Thinking at the Next Level ... What Matters!

The mindless net sometimes proves otherwise. Via the blog, Endless Innovation, I've been introduced to a fantastic new site from McKinsey & Company, What Matters! Although this service appears to be only a month old, the content repository is phenomenal. In short, McKinsey has brought together thought leaders on a diverse set of topics, and asked them to chime in on "what matters". There are ten different subject areas, but given my own interests, here are my favorites:

• Innovation
• Internet
• Organization

In a unique and fair way of presenting data, McKinsey has created the Debate Zone. You will find two alternative, well thought out viewpoints, which you may then read and join the debate. The current debate focuses upon Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade. RSS is linked all over the site; thus subscribe to your desired content (learn more about how to use RSS)

What attracted me first to "What Matters" was their review of Innovation Clusters. Using research conducted by Professor Juan Alcacer of Harvard Business School, you will find a dynamic Flash based animation which lets you review where innovation is occurring in the world, and where it is not. While there are obvious hot spots of innovation (Silicon Valley), would you be surprised to learn than my home in Minnesota (Minneapolis) may be cold in temperature, but it's hot in terms of innovation.? Here is how McKinsey describes their animated chart.

"Innovation clusters around the world can be classified based on their growth and diversity dynamics: 'hot springs' are small, fast-growing hubs on track to become world players; 'dynamic oceans' consist of large and vibrant ecosystems with continuous creation and destruction of new businesses; 'silent lakes' are older, slower-growing hubs with a narrow range of large established companies; 'shrinking pools' have been unable, so far, to expand beyond their start-up core and so find themselves slowly migrating down the value chain."

When you link to the McKinsey Innovation Cluster Description, use the "continue arrow" in the bottom right corner to actually reach the animation. Here are two screenshots which gives you an idea of the innovation cluster tool. When you visit the actual McKinsey tool, you may select your own desired regions and zoom levels. Click upon either graphic shown below to view full sized. My thanks to the Map Scroll Blog for providing some labels.