Andrew Richardson (Educator)
I am Deputy Programme Manager for Business Management at the University of Leeds. I teach on a number of modules including Innovation and Enterprise and Leadership and Change
Location Leeds
Activity
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Andrew Richardson (Educator) made a comment
I can see now how I have been kidding myself that I multi-task. I have just switched off the email alert (I will check emails this afternoon) and I already feel better. Hopefully this is the first change of many.
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Some very interesting points Ali. The rise of the discount supermarkets has hit all established food retailers, it will be interesting to see how this develops in the future.
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The reaction to the discount supermarkets has been very interesting. Not too long ago you could read any number of articles which stated that the 'big 4' supermarkets did not feel threatened by the growth of Lidl and Aldi. However, now you see much greater competition on price and Sainsbury bringing Netto back to the UK high street to take advantage of the...
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I was reading your idea in an earlier conversation Moses, very interesting. It certainly seems that you are taking the necessary actions to increase your chances of success.
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Glad you enjoyed it Thin
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Hi Paulina, welcome to the course. You are a very dedicated student, building your knowledge in preparation for your new course. I hope we can provide you with a good understanding of innovation.
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Hi Gillian, welcome to the course. With the increasing pressures on the public sector to provide more with less, innovation is even more important. I hope that you find the course useful and can make good use of the skills and knowledge you learn.
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Hi Merel, good to have you on the course. I really hope that you find the inspiration you are looking for, I believe that the case studies will certainly help.
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Hi Bex, glad to have you on the course. I am sure that you will find a lot here to help you to develop your understanding of innovation which you can apply in your current role.
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Hi Sonia, it is nice to have you on the course. There is plenty to help you to develop your broader understanding of innovation, and lots of opportunities to engage with other students all over the world, I hope you enjoy it.
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Hi Albert, welcome to the course. I really wish you well in developing your new business idea, and hope that you find useful ideas and inspiration in the case studies we have prepared.
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Hi Chantal, welcome to the course. I really hope that you find the content interesting and it helps you to develop your new exciting business venture
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Good morning all M&S staff, really good to have you on the course. We all enjoyed working closely with the M&S archive here at Leeds, as well as your colleagues in store and at head office. I hope you find the M&S case studies interesting and useful.
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I am so glad you have found this interesting Yasin, particularly as you work in this area. It is great to think that you may develop further innovations in this area in the future. Good luck
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You show a clear understanding of the complexity of this problem Kevin. To work with possibly many more local suppliers will require new systems, and there will indeed be costs. The question really is will the customer pay the potentially higher price for these new products? With the increase in the discount supermarket sector in the UK it is not at all...
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Thank you for your comments Eddie. I am very pleased to see that you have enjoyed the interactive nature of the course. I hope it encourages you to do more online courses in the future
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Thank you for such a detailed summary of your experience on this course. It is very rewarding for my colleagues and I to know that you have enjoyed the varied activities. I hope it inspires you to look into other online courses in the future.
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Welcome to the course Mehdi, I hope you really enjoy your time with us
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Thank you for the feedback, it looks like you have taken away a lot from this course. I hope you can use some of these ideas in the future.
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Thank you YongSoon, it is really good to hear that the course has encouraged you to do further study in this area. Good luck with your future studies
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Hi Karen, welcome to the course. Don't worry about just starting, you can take the course at your own speed
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Hi Samantha welcome to the course. With your work experience and current studies you will have a lot to add to the discussions
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Hi Tracey, I hope this is as good as the other Futurelearn courses you have taken
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Hi Hira, welcome to the course. Don't worry, there is plenty of time to catch up
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Hi Beryl, glad you could join us. I hope the course lives up to the title
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Hi Tatiana, welcome to the course, you are certainly not too late. I hope you enjoy the course and it helps with your English
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Hi Elena, welcome to the course. I hope you enjoy your time with us
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You are very welcome Michael, I am glad to see that you enjoyed it. Good luck with your studies in the future
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Hi Malini, I am glad you have enjoyed it. Thank you for your comments, I hope we see you on another Leeds MOOC in the future
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I am not going to get into the chicken or the egg question Geraldine. Some very good points about the impact of this innovation, on our eating habits and the wider economy. David, you raise a very interesting point. The ethics of innovation are not specifically covered in this course but are extremely important. Perhaps a subject for the next MOOC
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Good point Theresa. When the Sinclair C5 and the chilled chicken were introduced, the demand was uncertain (as is the case with all products). I think the difference here does have a lot to do with publicity and marketing, but is also related to the nature of the products. It is easier to perduade a customer to try a chicken in a different form than it is to...
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Thank you Sonia, I am really glad you are enjoying the course. It is great to see that the internet, an amazing innovation itself, is allowing you to learn in your own time and at your own pace. I hope you continue to enjoy week 3
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You make an excellent point here, we all have a part to play in the innovation process. In week 3 we look at the different roles people play and how they contribute, I hope you enjoy it.
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Thank you for this excellent contribution. I agree, Emily's case is extremely interesting. It is clear that you have learned a lot from this course already. I hope that week 3 and the consideration of the human element in the innovation process really adds to your understanding.
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That is really good to hear Saeed. I hope you continue learning in our final week
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Thank you for your insight Helen. It is expecially nice to see how the digital hearing aids are improving incrementally, driven by customer demand
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This is what made the story so interesting for me Kennedy, trying to imagine how innovative the product and process was at the time
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This true to a point Dalia. However, whilst M&S believed in their product the demand was not really known. This is what made increased the risk
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I am really pleased that you are finding the course interesting and have learned so much. I hope that you can use some of this knowledge in the future
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Thank you Janeya. We hope that students on this course find it useful and informative but I am particularly pleased to hear that this has been a fun experience for you. Keep having fun
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Thank you Maureen, that is wonderful feedback. I really hope that you find week 3 just as informative
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This is interesting Arlene. I have not actively searched for wheat free products as I have no allergies. I have not come across anyone trying to rule this out of their diet. It just goes to show that organisations need to continually innovate to met changing customer needs.
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I think that is th key point Brian. Innovation in product or packaging is very important but there has to be a keen eye on costs and competition
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You have captured a number of key points here Ernesto. The challenges are indeed very many and some of the ones you mention look like they are going to be more significant in years to come. Working with suppliers will definitely help as these are not possible for one organisation to resolve.
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I am really glad you have enjoyed these stories Janeth. We chose them because we thought that they supported the theories we have been looking at, but I think they are also simply very interesting. I hope you like the week 3 case studies
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Hi Sandy, thank you for your comments. This has been quite a busy week with quite a lot of different areas of innovation considered. I am glad you have found it all so useful. I hope you find week 3 just as interesting
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Thank you for such positive feedback Marina, I am really pleased you have enjoyed this week. I hope week 3 continues to inspire
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Thank you for sharing this Oliver. This is an interesting link, I have not come across the term 'Functional Foods' before.
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It would be very easy to simply dismiss this idea and I am very pleased to read such an interesting discussion. The US example certainly proves that some version is possible, and I agree that there is a increasing demand for a type of butcher in the UK. Innovation is about successfully exploiting creative ideas, so you need the ideas in the first place. ...
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Very true. There have been some very high profile examples of retailers losing the trust of their customers. Although M&S were not involved, the so called 'horse meat' scandal was very damaging for a number of retailers.
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Any thoughts on what the consumer of the future will want Sharon?
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Any suggestions of how these issues can be tackled Aaron?
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There are quite a few innovation opportunities there Eddie. Do you see any clash between healthier food and waste? Could fresher, less processed food actually lead to more waste?
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Very topical idea Pamela. I was reading recently about the efforts to make burgers from artificially grown muscle tissue. I think the taste and texture were questionable, and the whole process cost £215,000, but it is a start. Would you eat it? Or how about the debate around using insects as a meat replacement?
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That is a good list of possible future developments Patricia, many with some definite challenges (I will come back to you on the turning the world upside down idea). The issue of food waste is one I would personally like to see innovative minds being applied to. However, a possible solution to this could be longer shelf life as a result of more rather than...
