1. 3M Group Discussion Questions
Team Widget & Team Red Bull- Q1
Team J&J with Team Facebook-Q2
Team Dell & Team Nokia- Q3
Team Hybrid & Team Nobelbiocare-Q4
Team Apple & Team Ducati-Q5
20 Minutes

2. 3M Group Discussion Questions
Why has incrementalism worked so well for 3M? Why suddenly push people towards more radical innovations?
How does the Lead User research process differ from and complement other traditional market research methods?
Has the Medical-Surgical team applied the Lead User research process successfully? Why or Why not?
What should the Medical-Surgical Lead User team recommend to Dunlop: the three new product concepts or a new business strategy?
In recommending either the conservative or radical approach, what are the risks to the new Lead User process at 3M? What are the risks to the Medical-Surgical business unit?

3. 3M Group Discussion Questions
Why has incrementalism worked so well for 3M? Why suddenly push people towards more radical innovations?

4. Compare Processes Traditional 3M Development
Lead User research process
Developers lack direct contact w/customers
Developers not directly accountable for understanding customer needs
Marketing research outsourced to 3rd parties or “thrown over the wall”
Traditional methods are linear & tend to support primarily incremental innovation
Puts developers in direct contact w/users
Focus on a few individuals w/extremely rich need & solution specific information
Allows developers to learn from users outside traditional business focus
Pushes developers toward leading edge w/potentially radical new concepts
Can be complemented w/traditional market research techniques (during validation)

5. Lead User Research Process
Has the Medical-Surgical team applied the Lead User research process successfully? Why or Why not?

6. Team Recommendation
New unit strategy

7. Team Recommendation Conservative Approach: Three product Concepts
Radical Approach: New Business Strategy
Mandate from mgt.
Should not risk new process; Dunlop may use" revolution” against new method
Need to validate method at least once before basing major strategic decisions on it
Not enough data yet to make such drastic recommendation
Three concepts appear very promising & are enough of a “success” already
Team was charged w/finding breakthroughs; Medical-Surgical business needs growth
Team is empowered & should report all relevant information
Fits the defiant 3M culture
Fits 3M’s new strategic mission even though Dunlop does not buy into it

8. 3M Group Discussion Questions
As Chuck Harstadt, the VP for Corporate Marketing, how would you successfully rollout the new Lead User research process?
Stakeholders Incentives/Motives Methods
Senior Mgt
Middle Mgt
Scientists & Eng

9. 3M’s Rollout Process Stakeholder Senior Mgt Middle Mgt Scientists/Eng
Methods
Incentives
Financial Results
EE productivity
Motivation
Project performance
Ease of work
Empowerment
Flexibility-Interesting work
Demonstrate how Breakthrough products affect bottom line
Evidence from other firms
Allow Sr Mgt to take credit
Seminars pilot studies
Sr. Mgt. Involvement
Regular updates
Interaction w/previous users
Share excitement/praise
efforts-Trust them

10. Six Sigma & Innovation
Is Six Sigma detrimental to innovation?