Business Cases / References
*Due to confidentiality agreements, we are not able to disclose more than this general information about business cases and client references.
Global Pharmaceutical Company
Challenge:
Two leading global pharmaceutical manufacturing companies needed to develop new ideas for patient drug adherence post surgery. These new ideas would decrease further hospitalizations and increase consumption resulting in increased revenues.
Approach:
The pharmaceutical companies created a special innovation program that involved an offsite workshop consisting of leading experts in the field, and funded the effort to hire a leading public relations firm and Patricia Harmon & Associates. The approach to creative thinking and innovation consisted of three phases: Program Design, Program Implementation and Program Evaluation. The approach used is comparable to the innovation methodology and process recommended for this client.
Result:
A confidentiality agreement with the Weber Shandwick PR agency and client manufacturers prevents any disclosure of this program except that the client’s expectations were exceeded. Weber Shandwick, a leading public relations firm, was retained to compile all ideas after the workshop and develop a plan for program implementation. The leader of the public relations effort is willing to provide additional information about Pat Harmon’s role in this engagement.
Global Consumer Products Company
Challenge:
Jarden Consumer Solutions (NYSE: JAH) has an ongoing requirement to foster innovation and creativity among executives through brainstorm sessions focused on new product development. The challenge for Jarden executives is to continually think differently while evaluating new concepts during normal business hours. Several times a year, the company has adopted a process and methodology for innovation with outside off-site meetings focused on this challenge.
Approach:
During the first engagement, Patricia Harmon evaluated the current state of innovation for new product development, and incorporated skill based techniques, assessment tools and workshop facilitated training. Jarden managers from around the world have been trained in creative thinking and bring these skills-based techniques back to their operational offices through a train-the-trainer program.
Result:
Many new product ideas were generated in the sessions and several have been manufactured and sold around the world generating revenue for the NYSE company. Management continues to utilize Patricia Harmon for her innovation methodology and consultative services.
Global Financial Services Company
Challenge:
When JP Morgan merged with Chase Manhattan Bank, the global financial services organization needed to interject creativity and innovation into the newly merged company with programs that would retain clients, increase revenue, reduce expenses and blend cultures.
Approach:
JPMorganChase decided the best approach for this major organizational change initiative was to assess the current state of innovation/creativity, and retain an outside professional to facilitate a global senior leadership session. The approach required developing a custom methodology for innovation and organizational change. After a review of leading innovation-directed professionals, Patricia Harmon was selected and successfully completed this multi-year engagement.
Result:
Over the next several years, Patricia Harmon supported the program design, implementation and evaluation of internal bank-led innovation programs, and executed a series of workshops, measuring program success for the newly merged company. This program was completed at significantly less expense than the investment proposal from the top tier consulting firms.
Custom Corporate Innovation Training Program for Kuwait Entrepreneurs
Challenge:
The Kuwait government is actively encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the country in order to have a more economically diverse business sector in the future. The challenge was to design, and implement a program for entrepreneurs that would achieve their specific economic development goals.
Approach:
To achieve this goal, the client contacted Cornell University’s ILR School and a custom corporate education program was developed for business executives / students by the Human Capital Development Group. The Kuwait Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation has been taught for the past four years to support the country’s development plan. A key component of the 2013 program was to measure the current state of creative thinking and the innovation mindset of these executives via an assessment tool that compares the students to a larger base of business executives.
Result:
Patricia Harmon was retained to support the program design, and to serve as a consultant and keynote speaker for a creative thinking and innovation module of program at the Ithaca campus. The Innovation Leadership Assessment tool was utilized by every executive prior to the course and custom reports were prepared for every student with results reviewed in the classroom.
Michael Serino, Executive Director, Human Capital Development says the group’s experience with entrepreneurship programs in the Middle East has shown there is a deep desire to understand the thinking and processes vital to creating sustainable businesses. Gwyneth Dobson, Director, Human Capital Development, added: "We see global interest in entrepreneurship education, and we expect this trend to continue. In this year's program, we repurposed traditional business skills for the entrepreneur.”