I was invited to talk about how, in Tesco.com R&D, we have an API open to third party developers to foster innovation around our grocery service.
The purpose of the conference was to hear good and bad experiences involving external sources of innovation, useful as I need to put together proposals for how we continue to energise our external developer community - and eventually migrate everyone to a future production version of the API.
I'll write more about about the conference's output over the next few days, since there are several different themes to cover. But let me tell you it's got me thinking about how so many R&D departments are needing to re-stance themselves as a core driver of change rather than stand on the periphery of business.
In Tesco.com I have little, if any, problem putting R&D projects in front of a readily listening leadership team and stakeholders. That's not the same as them always accepting our output but we have a robust and honest relationship, and feedback helps shape our work fits the needs of the business and the wishes of our customers.
Successful R&D needs appropriate culture and attitude from inside and outside that department. I'll write more about 'how we do things round here' at Tesco.com if that will help you with your R&D work.
In Tesco.com I have little, if any, problem putting R&D projects in front of a readily listening leadership team and stakeholders. That's not the same as them always accepting our output but we have a robust and honest relationship, and feedback helps shape our work fits the needs of the business and the wishes of our customers.
Successful R&D needs appropriate culture and attitude from inside and outside that department. I'll write more about 'how we do things round here' at Tesco.com if that will help you with your R&D work.
No comments:
Post a Comment
As this blog grows in readership - and because it carries the Tesco brand - I have had to become more careful about the sort of comments that are acceptable. The good news is that I'm a champion of free speech so please be as praising or as critical as you wish! The only comments I DON'T allow through are:
1. Comments which criticise an individual other than myself, or are critical of an organisation other than Tesco. This is simply because they cannot defend themselves so is unfair and possibly libellous. Comments about some aspect of Tesco being better/worse than another equivalent organisation are allowed as long as you start by saying "in my personal opinion.." or "I think that...". ... followed by a "...because.." and some reasoned argument.
2. Comments which are totally unrelated to the context of the original article. If I have written about a mobile app and you start complaining about the price of potatoes then your comment isn't going stay for long!
3. Advertising / web links / spam.
4. Insulting / obscene messages.
Ok, rules done - now it's your go: