Future of Innovation Interview Questions
Opening:
With such a long history in the energy & innovation world - where do you think your focus of tomorrow is?
1. The innovation mindspace:
a) What do you see as some of the transformational innovation methods emerging today?
b) What are the main drivers of innovation?
c) What are his views on open source - and in particular its limitations?
d) Exciting developments from competitors? e.g. extended university / R&D alliances / trend on competition based innovation?
e) What do you define as innovation in your area?
f) Which is the industry which is surprising you the most in the innovation area
g) What do you see as current innovation drivers
2. Industry drivers:
a) We see environmental, economic margins and regulatory pressures as driving much innovation in the energy sector. What do you think are the main influencers of innovations - non-traditional, or emerging drivers?(from political,economic,social,energy demand & requirement etc.)
b) Is innovation investment sufficient to support activities? And the future trends (higher and higher, major capital investment?) What are the main influencers of future investment?
c) What is the main achievements of innovations so far?
d) Which technologies are important for Shell innovations so far, and in the future?
3. General - broadening the discussion:
a) What is he most afraid of?
b) What do you think your competitors are more afraid of?
c) What sort of barriers does he encounter so far in fostering innovation?
d) What do they foresee as they most significant industry-changing innovation or process in 10 years?
e) Why the step down in investment in wind, solar and hydro as alternative energy sources in light of the contrary by most competitors?
f) How do you see the strategy within Shell changing with the depleting oil reserves?
4. Learnings from GameChanger:
a) What index is used to measure the success of projects created from Game Changer?
b) GameChanger functions in some way is similar with corporate entrepreneurship(invest & support some good ideas to turn into outcomes), right?
c) Are they worried through GameChanger that they don't capture the BIG ideas - the industry transformational ones? i.e. due to nature of IP / patent value?
d) Is game changer the only innovation tool they are using?
e) Ultimately, what do you see as potentially making 'GameChanger' redundant?
f) Given the changing industry landscape, what do see exciting role of GameChanger in the company tomorrow?