Innovation Corporate Intrapreneurship
Rob Siegel, General Manager, Video Software and Solutions, GE Security

Teaching Guide 

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Background on Rob Siegel:

Robert Siegel is a Lecturer in Management at Stanford GSB and he is also a Partner at XSeed Capital. He sits on the Board of Directors of many startups and is the Co-President Emeritus of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs. Prior to joining XSeed, Robert was General Manager of the Video and Software Solutions division for GE Security and was previously Executive Vice President of Pixim, Inc., (acquired by Sony). Before Pixim, Robert was Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Weave Innovations Inc. (acquired by Kodak) and served in various management roles at Intel Corporation, GeoWorks. Robert holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford University.  

Summary: Given the changing landscape of technology, the marketing data showed a need for product evolution in spite of the large company’s resistance to change its processes for a new product development.

 

Takeaway: Leaders in large companies must not only recognize the need to innovate, but also focus on how they are going to get buy in for the change at multiple levels in the organization.

Considerations and Questions:

1-    What was the biggest challenge Rob faced in leading the change?

2-    What do you think were Rob’s options and what were the trade offs? 

3-    How could he move quickly within a large organization with well respected norms?

4-    What is especially challenging about innovating in a large company?  What are the opportunities?

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 1:

Summary: Given the changing landscape of technology, the marketing data showed a need for product evolution in spite of the large company’s resistance to change its processes for a new product development.

Considerations and Questions:

1-    What do you think were viable options for Rob? 

2-    Do you think the company was ready to change processes and its product? Why or Why not?

3-    How should Rob proceed to optimize his success?

4-    In your own organization how do you work to get buy in for new processes and product launches?

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 2:

Summary: Rob must commit to a solution and stop worrying about everybody buying in to his decision.

Considerations and Questions:

  1. What do you think about having to get buy in from multiple departments for a successful launch?
  2. How should Rob prioritize his work and efforts to be successful with the launch?
  3. How could Rob have better anticipated issues?
  4. In your own experience, what do you do to anticipate issues with implementing new ideas and products?

 

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 3: Results and Lessons Learned 

Summary: Rob commits to a path and has great results with the product, but ongoing frustrations with other departments in his company.  He shares his lessons learned from the experience of driving innovation in a large company.

Considerations and Questions:

  1. What could Rob have done better or focused differently?  What worked well?
  2. What surprises you about the results Rob experienced from this effort to innovate and drive adoption?
  3. What steps do you always take when driving innovation in your work?

 

 

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 1: Background and Challenge

 

Summary: Given the changing landscape of technology, the marketing data showed a need for product evolution in spite of the large company’s resistance to change its processes for a new product development.

 

Considerations and Questions:

 

1-    What do you think were viable options for Rob? 

2-    Do you think the company was ready to change processes and its product? Why or Why not?

3-    How should Rob proceed to optimize his success?

4-    In your own organization how do you work to get buy in for new processes and product launches?

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 2: Decision

 

Summary: Rob must commit to a solution and stop worrying about everybody buying in to his decision.

 

Considerations and Questions:

 

  1. What do you think about having to get buy in from multiple departments for a successful launch?
  2. How should Rob prioritize his work and efforts to be successful with the launch?
  3. How could Rob have better anticipated issues?
  4. In your own experience, what do you do to anticipate issues with implementing new ideas and products?

 

Video Vignette: Corporate Intrapreneurship

Featuring: Rob Siegel

Segment 3: Results and Lessons Learned

 

Summary: Rob commits to a path and has great results with the product, but ongoing frustrations with other departments in his company.  He shares his lessons learned from the experience of driving innovation in a large company.

Considerations and Questions:

  1. What could Rob have done better or focused differently?  What worked well?
  2. What surprises you about the results Rob experienced from this effort to innovate and drive adoption?
  3. What steps do you always take when driving innovation in your work?