The slide is from Dr Geoffrey Nicholson, the inventor of 3M post-it notes. On 20th March, he did the presentation in Nhouse NUS. It is important to sustain innovation in an organization, and here goes the slides.

1. The Keys to Innovation
National University of Singapore
20th March 2013
Dr. Geoff Nicholson
Visiting Professor NUS
VP 3M International Technical Operations (retired)
Board Director Cima NanoTech

2. EMBRACING INNOVATION…
 How do you define innovation?
 Is it part of your business plan?
 Is it the responsibility of all disciplines in your organization?
 Do you provide the resources to do it?
 Do you measure it?
 Are long term research groups in touch with the customer?
 What volunteer employee activities foster innovation?
 How do you encourage volunteers?
 Does your organization have a history of stories to help
employees learn about innovation?
 Does the organization recognize innovative achievements?

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR INNOVATION
 Commitment
 Courage
 Confidence

4. Innovation is our
biggest
competitive
advantage &
the heart of
3M...
Inge Thulin, 2012
3M President, CEO &
Chairman of the Board

8. 640K ought to be enough for anybody.
Bill Gates, 1981

11. 3M is a Global Company
Norway Poland Switzerland
Canada   Hungary
United  
States Czech East Austria  Romania
 Republic Sweden   
Puerto Rico   Finland Ukraine
 Germany   Russia
Dominican  
Republic
 Denmark

Jamaica Korea
Netherlands
 

Belgium
 Japan
Mexico 
United
 Kingdom
 China
Guatemala 
 Portugal
El Salvador  Hong Kong
 Costa Rica 
Spain Taiwan
  
Panama Vietnam
 France Pakistan
Colombia   
 Morocco UAE Philippines
Venezuela   Indonesia 
  Thailand
Israel 
Ecuador 
 Italy Malaysia
 Singapore
Egypt  
Trinidad 
& Tobago Greece Sri New Zealand
Peru Australia
  Lanka 
 Kenya 
India 
Brazil Chile Turkey 
  
Uruguay  Zimbabwe
 South Africa 
Argentina 
 Key
 Sales & Marketing
11  Manufacturing/Converting
 Technical Capabilities

12. 3M Innovation Resources
 Over 74,000 employees  > 9,500 technical employees
 Companies in more than 60 countries  73 labs worldwide
 Sales in nearly 200 countries  30 CTC’s
 55,000+ products  45 established technology platforms
 160+ factories  > 2,000 patents issued in 2009
 $1.3B R&D Investment (>5% to sales)  40,000 issued & pending patents
Global Businesses
Fiber Optic Solutions
12
November 19, 2009© 3M 2007. All Rights
Reserved.

13. The MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES ANNUAL SURVEY-2010

14. How do you define Innovation?
How do you measure Innovation?
How do you SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE Innovation?

15. Research is the transformation of money
into knowledge.
CUSTOMER
Innovation is the transformation of
knowledge into money.
Geoff Nicholson

16. INNOVATION is the practical
application and use of creativity
Creativity is THINKING UP new
things.
Innovation is DOING new things.
Geoff Nicholson

17. 3 INNOVATION RESOURCES
 Over 74,000 employees  > 9,500 technical employees
 Companies in more than 60  73 labs worldwide
countries  30 CTC’s
 Sales in nearly 200 countries  45 established technology platforms
 55,000+ products  > 2,000 patents issued in 2009
 160+ factories  40,000 issued & pending patents
 $1.3B R&D Investment (>5% to
sales)
Global Businesses
Fiber Optic Solutions

18. 3 CORE STRENGTH: CONNECTING
TECHNOLOGY to CUSTOMERS
A B P S
b i m m
A C E N P S
c e m t o u
A D F M N P T
d d c i w p t
A D F F I M M O P V
m i e s s e o p r p
A D F I L M M P R W
n o i m m f r d p e
A E F I M P S W
s c l n d e e o
3M Technology Capability
NPI
Technology-enabled
solutions
Voice of The Market

19. IMPACT of a FEW 3M TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Films
Sales: $13 Billion Sales: $5 Billion
Leveraged by 24 3M Divisions Leveraged by 12 3M Divisions
Nonwovens
Filtration
Sales: $3 Billion Sales: $2 Billion
Microreplication
Leveraged by 21 3M Divisions Leveraged by 9 3M Divisions
Sales: $2 Billion
Leveraged by 16 3M Divisions

20. Conventional Coated Abrasive P400

21. Trizact Finesse-it 466LA A5

22. 3M Health Care Business Group
Drug Delivery Systems
Metered-Dose Valves and Components Transdermal Patches
Inhalers “Microneedles”
Large market: 300 million Inhalers: 3M is a leader Pioneering microneedle
cases of Asthma and Chronic in metered-dose inhalers technology for large molecules
Obstructive Pulmonary and components, as well as Less Pain
Disease (COPD is among replacement propellants
the top 5 causes of death for CFCs, which are being Future: Flu Vaccine Patch
worldwide), increasing at phased out due to Montreal
7% per year Protocol mandate
Solutions for Chronic Respiratory Disease, Hormone Delivery, Biopharmaceuticals
22
© 2013 3M. All Rights Reserved.

23. The Technical Plan follows the Business Plan.
Is Innovation part of your Business Plan?

24. To ACTIVATE INNOVATION YOU NEED to …
 know where you want to go – VISION
 know where rest of the world is going – FORESIGHT
 have ambition – STRETCH GOALS
 have freedom to achieve your goals – EMPOWERMENT
 draw from and work with others –
COMMUNICATION, NETWORKING
 be rewarded for your efforts – there is nothing more
rewarding than RECOGNITION from your peers

25. The 15% RULE
the Fuzzy
Front End
 Encouraged to Explore!
 Encouraged to Network and Collaborate!
 Encouraged to Experiment!

26. CUSTOMER INSPIRED INNOVATION
Market, Industry SATISFY the
Foresight Customer
Articulated
Needs
Creative
Customer Foresight
Insight Opportunity
Development
Unarticulated
Needs
Unique Core DELIGHT the
Capabilities Customer

27. Large Group
Low Risk
Small Group Low Failure
Medium Risk
Individual
High Risk
High
High Failure Management
No Management Involvement Involvement
Initial Application Modification of Product to
of Technology Technology
the Customer
No Schedule
Accurate
No Discipline Schedule
Chaos
High
Discipline
Order

28. KEYS to NEW PRODUCTS
 Culture
 New Product Expectation
 Permissive Attitude of Management
 Needs/Technology Driven
 Product Champions
 Multi-Technology
 Technical Assessment
 Bootleg Slack/Boundary Crossing
 Recognition/Rewards

29. What is Tech Forum?
The 3M Tech Forum is a principal organization for productive technical
interaction at the interpersonal "grass roots" level.
Through networking & communication, TF fosters an environment of
creativity and cooperation that leads to innovation and growth.
4900 members in St. Paul 9200 members Globally
Founded in 1951
Membership Eligibility
Membership in the 3M Tech Forum will be limited to regular full-time
and part-time 3M employees who are engaged in technical work and
who have signed a 3M employee agreement.

30. 3M Innovation Story
The Annual Event
 Largest event; Everyone participates
 “Internal 3M Trade Show”
 Latest & greatest 3M technologies
 Opportunities to help solve problems
 Delivered electronically to Worldwide Labs
1951
30 © 3M 2013. All Rights Reserved.

31. RULES to AVOID INNOVATION
 Ask for a 5 year business plan
 Be suspicious of every idea that originated below you
 Insist that people go through all levels with a new idea
 Express criticism and withhold praise
 Make a decision to reorganize in secret and maximize
surprise
 Be control conscious
 Never forget that people at the top know everything

32. WRONG MANAGEMENT SIGNALS
 It will never work
 We explored that thoroughly 10 years ago
 OK, if we can get somebody else to pay for it
 We’re too shorthanded to work on blue sky ideas
 It’s not in the business plan
 It’s not your job to talk to customers

33. 3 LABORATORIES
Locate the laboratories close to each other
 Facilitates technology sharing
 Employee transfers
 Stimulates innovation
 Provides customer exposure to breadth of 3M
technology
 Customer Innovation Center

40. The ordinary manager has a craving for order.
The leader understands that innovation is
almost always an untidy process.
The ordinary manager wants proof for an idea before
taking action.
The leader understands the value and
power of faith.
L. W. Lehr, former 3M CEO - 1980

46. CHARACTERISTICS
OF INNOVATORS
3 Innovators…
…are Curious and Creative
…have Broad Interests
…are Problem Solvers
…are Self-Motivated, Energized
…have a Strong Work Ethic
…are Resourceful

47. 3 Innovators are Creative
 Inquisitive, Ask Questions
 Explorative
 Look for Solutions
 Insightful, Intuitive Thinkers
 Ideas Flow Easily
 Visionary

48. 3 INNOVATORS are PROBLEM SOLVERS
 Experimental style - Do it first, explain it later!
 Tinker with things (hands on)
 Not afraid to make mistakes
 Willing to do the unobvious
 Practical
 Take multiple approaches to a problem
 Technically competent - as defined by hiring manager

49. 3 INNOVATORS are SELF-MOTIVATED, ENERGIZED
 Self-starters, driven
 Results-oriented - Doers
 Passionate about what they do
 Accomplishment - urge to succeed
 Emotional, enthusiastic
 Sense of humor
 Sense of social responsibility
 Sense of contribution, value and purpose
 Courage, self-confidence
 Take initiative

50. 3 INNOVATORS have STRONG WORK ETHIC
 Committed
 Hard working
 Work in cycles
 Flexible work habits, not structured
 Drive toward work completion
 Pursuit and dedication to results
 Tenacious

51. 3 INNOVATORS are RESOURCEFUL
NETWORK
Get things
done through
others