Reinventing Innovation

The Idea in Practice

Research Principles

1. Study “technology in use” to improve work processes. PARC customizes behind-the-scenes information technology to enhance work practices and “listen” to customers.

A new software feature on Xerox’s high-end copiers predicts machine breakdowns, calls a branch office to download its predication, and schedules a repair person to visit the site—before the expected breakdown. Customers never see a machine fail, and Xerox uses information generated by the software to design future generations of copiers.

2. Harvest local innovations. Most employees constantly improvise to handle surprises and solve problems. But these “workarounds” rarely spread beyond their local groups to benefit the larger organization. PARC’s solutions? One is easy-to-use programming tools enabling employees to disseminate knowledge throughout the company. Another is revamped training methods to increase organizational learning.

After realizing that Xerox’s service reps learn more by swapping stories than through formal training, PARC began envisioning a multimedia information system—filled with annotated videoclips of useful stories that would let reps from around the world plug into Xerox’s collective memory and learn from past successes and failures.

3. “Coproduce” new technologies and work practices with partners throughout your company. To communicate new insights so that others in your company can grasp their potential, don’t simply pour knowledge into their heads. Instead, help them develop whole new mental models.

With the advent of digital copying, Xerox had to challenge long-held assumptions about products, markets, and customer needs that the older, light-lens xerography had created. Before building the technology, PARC helped managers think about copiers in fresh ways. It created a video in which researchers acted out the new technology’s potential, then challenged viewers to imagine additional uses for digital copying.

4. Innovate with customers. Research’s ultimate partner? The customer. Collaborate with customers to co-produce technology and work systems they’ll need in the future.

Xerox’s pharmaceutical customer, Syntex, wanted to better manage the 300,000+ drug-test report forms it collects annually. Through Xerox’s Express project team, Syntex employees spent time at PARC learning about Xerox’s technologies-in-progress. PARC researchers, engineers, and marketers observed them in action at Syntex. Results? A new document-management system that solved Syntex’s problem and became a prototype with potential value for the entire pharmaceutical industry.

Conclusion

To prevail amid rapid and unpredictable change, your company must do more than simply invent new technologies and breakthrough products. It must reinvent the innovation process itself. By designing cutting-edge work processes that enable your organization to innovate continuously, your research department can reinvent your corporation.

FAQs

Q: What are the four powerful principles to reinvent the innovation process?
A: Study “technology in use” to improve work processes, harvest local innovations, “coproduce” new technologies and work practices with partners, and innovate with customers.

Q: How can we improve our work processes using technology?
A: By customizing behind-the-scenes information technology to enhance work practices and “listen” to customers.

Q: How can we spread innovative solutions across our organization?
A: By using easy-to-use programming tools to enable employees to disseminate knowledge throughout the company and revamped training methods to increase organizational learning.

Seagate Mozaic 3+ Hard Disk Drive

New Shipment of Exos M Hard Disk Drives

Seagate Technology has announced the shipment of Exos M hard disk drives, HDDs, with up to 36TB storage capacity to customers. These HDDs utilize Seagate’s Mozaic 3+ heat-assisted magnetic recording, HAMR, technology, which employs lasers to reduce the magnetic fields from the write head required to write high-densities on stable high coercivity magnetic recording media.

Increased Storage Capacity and Areal Density

The 36TB HDDs feature 10 disks, providing 3.6TB per disk. This likely results in about 1.8TB per square inch areal density, a 13% advance over the prior 32TB HDDs. The chart below shows Coughlin Associates’ history of shipping HDD areal densities.

Hard Disk Drive Product Areal Density Growth History

[Coughlin Associates]

Seagate projects that 10TB per disk is attainable, enabling a 100TB 10-disk HDD. This trend indicates that HAMR allows HDD areal density growth, and thus the increased capacity per HDD, could grow as much as 15-20% annually.

Data Center Storage Advantages

Seagate claims that these drives will provide significant advantages for data center storage, including scale, total cost of ownership, and sustainability. The company says that these drives can provide 300% more storage capacity within the same data center footprint, a 25% cost reduction per TB, and 60% power reduction per TB compared to prior generation products.

AI-Driven Storage Demand

A Recon Analytics survey, commissioned by Seagate and conducted in November 2024 with 1,062 participants, showed some interesting trends on how AI is creating increased digital storage demand. The survey found that:

* 61% of infrastructure buyers who predominantly use cloud storage for AI data management expect storage requirements to at least double by 2028 due to retention times increasing from 6 months to forever.
* 73% of respondents using daily or weekly LLM checkpointing.
* 80% deeming data replication for AI very or moderately important.
* 95% of storage buyers using AI or planning to adopt it are taking measures to accommodate the growing storage requirements.

