Here's how you can maintain a creative mindset as a Product R&D professional.
In the fast-paced world of Product Research and Development (R&D), maintaining a creative mindset is not just beneficial, it's essential. Creativity is the lifeblood that fuels innovation, allowing you to design products that resonate with users and stand out in the market. As a Product R&D professional, you're tasked with the challenging job of constantly generating new ideas and solutions. This can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can keep your creative juices flowing and stay ahead of the curve.
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Venkat Subra Mani JanardhananTechnology Product Management
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Jayaraman (Raghu) RaghuramanVision: To help the less fortunate people in this world | Digital Mentor and Advisor
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Somjit AmritStriving to be a humanist-technologist, with "Technology in Harmony with Human Needs” being the core of what I strive…1 Reply
To stay creatively agile in Product R&D, you must embrace curiosity as a daily practice. Curiosity drives you to ask questions, seek new knowledge, and explore unfamiliar territories. By fostering an inquisitive mindset, you can uncover unique insights that contribute to innovative product development. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day, whether it's related to emerging technologies, user behavior, or even a hobby. This broadens your perspective and sparks ideas that can translate into groundbreaking products.
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Venkat Subra Mani Janardhanan
Technology Product Management
1. Combination of both depth(specialized knowledge in one or two areas) and breadth(a strong diverse background in fundamentals of Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Materials etc.): Breadth helps to derive solutions to a specific problem from patterns observed elsewhere. 2. Inclined to experimentation: While testing abrasive samples at a body shop, Richard Drew, a 3M lab assistant, noted that painters were having trouble masking car parts. He got an idea that led to the invention of masking tape. The Scotch® brand tape product line was born, as was 3M's growing emphasis on product diversity 3. Continuous learning and Collaboration with team members, whose skills complement one's own. 4. The reverse engineering skill gained from experience.
Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources is crucial for sustaining creativity in Product R&D. Look beyond your industry for ideas that can be adapted and applied to your work. Art, nature, architecture, and even different cultures can provide fresh perspectives that lead to inventive product features or designs. Engage with diverse groups of people, attend interdisciplinary events, and read widely to expose yourself to different ways of thinking. This cross-pollination of ideas can be the catalyst for the next big breakthrough in your field.
Collaboration is a powerful tool for maintaining a creative mindset. Working with others can help you see problems from different angles and discover solutions you might not have considered on your own. Seek opportunities to brainstorm with colleagues, cross-functional teams, or even customers. The synergy created by combining diverse skills and experiences can lead to more creative and effective products. Remember, the best ideas often come from the intersection of different minds.
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Dr. Neelima Deuskar
Indeed collaboration with others at your company helps a lot to give a new direction to product development. Discussion on queries in your mind helps to find different solutions at various stages of product development.
Regular reflection is a key habit for any Product R&D professional aiming to stay creative. Take time to step back from the day-to-day grind to assess your projects and thought processes. Reflect on what's working, what isn't, and why. This self-awareness allows you to identify mental blocks or patterns that may hinder creativity and provides an opportunity to reset your approach. Journaling your reflections can also help track your creative journey and spark new insights.
In Product R&D, taking calculated risks can lead to significant rewards. Don't shy away from pursuing unconventional ideas or challenging the status quo. Innovation often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the possibility of failure. Learn from your experiments, whether they succeed or not, and use those lessons to refine your creative process. A willingness to take risks demonstrates a commitment to innovation and can inspire a more dynamic and fearless approach to product development.
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Simon Håkansson
Creative Problem Solver ꐆ Dad ꐆ Founder of delusional.enterprises
If your workplace doesn't foster risky and experimental projects, consider taking them on by yourself on your free time. You'll learn a lot and might even make something that will allow you to become your own boss.
Continuous learning is essential for keeping your creative mindset sharp in Product R&D. The landscape of technology and consumer preferences is always changing, and staying informed is key to generating relevant and innovative ideas. Invest in your professional development by attending workshops, taking online courses, or earning certifications in new methodologies or tools. Staying educated not only expands your skillset but also ensures your creative thinking remains aligned with the latest industry trends.
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Jayaraman (Raghu) Raghuraman
Vision: To help the less fortunate people in this world | Digital Mentor and Advisor
One more way is for companies to fund R&D centers within universities departments where special projects are funded with students
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Somjit Amrit
Striving to be a humanist-technologist, with "Technology in Harmony with Human Needs” being the core of what I strive to do. Take a look at my thoughts in my first published book "Anecdotally Yours".
Raghu , how does the R&D team interface with the Industry ? What are the proven methods to work hand in hand ? Any thoughts ?
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Jayaraman (Raghu) Raghuraman
Vision: To help the less fortunate people in this world | Digital Mentor and Advisor
One of the ways a R&D team can continue to innovate and be creative is to build a way to let the team continuous learn the new developments is the use of labs, partnerships with research institutes and also funding students, especially in specific domains
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