Many SMEs are specialists in their niche. Their founders have often spent years perfecting their business model. However, the increasing speed of the economy is putting this to the test in ever shorter cycles - currently due to developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
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How can we remain innovative if we are already successful?
This question is on the minds of many managers. The answer often lies in traditional business planning, including forecasts for sales, profits and cash flow. However, it often turns out that business plans rarely survive the first contact with customers.
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Bringing start-up thinking to SMEs
"Lean Startup" is a method that many startups use successfully to bring innovations to market. "Lean" stands for the aspiration to avoid waste. The focus is on implementing the features that are most important to the customer and promise the greatest value contribution. "Startup" means finding a viable business model before resources run out.
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"The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else."
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This Quote from Eric Riesthe co-founder of the lean startup movement, emphasizes the importance of learning and adapting quickly - a core skill that is also essential for SMEs in a dynamic market environment.
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Lean Startup in SMEs: how it works
A useful tool for this is the Future press release. It helps to put yourself in the target state in written form and to describe the way there. Here are the main principles:
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- Change of perspective: Write the press release from the perspective of a point in time when the goal has already been achieved and success has been realized.
- Customer focus: Explain why the innovation is important for customers. What do customers like about the new product or service?
- success story: Outline the principles that led the business model to success. Show the hurdles and describe important decisions and design principles.
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This early discussion helps to better understand the nature of the necessary change. A clear structure helps here:
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