Strategy Session at RIT Highlights the Importance of New Ideas in Business

New ideas are key to better products and services, but what does it take to generate these concepts? That question is on the table for business leaders gathering at Rochester Institute of Technology.

"Sustaining the Flow of New Ideas for Better Products and Services" will be discussed during the next open session of the RIT New-Product Development Forum on Monday, Oct. 21. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Xerox Auditorium, James E. Gleason Building, on RIT’s Henrietta campus.

Speakers include Kevin Kolpasky, senior creative engineer at General Motors Corp. (Getting New Ideas Through the System); Michael Johnson, professor of business administration at the University of Michigan (Using Innovation to Create a Competitive Service Advantage); Christopher Miller, founder of Innovation Focus (Hunting for Hunting Grounds: Forecasting the Fuzzy Front End); and Jeff Aird, engineering director at TRW Automotive (Performance by Design: PD Metrics as Used by Global Automotive Suppliers). John Ettlie, Madelon and Richard Rosett Chair in RIT’s College of Business, will serve as moderator.

The RIT New-Product Development Forum, a partnership between RIT faculty and local businesses, is designed to address applied-research issues related to the successful introduction of new products and services. Bausch & Lomb, Carpenter Technologies, Exxon-Mobil Chemical, Gleason Works, IMI Norgren Inc., ITT Industries-Goulds Pumps and Navistar-International Truck and Engine are participating in this initiative.

A continental breakfast will be served the morning of the event, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Lunch will also be provided.

Registration is $100. To more information, visit RIT’s College of Business Web site at www.cob.rit.edu, or contact Angelo Fuino at 475-7431 or jafbbu@rit.edu.