Guru Roundtables:
Tuesday & Wednesday, November 3 - 4

They were such a hit in 2008 that we had to bring them back!

These are one-hour moderated, small group discussions with guru thought leaders and expert practitioners including some of our 2009 keynoters. These sessions will be dialogue-driven by all roundtable participants, and no power point presentations will be used.

If you are looking for more one-on-one interaction with select speakers and keynoters, that will create a valuable, lasting dialogue and allow for your questions to be answered in an intimate setting - these Roundtables are for you. We have also scheduled gurus who are addressing specific industry verticals for a more targeted and focused dialogue session...providing you with meaningful take-aways that are actionable.

ADDED VALUE! These sessions will be recorded and transcribed so all participants are furnished with a copy of the dialogue summary following the conference, which can be used as a reference guide in your organization.

We will be running two concurrent Roundtables each hour starting in the afternoon of both main conference days. Roundtables can only accommodate 10-12 people maximum, so signing up early is essential.

To sign up for Guru Rountables, please e-mail Joanna Barrett at jbarrett@ahint.com . Provide your full name, title, company and the session(s) you would like to attend. Entitle your subject header as "Guru Roundtables - I Want to Attend."

Please note that Guru Roundtables run concurrent with the Main Conference afternoon track sessions, so you can't be in more than one place at a time - sending a team will help you to cover ample ground.

DAY ONE -Tuesday, November 3

DAY TWO - Wednesday, November 4

Session Descriptions

Conference Day One - Tuesday, November 3

Guru Roundtable 1

2:45 p.m.
Applying TRIZ- Lessons Learned Through a Systematic Appriach to Product Development, R&D, and Intellectual Property
Herbert Roberts, Principle Engineer of High Temperature Composites - GE Energy

The systematic innovation approach of TRIZ has been quietly used by a wide number of leading corporations. The classical TRIZ approach focuses on inventive problem solving, but high order systematic innovation methods are used to predicted technology development trends, break competitor patents, and addressed social and business related problems. This session will present a brief overview of classical TRIZ and discuss lessons learned in applying the systematic innovation tool set on higher-level solutions.

• Defining levels of inventiveness in internal and competitor's products and services
• Methods for Identifying and strategically using technical trends
• Resolving technical and physical contradictions in products and services
• Non-technical applications of problem solving using systematic innovation

3:45 p.m.
CDMA SIG TOPIC:
Converting Products into Dollars: Successful Business Development
Antonio Torres, Vice-President, Building & Construction and Ventures - NOVA Chemicals Inc.

Changes in the economy over the last year have lead to a shift in value capture potential in many industries. Focus on cost reduction and optimization of business systems, while critical for competitiveness has reached a level of diminishing returns. To overcome the impact, companies have tried to innovate and reposition their product offering within their existing market space. The discussion will focus on key issues to consider in business development, such as design of business, how to capture maximum value and need skills.

• Factors influencing the growth
• People as critical assets
• Business Model Options

5:15 p.m.
Lean NPD: The Fastest Way to Cut Your Development Time in Half
David W. Paulson, President - Accuer, Inc.

If someone told you that you could cut your development time in half, and double the number of new products you make each year, and do so with smaller budgets, no additional resources, and increase quality at the same time, would you believe them? I'd guess not. But this is really happening. And these companies are enjoying simultaneous and significant increases in market share, revenues, margins and profits. How? Lean NPD.

It's a well known fact that lean methods transformed manufacturing in the past, and now it's clear they are about to transform the way we develop products as well. This discussion is for companies that are tired of mediocrity in areas of NPD budget and schedule performance and the resultant impact on market share and financial performance.
• The business impact of Lean NPD and why you must do it now
• The critical success factors for Lean NPD and the biggest obstacle to success
• How the basic principles of Lean make such a transformation possible
• What you must do right now to get started
• A little known concept that will allow you to accelerate the impact

Guru Roundtable 2

2:45 p.m.
KEYNOTE FACE TIME: Innovation Leaders: Senior Executives Who Stimulate, Steer and Sustain Innovation
Jean-Philippe Deschamps, Emeritus Professor Technology and Innovation Management, MBA INSEAD, Harvard Business School and Author, "Innovation Leaders"

This session offers attendees the opportunity to have additional face time with the keynote speaker.  Dialogue will be an extension of the keynote presentation that was given. 

• What are the current trends that are creating new opportunities?
• Which manufacturers are successfully interpreting these consumer's needs and achieving strong growth?
• Help your consumer filter through the clutter to understand your product and/or services value
• The "environment", "natural" and "organic" products - what are consumers thinking and where are they prepared to act and pay more?

