Transformative Innovation: An African Path to Success

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For African businesses to create sustained growth they need to be innovating in ways which are more relevant, more useful and more meaningful than global competitors. The innovation required goes beyond taking market share from competitors; it is about transforming categories, unlocking new markets and helping to create favourable conditions for market growth. Crucially, in the African context, it is about innovation that creates jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities - upskilling, empowering and contributing to prosperity on the continent. To download the in-depth whitepaper on which this highlights presentation is based, visit: http://www.ywood.co.za/our-thinking/white-papers/transformative-innovation-an-african-path-to-success.aspx

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The future’s bright

“Emerging economies’ share of Fortune Global 500

companies will… jump to more than 45% by 2025, up

from just 5%in 2000. Many of these businesses,

having been nurtured in difficult operating

environments, are not only more agile than their

counterparts from advanced economies but also

prepared to invest for the long term, even if this cuts

earnings in the next few quarters.”

McKinsey & Company, 2013

We have some of the world’s most inventive,

resourceful people

We have been involved in developing

some of the world’s most useful and

transformative technologies

Sources:

- Battelle

- National Bureau of Statistics of Chine

- Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

R&D Spend in US$ Billions

050

100150200250300350400450

0.00%0.50%1.00%1.50%2.00%2.50%3.00%3.50%4.00%

R&D Spend as proportion of GDP

80% of all employment in Sub-Saharan Africa takes

place in the informal sector

Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2012

We’ve inherited a

culture of authority

We’re scared

And we’re thinking about

market attractiveness

all wrong

• Get to know your customers

• Flatten your structures

• Think outside the pie

How can we overcome these barriers?

How can you grow the pie?

Or transform it?

LONG-TERM

SOCIETAL

VALUE

Education,

healthcare

infrastructure and

sustainable

natural

resources

DIRECT

EMPLOYMENT

VALUE

New employment

and

entrepreneurial

opportunities

MARKET

VALUE

Growing

categories,

developing new

categories

and unlocking

new markets

CUSTOMER

VALUE

Better

value for existing

customers

SHAREHOLDER

VALUE

Better

Revenue

and profit

Benefits:

Shareholder

Value

• Define the problem Be clear about what you need to achieve or fix

• Understand your customer better than anyone else Authentic ethnography

• Get Lateral Speak to experts from unrelated fields, include diverse participants, keep your eyes and ears open

• Take the time You’re not going to solve it in single brainstorm

• Get the attitude right Build, don’t break

Getting Customer Innovation Right

“The most important characteristic of

industry-changing innovators is the ability to

spot consumer trends before the rest. Very

often, those trends are already evident in

other, seemingly unrelated, industries.”

Peter Schoeman, Divisional Director Sales & Marketing,

City Lodge Hotel Group

• Ditch the unnecessary conventions

• Turn pirates into partners

• Identify behaviour shifts in other categories

Key techniques for innovation that grow markets:

INPUTS DESIGN MANUFACTURING DISTRIBUTION MARKETING AFTER-SALES

SERVICE

CORE BUSINESS

Opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation?

BUSINESS CHAIN

• Focus on your core

• Innovate for people

• Piggyback on existing distribution networks and skills

Key techniques for innovation that

creates employment value:

YOUR BUSINESS’

PURPOSE

(eg. Bringing books to

more people)

SOCIAL NEEDS

OF YOUR

MARKET

(eg. Education)

• Define your purpose

• Understand the pressing societal needs faced by your market

• Focus on innovations that leverage your practical strengths

Key techniques for innovation that

creates societal value.

Unintended benefits

“An aspect of FNB’s success is an entrenched

culture of giving back. The culture is nurtured by

our volunteer programme which has a very high

level of staff participation.

The simple act of giving back helps you

understand your markets better and enables

you to solve the problems they face.”

Hema Morar & Seth Maanda, FNB

It’s too expensive

• Crunch the numbers

Most innovations don’t get beyond the idea stage

because there’s no clear financial picture of what

success looks like

We’re too frantic

• Crunch the numbers

Most innovations don’t get beyond the idea stage

because there’s no clear financial picture of what

success looks like

• Build an innovation lab

A subdivision enables you to step out of the rat

race to explore, trial, and develop new

innovations

We’re doing fine

We don’t need it.

• Crunch the numbers

Most innovations don’t get beyond the idea stage

because there’s no clear financial picture of what

success looks like

• Build an innovation lab

A subdivision enables you to step out of the rat

race to explore, trial, and develop new

innovations

• Make it about survival

Make it a KPI that at least 20% of revenue must

come from transformative innovation

Thank you

Get in touch:

info@ywood.co.za

www.ywood.co.za

JHB: 011 268 5211

CT: 021 425 0344

@askYellowwood

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