For some, the period between March 2020 and March 2021 may have been a time in which innovation accelerated. But for other companies, there have been challenges with the supply chain; increased competition with newer entrants like Airbnb and Robinhood; and a shifting emphasis on more immediate incremental improvements, versus longer-range projects.
Spending a year or more in “fast twitch” responsive mode, versus planning for future growth, may have created an innovation deficit for these companies.
This mini-report is a continuation of our CxOs & Innovation series from 2020. It includes data from a survey fielded in March and April 2021, which received 244 qualified responses. We also conducted qualitative interviews with innovation, product development, R&D, and technology leaders at organizations like Intel, Wayfair, Comcast NBCUniversal, Shell, and HCA Healthcare. The objective: to be helpful to C-suite leaders and professionals responsible for driving innovation in large organizations as we enter a new era.