3:45 p.m.
RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS LAUNCH: What is On the Mind of the American Consumer?
Robert Levy, President - BrandSpark International

The goal of this session is to bring marketing insights and insights from the consumer packaged goods world closer to the PDMA. The American Grocery Shopper Study, conducted among 50,000 American Principal Grocery Shoppers, anchors the PDMA sponsored 2009 Best New Product Awards, where consumers voted and selected the best new products in the areas of Food, personal Care/Beauty and Household products. As a result, we have access to interesting trend information as well as the reasons "why" consumers voted for the products they voted for.

5:15 p.m.
Lessons From Google: The Future of Consumer Research and Innovation in a Fast-Paced Global Market
Nir Bar-Lev, Head of Analysis Products, EMEA - Google

Session Description will be available shortly.

Conference Day Two - Wednesday, November 4

Guru Roundtable 1

10:15 a.m.
Which Came First: The Process or The Culture?
Bob Messaros, Executive Vice President - New Product Innovations
Bob Hayes, Vice President - New Product Innovations

A company's ability to develop and bring to market a product which addresses consumers' unmet needs may have less to do with a formal product development process and more to do with a company's culture. NPI will explore process vs. culture and demonstrate through examples of best practice and best thinking that a process is ineffective unless the culture empowers innovation, motivates teams, and accelerates commercial success.

• The latest and greatest process doesn't guarantee success - innovation is driven by the culture.
• Culture is the key ingredient in a successful product development model.
• Teams need to be motivated and able to deliver on the promise to the client.
• Clients' needs and corporate goals need to be complimentary - not in conflict.

12:30 p.m.
CDMA SIG TOPIC:
The Central Role of Marketing in New Business Development
Charles Martz, Global Marketing Director, Dow Water & Process Solutions - The Dow Chemical Company

Marketing plays a critical in early phase new business development. Understanding of the value chain, competitors and early market positioning will have a significant impact on the potential value capture of any new product or venture.

• What are the critical marketing questions in early stage development?
• How can the initial marketing design impact the value of a new idea?
• Where should a product/business opportunity be positioned early in the introduction cycle?
• How can we use marketing techniques to understand new customers?

1:30 p.m.
Purpose-Driven Innovation: How Organizational DNA Drives Growth
Brad White, COO - (r)evolution

 
Purpose-driven firms achieved a return of 1025% over the past 10 years, compared to only 122% for the S&P 500 and 316% for the companies profiled in the bestseller Good to Great. These firms have a distinctive DNA that is a reflection of the essential purpose, values and beliefs of the organization. It is expressed as a human truth that connects with employees and customers alike at a more-than-rational, intuitive level. Every organization has a unique DNA but not every organization has articulated it as a purpose or connected it to innovation.

• What is DNA and purpose?
• How does it lead to preference and growth?
• How can I understand and articulate my organization's unique DNA and purpose?
• How can DNA and purpose drive innovation to accelerate growth?

Guru Roundtable 2

10:15 a.m.
KEYNOTE FACE TIME: Exceptional Brand Experience through Innovation
Steve Rendle, President - The North Face Americas and President - VF Outdoor Coalition, Americas

This session offers attendees the opportunity to have additional face time with the keynote speaker.  Dialogue will be an extension of the keynote presentation that was given. 

12:30 p.m.
KEYNOTE FACE TIME: Necessity is the mother of Invention: Constrains motivated innovations in Product Development
Dr. V. Sumantran, Executive Vice-Chairman - Hinduja Automotive Limited and Chairman - Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain Pvt. Ltd.  - Ashok Leyland Ltd.

This session offers attendees the opportunity to have additional face time with the keynote speaker.  Dialogue will be an extension of the keynote presentation that was given. 

1:30 p.m.
"Getting Hit with the Wet-Towel," Selling NPD Programs to Skeptics
Stuart F. Bedford, Director of Business Development and Research - Sherwin-Williams

In this session, Sherwin-Williams research and development on a new paint product with totally unexpected benefits for consumers will be discussed. These unexpected benefits met with skepticism from seasoned executive managers, requiring unusual "proof of concept". The combined efforts of the support team including a well recognized co-development partner (Church & Dwight) ultimately led to highly successful commercialization that exceeded year-one goal by 175% in very soft market conditions.

This topic will identify the key reasons new concepts can meet with internal resistance and ways to overcome the challenges. Participants will learn why certain projects trigger higher concerns about relevance and potential success. Participants will identify with how new and unexpected product benefits can be communicated to help the "cause" for launch commitment and spending. Insights from this case study will help you prepare to meet internal challenges and better prepare for the outcome.