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UK Innovation consulting firm leads the way in the application of nature to leadership and management at international conference held in Berlin

Phil Richardson, chief executive of innovation and management consultancy firm Thoughtcrew, took the lead in the organisation design and management development working group at the Biokon International conference in Berlin this week. Based on his research in biomimetics at the University of Bath, the working group will focus on specific industry challenges such as growth, supply chain optimisation, change management, developing new markets and products and building effective leadership teams. Biomimetics is the application of nature to innovation and Richardson’s work has shown that using new tools and techniques developed from the observation of biological systems can provide a unique insight into the development of solutions for businesses of all types. Richardson commented “nature has 3.8 billion years worth of problem solving experience, by coupling this with current management thinking it is possible to generate a significant number of new innovations that can drive profitable business growth”.
The uniqueness of this approach means that it is accessible to a wide range of organisations and functional disciplines. Thoughtcrew’s clients for this approach include Northern Rail, Mars, Coca Cola, Reckitt Benckiser, Ministry of Defence, Iron Mountain and Lloyds TSB. Dr Rainer Erb the executive director of Biokon International said “the business biomimetic approach is a welcomed addition to the field of biomimetics which addresses a wide range of problems from developing new sustainable products to greener energy and the creation of new high performance materials”. Current biomimetic applications include the development of unmanned underwater detection systems based on the manta ray, fire detection systems based on beetles and new detergents that will be able to work at 15C.
Richardson’s latest developments include a new approach for brainstorming growth ideas based on the moulting cycle of crabs, where the biochemistry is used as the basis for developing a change management plan to implement the ideas. “Think about your supply chain partners and ask whether the relationship has changed over time, lessons from the Mistletoe can help you determine the health of the current relationship and identify opportunities to improve it” he says. Thoughtcrew can be contacted via www.thoughtcrew.net

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