3M Post It

Parent Company: 3M
Category: Manufacturing and Technology
Sector: Conglomerates
Tagline/ Slogan: Innovative technology for a changing world
USP: Innovation and fast organic growth

1. How did the creative thinking process work in the development of this
product? Describe what took place in each of the creativity process?
Ans: Creativity is the generation of new ideas that improve efficiency and
effectiveness. Thinking 'outside the box' is not limited to artistic and writing
professions. Innovative thinking, brainstorming, and creativity exercises are
encouraged and used by forward thinking businesses to successfully plan, create,
and sell products and services. When the manager of 3M Company wanted to stick
the paper without turning it. It was a difficult task. A bookmark would not do,
because the piece of paper could easily fall out. After thinking in a creative way, the
company today can produce glues. This only due to hard working and the way of
thinking beyond the box.

2. Why did the manager have the Post- it notes sent to secretaries throughout
the company? What was his objective in doing this?
Ans: Managers need to get the information from the secretaries and give them the
information required to them. Secretaries could use glue to attach message and the
managers could send notes along with letters and memos. However, it was not only
the objective, but also the reason was that employees are the first customers who
forward their messages to the different places because they belong to various
locations. Thus, the main objective was marketing his product through employees.

3. What types of innovation – invention, extension, duplication or synthesis?

Defend your answer.
Ans: This is the innovation- invention type of creativity. The idea was quite unique,
and it was totally according to the need of the situation. Various inventions and
innovations have been seen and those all are by creative thing. Asking to the
employees to donate the knowledge and giving them chance to put forward their idea
makes them happy. In the healthy environment, one can think in creative
way. Preparing glue is the secret through which the company got the success
because it was the demand of the time. It helped to reduce the use of bookmark which
was not effective and efficient.

4. Which of the sources of innovative idea helped for this product success?
Explain in detail.

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Ans: There are various sources of innovative ideas. Manager of 3M Company also
got these innovative ideas from these sources. Employees, Business partners,
Customers directly, Consultants, Competitors, Associations, Internal Sales &
Service Unites, Internal R&D, Academia, Think-tanks, Labs and/or other
institutions. However, unless and until one does not have desire on innovation one
cannot be innovative. For innovative, one should be thinking strategically, and be
willing to implement the ideas.

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