ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FROM IDEA TO BUSINESS PLAN
PAUL SWAMIDASS
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2016
​
A 10-week BLUEPRINT FOR VALUE CREATION
Creative, innovative, and novel ideas are the force behind new products.
​Where do such ideas come from?

Source for ideas

Creative process

1. Solutions to problems we encounter
2. New opportunities for products
3. Improvements to old products
4. Connecting random things. Example: connect a cube with watermelon--ship more watermelons/cubic yard 
5. Deliberately "think different"

Deliberate Observation

1. Visit Amazon.com, Walmart, Home Depot and other stores and observe their shelves for product ideas
2. Search the Internet
3. Search patents and patent applications--you may search them using Google Patents, or USPTO website

1. Be a good critical observer
2. Do not be limited by your assumptions
3. Old assumptions kill creative new ideas
4. Do not limit your options for problem solutions

Systematically observe products in stores

Creative Examples