how to build your own emerging technologies function

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How to build your own Emerging Technologies function

Steve Watt

#emtechsxsw

CC flickr @davidyuweb

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Creative Destruction

Data provided courtesy of Ralph Katz, Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management

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Disruptive Technologies - A long term example

CC flickr @orangegreenblue

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A recent example

@wattsteve #emtechsxswCC flickr @sabertasche2

is this possible?

But

@wattsteve #emtechsxswCC flickr @drbethsnow

Those low-margin customers don’t matter

@wattsteve #emtechsxswCC flickr @dakiny

OpticsI may look like a raccoon, but I’m actually a dog

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Stubbornness and Arrogance

I’m the expert in this market, that new startup is going to fail.

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Sticking your head in the sand

I have millions invested in our roadmap. I’m secretly hoping this will all blow over

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Lack of Incentive

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My performance review and compensation is based on how well I deliver on our current strategy. I don’t have the time or energy for this battle.

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Do you want to anticipate & manage disruption or not?

CC flickr @laurabloom

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Great, but carefully consider these aspects to increase your chances of success.

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Where should the function reside?

CTO

VP of Product EngineeringVP of Emerging Technologies

CTO

VP of Product Engineering

Director of Emerging Technologies

VP of R&D

Director of Product DevelopmentDirector of Research

VP of R&D

Director of Product Development

Director of Research

Yes No

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How does it work?

CC flickr @diggingforfire @mpeterke @23065375@N05

Assemble the team

Identify and Experiment with the disruptive technology

Socialize the Point of View

Advise the Stakeholders1

2 3

4

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Who do we hire?

The Negotiator

The Strategist

Core Engineering

Early Adopters / Customers / Conferences

Product Management

C Suite

Internal - Emerging Technologies

External

Internal - Rest of Company

Field Engineering The Evangelist

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Identifying and Experimenting with disruptive technologies

CC flickr @invis

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Socializing the Point of View

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Early adopters

Innovators

What do you think of my prototype? What is & isn’t working? Do you want to partner?

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Advising the stakeholders

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

But sometimes, it’s just the point of view that transfers...

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How do I fund the function?

CC flickr @tarat

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What additional challenges should I expect?

It can be hard to be taken seriously when positing that you can predict the future.

ET requires a thick skin!

Embarrassment

Success comes with a commitment.

Nonsensical marketing/messaging

CC flickr @silveraquarius

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Thanks for coming

For more information:

Email: swatt@redhat.com

Twitter: @wattsteve

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattsteve

GitHub: https://github.com/wattsteve

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Backup

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Diffusion and Chasm Theory