presented these insights to the readers of Innovation Excellence…
Read MoreInnovation in the Caucasus – Part III – Azerbaijan
This is the third and final article in a three-part series that focuses on innovation in the three countries of the Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. This article begins with an examination of innovation in Azerbaijan and provides a conclusion to the series. Azerbaijan The name Azerbaijan means land of fire, derived from the…
Read MoreInnovation in the Caucasus – Part II – The Republic of Georgia
This is the second article in a three-part series that focuses on innovation in the three countries of the Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. This article provides an examination of innovation in the Republic of Georgia. The Republic of Georgia What it lacks in terms of the global diaspora of Armenia and the oil…
Read MoreInnovation in the Caucasus – Part I – Armenia
This is the first article in a three-part series that focuses on innovation in the three countries of the Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. This article presents an introduction to the region and then continues with an examination of innovation in Armenia. Although several geographic regions claim to be the “crossroads of civilization,†the…
Read MoreThe Headquarters Innovation Paradox
Innovators often face the challenge of determining the optimal location for their work efforts. For a large enterprise, the decision is often between a central location, such as a corporate headquarters, and a remote location, such as a manufacturing facility. At first glance, one might think that locating an innovation program at a headquarters location…
Read MoreInnovation in China – Part II – Shanghai, Tongli, and Beijing
This is the second article in a two-part series addressing innovation in China. The first part addressed the archaeological treasure trove of the city of Xi’an and its surroundings. This article focuses on the better-known cities of Shanghai – China’s financial capital – and Beijing – China’s political capital. While both cities contain a wealth…
Read MoreInnovation in China – Part I – Shaanxi Province and Xi’an
The topic of innovation in China is receiving a great deal of attention lately. As China’s economy continues to grow at a brisk rate and its GDP appears headed to surpass that of the United States, many observers are wondering whether China is poised to become the leading superpower of the 21st century. Statistically, China…
Read MoreInnovation in the Balkans – Part II – Dalmatia, Istria, and Bosnia-Hercegovina
This is the second article in a two-part series on innovation in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. My previous article focused on innovation in the northern part of the Balkans, including northern Croatia and Slovenia. This article directs its attention towards the south and west includes coastal Croatia (the regions of Istria and Dalmatia)…
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