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There has been some progress in developing drought tolerant crops, both through selective breeding as well as genetic modification, the latter fueling the debate. If the changes in climate continue (regardless of the cause) and the population continues to grow, these options may need to be pursued more vigorously.
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I also worked at a supermarket Chimezie and remember well how much apparently good food was simply thrown away. The issue of food waste should always be on the agenda with retailers. However, I understand your point Charlotte. If consumers demand fresh, unprocessed food then the shelf life may be less leading to more waste. A difficult challenge
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What an excellent example to explain the point, thank you Rohit
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I have watched this development with interest. Whilst it appears to be a long way from being a financial possibility (I think the process to manufacture the first such burger was a few hundred thousand pounds), it will pose some interesting questions. I think the question we will be asked before then Adam is how would you like you protein rich insect burger?
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The demand for healthier products seems to be a theme in a number of markets Emeka. Your point about price is a good one. How much are people prepared to pay for these healthier options? This could well be the driver for greater innovation in this area of food manufacture and retail
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Any thoughts on what that will mean? What do you think customers will want? It may be different in different markets
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Some excellent points Patricia. The Rogers point is quite true, some people are happy to lead the way with one product and be one of the last to adopt another (I am a laggard with everything). An understanding of the customer is important, but customers don't always know what they want. There is more of the Diffusion of Innovation next week.
There was a... -
It is a really tough question Linda, and I don't believe there is an undisputed right answer. I have enjoyed reading everyone's suggestion and have changed my own mind a few times. It will be interesting to see what you think at the end of week 3
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Good point Victor, chilled was an improvement on frowen but fresh would be the preferred option for most products. For food retailers the challenge is to provide the range of products demanded in order to remain competitive. Fresh becomes a real issue if the produce cannot be sourced locally.
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Absolutely Peter. The launch of the new iphone was a great example of early adopters waiting for the Apple stores to open. We look more at Roger's Diffucion of Innovation in week 3.
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Absolutely right Marko, all types of innovation carry some risk. I think the only difference between them is the degree of risk. What is the cost (in money and reputation) if something does not work as expected
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I am glad that you liked this Rohit. It is not the sort of innovation most people would think of but I felt it was a great example of the long term impact on society. It is something taken for granted now.
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I am glad you are finding these interesting Julie. I am very lucky to have the archive located on campus here at Leeds and it is used regularly by students on a number of programmes. It is also open to the public so if you are passing please call in.
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Welcome to the course Penny. You certainly have a wealth of knowledge from your Masters, I look forward to ready your comments
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Absolutely, I think one of the greatest challenges to electricity as an innovation was finding ways to make it available to the billions of people worldwide. I suppose the ongoing challenge is in the generation
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That is great feedback, thank you Steve. I am really pleased that you have enjoyed the course so far, I hope the next 2 weeks are just as good.
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Indeed, geography or climate can dictate consumer needs which in turn drives different innovations. I wish I needed air conditioned clothing more in the UK Shamsa
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A good choice of innovation Clare. It is difficult to say which is the greater driver, but if pushed I would probably say technology. You make a good link back to week 1 looking at the design and creative processes. I think you will also find week 3 interesting, which looks at the benefits of crowd sourcing and collaboration as a way to bring the right...
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Without electricity our world would indeed be a very different place. The drivers in the video were not a complete list and curiosity can certainly be a very powerful driver. However, it could be argued that developments in technology allowed for the commercial generation, storage and delivery of the electricty to allow it to become so indispensable.
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I do agree, there is definitely a place for 'gut feeling' and research should not stifle initiative. However, I do believe that research has a place in the innovation process, even if it primarily effective competitor analysis
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You have hit on a central theme of innovation, without risk there is nothing. Sir Clive Sinclair had success in the early home computing market. It was an unknown market and in fact experts at the time suggested there would be no demand for personal computing. The Sinclair computers were very successful, the C5 was not. However, without an acceptance of...
