Unlocking Global Innovation: Learning from Nasscom's Product Conclave

The flight was not delayed and I landed at 3:30 AM at BIAL. Immigration-Bags-and a cab later, I was in the apartment by 5:00 AM. So the plan was to get to Nasscom's Product Conclave to get a better sense of innovation on the ground with Indian product companies and customer experiences and needs. This promised to be a good place to learn all that. After sms'ing my helpful Nasscom contact, I was soon in 'Aura' listening to Vivek Paul's story at 10:30 AM. Tried, a bit Jet-lagged, but excited on Thursday Nov 10, 2011.

I wasn't sure what to expect and had gone with an open mind. During the day I met, spoke with, and heard Nasscom members, CIOs of companies from large India conglomerates to SMEs, excited startups who think they have almost made it, optimistic startups who think they will make it, hard working and enthusiastic Nasscom volunteers, marketing services, web design services, all looking to collaborate with Product companies. The excitement was definitely there. I had to re-establish the valid axioms: 

1. Innovation was striving and healthy in India

2. Technology was not a challenge

3. Engineering deliveries were not a challenge

Conclusion: We should be on the top of the game. Good. Optimistic. In other words 'Aall izz well' ?

However folks were talking about "many a miss between the cup and the lip". 

One wondered. If talent existed, the money was coming in, the organizations delivered, then what was missing?  My experience of working in and with India with products organizations for 25 years allowed me to spot some of the gaps. Like an old fashioned doctor, I searched for the pulse to find the root cause. I discovered three.

The first: Product management in the truest sense was missing.

The second: Executing large complex projects with global impact and across large customer accounts/successes was still a challenge.

The last: Innovation management was voodoo magic.

One of the advantages of living and working in silicon valley is that not only one finds the skills and knowledge to attack these challenges, but also gets a ready-made environment along with a strong foundation.  So while the structure is still good looking and well designed, it lacks the proper foundation and environment.  This degrades the product innovation experience. 

We've found the locks and the keys. Now is the time to unlock global innovation.