Conclusion

Seagate’s Exos M hard disk drives with Mozaic 3+ technology offer significant advantages for data center storage, including increased storage capacity, power savings, and cost reductions. The growing demand for storage driven by AI adoption highlights the importance of cost-effective storage solutions like HDDs.

FAQs

Q: What is the storage capacity of Seagate’s Exos M hard disk drives?
A: The storage capacity of Seagate’s Exos M hard disk drives ranges from 32TB to 36TB.

Q: What is HAMR technology?
A: HAMR technology is a heat-assisted magnetic recording technology that employs lasers to reduce the magnetic fields from the write head required to write high-densities on stable high coercivity magnetic recording media.

Q: What are the advantages of Seagate’s Exos M hard disk drives for data center storage?
A: The advantages of Seagate’s Exos M hard disk drives for data center storage include scale, total cost of ownership, and sustainability. These drives can provide 300% more storage capacity within the same data center footprint, a 25% cost reduction per TB, and 60% power reduction per TB compared to prior generation products.

Innovations in Workforce Productivity

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, the ability to optimize workflows and boost productivity is more crucial than ever. With the constant influx of data, businesses are facing challenges in managing their workflows, managing resources, and making informed decisions. This is where data analytics comes in, providing valuable insights to help businesses streamline their processes, improve efficiency, and ultimately, drive success.

The Benefits of Data Analytics

Data analytics offers numerous benefits to businesses, including:

• Improved Decision-Making

  Data analytics enables businesses to make informed decisions based on facts, rather than gut feelings or intuition. By analyzing data, businesses can identify patterns, trends, and correlations that can inform strategic decisions.

• Enhanced Process Efficiency

  Data analytics helps businesses to identify bottlenecks and areas of inefficiency, allowing them to optimize workflows and streamline processes.

• Better Resource Allocation

  Data analytics provides valuable insights into resource allocation, helping businesses to prioritize tasks and allocate resources effectively.

• Increased Productivity

  Data analytics enables businesses to identify areas of inefficiency and waste, allowing them to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary tasks, ultimately leading to increased productivity.

How to Optimize Workflows with Data Analytics

So, how can businesses optimize workflows and boost productivity with data analytics? Here are some tips:

• Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  Identify the most critical metrics that affect your business’s success and use data analytics to track and analyze them.

• Collect and Analyze Data

  Gather data from various sources and analyze it using data analytics tools to identify patterns, trends, and correlations.

• Visualize Data

  Use data visualization tools to present data in a clear and concise manner, making it easier to identify areas of improvement.

• Make Data-Driven Decisions

  Use data insights to inform business decisions, rather than relying on intuition or guesswork.

• Monitor and Adjust

  Continuously monitor the performance of your business and adjust processes as needed based on data insights.

Tools and Technologies

There are numerous tools and technologies available for data analytics, including:

• Spreadsheets

  Spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are great for data analysis and visualization.

• Data Visualization Tools

  Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js are ideal for presenting data in a clear and concise manner.

• Data Science Platforms

  Platforms like Python, R, and Apache Spark are popular for data science and machine learning tasks.

• Cloud-Based Analytics

  Cloud-based analytics platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offer scalability and flexibility.

Challenges and Best Practices

While data analytics offers numerous benefits, there are also challenges to overcome, including:

• Data Quality

  Ensuring the quality and integrity of data is crucial for accurate analysis and insights.

• Data Volume

  Managing large volumes of data can be overwhelming, but data analytics platforms can help alleviate this challenge.

• Lack of Skills

  Some businesses may lack the skills and expertise needed to analyze data effectively, making it essential to invest in employee training and development.

• Data Security

  Protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access or breaches is essential, making it crucial to invest in data security measures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, data analytics is a powerful tool that can help businesses optimize workflows and boost productivity. By leveraging data analytics, businesses can make informed decisions, improve process efficiency, and ultimately, drive success. Remember to define KPIs, collect and analyze data, visualize data, make data-driven decisions, and monitor and adjust processes as needed. With the right tools, technologies, and best practices in place, your business can thrive in today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape.

FAQs

What is data analytics?

Data analytics is the process of extracting insights and value from data using various techniques and tools.

What are the benefits of data analytics?

Data analytics offers numerous benefits, including improved decision-making, enhanced process efficiency, better resource allocation, and increased productivity.

How do I get started with data analytics?

Start by defining your business’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and collecting relevant data. Use data analytics tools and technologies to analyze and visualize the data, and make informed decisions based on the insights gained.

What are the challenges of data analytics?

Common challenges include data quality, data volume, lack of skills, and data security.

What are the best practices for data analytics?

Best practices include defining KPIs, collecting and analyzing data, visualizing data, making data-driven decisions, and monitoring and adjusting processes as needed.