innovation network - a case study

© Copyright IGLOO Inc. 2009. All rights reserved.

Terry Reidel, Valerie Bradford, and Bob Germann

HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN INNOVATION?

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE

INNOVATION NETWORKS

June 19th, 2009

How Do YOU Sustain Innovation?Building Sustainable Manufacturing Innovation Networks

We will be speaking today with Terry, Valerie and Bob about how the MIN is using IGLOO’s online community and social software to:

• Build an innovation network

• Overcome challenges and leverage key tools to enable innovation management

• Implement effective governance and structure

• Engage members and other stakeholders

• Run Programs that support network sustainability and continuous innovation

Webinar Overview…

IGLOO Software delivers full service online community and social software solutions to organizations, teams and groups of any size. Our solutions combine Web 2.0 technology with on-demand hosting, consulting, e-engagement and all of the community support services necessary for a sustainable and successful deployment.

About IGLOO…

About Terry...For 39 years Terry was with Ernst & Young. After Ernst & Young, Terry joined Kuntz Electroplating as Vice President of Finance and then was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, a role he retired from in July of 2008. Terry is now the President of Terry Reidel Consulting. He is married to his wife, Ronda, with three children, Darren, Jason and Carey.

About Valerie...Valerie Bradford is a Business Development Officer for the City of Kitchener. She works closely with the Manufacturing Sector, and is responsible for the city's corporate visitation program and sales of the city's industrial lands.

Introductions…

About Bob... Bob Germann was appointed as president and CEO of Custom Foam Systems in 2003. Bob studied Chemistry (co-op) at the University of Waterloo prior to joining Custom Foam Systems. Since taking on the role as president and CEO, Bob has led the company through the adoption of Lean Manufacturing principles and Hoshin planning practices. Bob resides in Kitchener with his wife Patti and children Bryan, Emily and Patrick.


Tell us a bit about the MIN…The Waterloo Region Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) is an innovative online community that connects over 1,000 manufacturers in the Waterloo Region. The goal of the community is to create a more responsive and globally competitive manufacturing community through improved networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing. The MIN community offers its members free access to three key online services:

• Marketplace - Job Board, Career Center, Company and Service Provider Directories, Classified Ads, Advertising, Sponsorship Program, Event Calendar

• Professional Network - Personal Profiles, Member Directory, Peer-to-Peer Messaging, Contacts

• Knowledge Exchange - Resource Centre, Expert Blogger Program, Peer Groups, Best Practices, Whitepapers, News, Educational Videos


Demonstration of the MIN


What is an Innovation Network?

An innovation network is a membership-based online network or community that builds an expansive or regional-wide geographic advantage using a series of interconnected and free online resources (including other regional innovation networks) in a specific industry or focused around a specific area of expertise.


What is the MIN and why is it unique? How is it more than a website?1.Established a Network Business Model – an applied financial sustainability model for the network which scales to a “mesh” network

2.Based the Playbook on this model and best practices

The MIN network is free to manufacturers and offers invaluable resources, including:

•A wealth of research and information related to specific fields and sectors of manufacturing

•Experts immersed in technology, trade, regulatory compliance, marketing, finance, research and innovation

•An online marketplace to buy and sell goods and services; promote business activities; find employees via a job board; discover/develop new partnerships

•Online forums, blogs and a growing professional network of manufacturers and experts for improved collaboration, problem solving and ideation


What was the driving need to create this network? Why was it started?From 2002-2006, over 6,900 manufacturing jobs were lost across a wide range of industries in the Waterloo Region representing:

• 10% decline in all manufacturing jobs

• $357 million less in annual payroll spending

• $72 million lost in annual federal and provincial income taxes

• $18 million lost in annual contributions to CPP and EI programs

In response to this decline in the local manufacturing industry, the City of Kitchener conducted Corporate Visitation Programs and surveyed over 150 manufacturers in the community. Manufacturers identified the lack of innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing as key and potentially industry-threatening issues.

With these issues top of mind, the City of Kitchener (lead), along with the other cities and townships, partnered with IGLOO Inc. (a local technology company) to build an online Manufacturing Innovation Network in the fall of 2007 as a proof of concept.


Who is the intended audience of the MIN? Who are the key stakeholders and who are the users?

The Manufacturing Innovation network will serve to connect manufacturers, partners, government agencies, academic institutions and other stakeholder groups using digital technology to create a more responsive and globally competitive manufacturing community through improved collaboration, knowledge sharing and leading edge innovations.


Which features of the IGLOO community could help you to address your business challenges?• Company Directory—listing of all manufacturers in the local municipality, by name and sector

• Product Finder—a searchable index of all local products and services

• Job Board—free postings of local jobs

• Professional Networking—members can create public profiles, connect with other local members, set their status (twitter), share expertise, knowledge, experience

• Event Calendar—post and find local events happening in the municipality or region

• News Service—aggregated local news service; RSS enabled

• Ask the Expert Program— get answers from industry experts on various topics, such as tax, trade, labour, lean manufacturing, health and safety, and SR&ED

• Story Board — have local manufacturers tell their stories


Describe the structure of the overarching governance?• Executive Director• Advisory Board• Community FacilitatorThe MIN Advisory Board was set up to help provide good governance for the MIN. Local leaders from around the Waterloo Region provide strategic direction and guidance. The board is represented by four distinct sectors related to the local Waterloo manufacturing community:

1. Manufacturing professionals

2. Industry association and consortium experts

3. Government officials

4. Academics and researchers

There are a maximum of 20 seats available on the Advisory Board per year (5 seats per sector) which are voted on by past members. Each seat on the board costs $5,000 per year and these funds are used to promote, educate and assist local manufacturing initiatives in the Waterloo Region.


Who are the sponsors of the MIN and describe the uniqueness of the sponsorship program?


How is this network sustainable, and how the do programs and campaigns speak to the sustainability of the network?

•Expert Blogger Program•Sponsorship Program•Advertising Program•Governance structure•SEO/SEM•Effective overall government•e-Engagement strategies


Tell us about some of the MIN’s early successes?

The Waterloo Region MIN proof of concept has seen incredible growth since its launch in January 2009:

• 400+ members

• +20,000 unique visitors

• 130,000 page views of the online job board

• 5,000+ job applications and 200+ job referrals

• 850+ company profiles organized by sector

• 300,000 pages of searchable products and services in the Waterloo Region

• 20+ industry experts blogging on the network, helping to address issues related to health and safety, finance, exporting, green manufacturing, innovation acceleration and more

• Partnerships have been formed with leading organizations such as APMA, WPBWWD, EMC, Chambers of Commerce, Communitech, 570 News


What are your future plans for the MIN?


Questions & Answers

The panel has a bit of time to answer a few questions,

so we’ll take questions via WebEx at this time. Please

introduce yourself and your organization.

Thank – You.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this webinar. To show our appreciation, we would like to offer each of you a FREE session with an Online Community Architect for a review of

your current website, community or Web 2.0 Social Networking Strategy.

We will follow up with each of you with the specific offer and to provide a link to a recording of today’s webinar.

www.igloosoftware.com/solutions/companies

innovation network - a case study

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