535: What students at Daemen University learn about innovation that you should know too – with John Spero

The most important takeaways from past episodes of Product Mastery Now TLDR Product innovation requires deliberate approaches to teamwork, problem-solving, and customer understanding. John Spero, former senior R&D manager and current innovation professor, highlighted frameworks and methodologies that help product teams work effectively together. These include using tools like DISC assessments to build stronger teams, applying Design Thinking approaches to understand customer needs, and using creative problem-solving techniques to tackle innovation challenges systematically. Key Topics * Building innovation cultures and effective product teams * Using DISC assessments to improve team dynamics and productivity * Applying Design Thinking frameworks to solve complex problems * Voice of the Customer methodologies for deeper customer insights * Divergent and convergent thinking techniques for innovation * Tackling the “fuzzy front end” of product development * Facilitation tools like Six Thinking Hats and Phoenix Checklist * Best practices for prototype development and testing * Professional development paths for product managers Introduction In this episode, our guest is highlighting some takeaways from previous episodes of Product Mastery Now and sharing how they connect with his work today, teaching innovation. With us is John Spero. John has had a long and successful career in product development and management and related roles, including being a senior R&D Manager at Praxair and then Lean Specialist as well as an Agile Coach for the same organization, including after the acquisition by Linde, the global industrial gases company based in Ireland. Now he teaches at Daemen University in their Leadership & Innovation program, focusing on critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills for complex innovation situations. John and I met through the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), and he invited me to help onboard product managers at Praxair. John assigns podcast episodes, including Product Mastery Now, to his students, and recently he suggested that we discuss key takeaways from these episodes. Let’s see what he has found that is essential for innovators to know.  Building Culture and Teams for Innovation Success Creating successful products starts with having the right innovation culture and effective teams. John explained that before students can create valuable products, they need to understand how to foster an innovation culture within their organizations. This means creating an environment where creative thinking is encouraged, risk-taking is supported, and learning from failure is valued. He referenced 493: Perfecting Product Culture and Teams, noting that many students come into his program with academic research experience but struggle to transfer that knowledge into actual product development. The bridge between research and product creation requires a supportive team culture. What Makes an Effective Innovation Team? John has found that the most successful innovation teams share several key characteristics: