Thread regarding Mattel Inc. layoffs

Innovation in everything, not just production

Found this in another thread, and I have rarely agreed more with something posted on this board. We are stuck in the old ways which is preventing us from moving forward. We need to change our entire way of doing business, not only rely on new products to keep us afloat. Op is @PNg7w3c-idu:

99% of the people here are good at their jobs. The most talented people that I have ever worked with in the industry.

The system is what beats everyone into submission. Over and over sustainability of a category has been brought up and that is a big part of the institutionalization of the industry. Retailers expect margins that are no longer achievable with the added bells and whistles. Customers only want commodity in value prices or licenses that have good visibility. Because the consumer base is steadily shrinking and purchase habits are changing. What hasn’t changed is production, marketing, retail and a host of other factors. The Chinese are moving on from the dirty factory businesses yet we still look to create in the same way. We still cater to the remaining retailers who want more and more specialized product for smaller and smaller runs while our global business runs very differently. Innovation is always, always asked of product. Why is innovation never pushed in production, or in finance, retail, or shipping??? We need to look at this business end to end rather than just the product. Then you can ask yourself if you really need that much product to begin with. We all talk about the 80-20 rule but no one, and I mean no one practices it.

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| 1524 views | | 4 replies (last October 20, 2017) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+POZB3sk

4 replies (most recent on top)

Innovation is not the domain of one group or department. In order for it to work it has to be part of culture. You cannot ask one group to be "innovative" while you ask another group to cut cut cut and be cheap. Ok maybe the word is efficient. Regardless, you can't claim to be an innovative company if you are not approaching it from all aspects of your business. Champion risk, champion different thinking, champion failing in trying to do new things.

How do you get people to think differently and be less fearful of risk? Reward them. Reward the ones that try different things, no matter what department. Reward the people who try and fail. Innovation does not guarantee sales by the way. But it paves the way for a sea change. Reward them with bonuses instead of the executives who reap it by just sitting there. Not with the stupid kudos BS.

When people start realizing they won't get fired for trying and doing things differently then it will slowly become part of culture. I mean really, if you can't even get a faster credit card machine at the DC cafeteria to address the lines at lunch time then you should just pack up your innovation sign MGo.

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Post ID: @2cfy+POZB3sk

Why would you start another thread just repeating what has already been said? And recently! Just reply to that thread to avoid needless repetition, dilution and clutter here. Oh wait, I see... You're in management. Repetition, dilution and clutter are virtues to be espoused. Gotcha.

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Post ID: @1nmp+POZB3sk

WiFi in mah pants will make everything better.

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Post ID: @rls+POZB3sk

that's waaaay too much to ask for from this management.

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Post ID: @uer+POZB3sk

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