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Risk is definitely important, without it we would never see anything new. However, I think that risk can be managed to increase the chance that the initial vision can be turned into an economic reality
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Research, whether it is competitor or market, should be an ongoing process. I believe that it is about limiting the risk as it is impossible to remove it altogether. There are good examples of consumers being persuaded they need a product, but it is much safer if you can bring them something that research suggests they will want. As you say, the C5 does not...
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These are interesting points Peter. Are you familiar with Hofstede and his work on national cultures? The comments you make about risk and hierarchy certainly fit with his findings. It is also true that many western countries, definitley the US and UK, are far more short term in their thinking
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Hi Sinead, welcome to the course. I hope you enjoy your time with us and I look forward to reading your contributions
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Hi Irene, welcome to the course. I hope your enjoy the next few weeks and pick up some ideas to help you achieve your future ambitions
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Hi Yogender, welcome to the course. I really hope that you find things over the next few weeks that will help with your new business venture
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Good morning Sandra, welcome to the course. I hope you enjoy your time with us and learn things that you can apply in your workplace
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Absolutely. I was interested by the way John West dealt with this issue. The code on each can of their tuna allows you to trace where the contents came from. Transparency and responsibility in the supply chain are growing challenges.
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This is true. There is a need for retailers to provide customers with straightforward labeling so they can make the informed decisions about what to buy. This will help to challenge food manufacturers to think about the content of their food. It can also be seen as an opportunity to be innovative in the development of products which appeal to a more health...
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Absolutely Rashed, it is extremely difficult to have an innovative product in this market which can't be imitated by the competition. The drivers you mention are also very relevant in this case. On-line retail combines the developments in technology with the consumer wishing to have the convenience shopping from home. These are two of the drivers we have...
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A good idea Faiza, and you are not alone thinking of this If we consider the drivers of innovation in food retail, I think we can see that customers play a big part. If sufficient customers have a need for home delivery then this may cause retailers to innovate. This has already been seen in the UK with many retailers
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A number of good suggestions Gemma. For me I think you have hit on the biggest issue at the moment and that is price. There are already discount supermarkets growing rapidly in the UK, and new Netto stores are being introduced by Sainsbury's. The challenge for M&S is to continue to offer quality and variety whilst remaining competitive. This is a real...
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Sourcing locally has many benefits Craig, especially in terms of transportation and carbon foot. A major issue is that certain foods (I am thinking of certain fruits) can't be sourced locally. In these cases I think you are right, efficiencies in production and transportation to reduce costs and waste should be a priority
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I think you have identified two key challenges for M&S, or in fact any food retailer. A particularly agree with the challenge of competition. The UK food market is extremely competitive, particularly with the growth of discount supermarkets. Retailers need to be innovative in product development to make sure they are meeting consumer demand (there are...
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Welcome to the course Mishaal. I hope you enjoy the next 3 weeks
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Hi Vaughan, good to have you on the course, I hope you had a great vacation. I really hope that you enjoy your time with us.
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Hello Dehat. I hope you the course allows you to develop the skills and confidence to innovate in the future.
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Hi Yala, welcome to the course. I remember spending an amazing 3 months in Indonesia. I hope you enjoy your time with us.
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Hi Manisha, welcome to the course. I really hope you enjoy the next three weeks and learn things that will help you in your future enterprises
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Hi Bronius. It is great to hear how much you have enjoyed the first week, I really hope you find weeks 2 and 3 just as interesting
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Hi Aditi. I think that many people have the view that innovation has to apply to a product, and it has to be something previously unimaginable. I agree much more with your views that it can be very effective as a continuous approach and can apply to more that just the product. Providing a service to satisfy the market in a new way is something I think many...
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The last point is a good one Robert. It is a question of being market led (determining the size of the market and their specific needs through research) or product led. Both can be extremely successful. I can think of a number of things, my iPod being one, that I did not think I would ever need or want when they first came out. Apple knew what I would want...
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Hi Marwa, welcome to the course. I really hope you enjoy your time with us
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I absolutely agree, if the product or service you are offering is not needed or wanted by consumers (even after an intensive marketing campaign) then you cannot succeed. When you get to 'challenges to innovtion' next week you will see a great example of an unwanted product which failed.
