CR024: How LEGO rewrote the rules of innovation and conquered with David Robertson, MIT & Author

LEGO is one of the world's best-loved and most familiar brands, adored by generations of children (and podcast hosts and listeners).  What is less well known, perhaps, is its journey over the last 20 years which has required significant innovation.  Granted unprecedented access to every part of the LEGO Group, David Robertson, for his book 'Brick by Brick', not only charted each twist in the company's story but analyses the nature of the challenges and how they were overcome.  The lessons he distills from such an epic journey can be used to inform leadership decision making, digital transformations and innovation strategies today.

Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk with David (MIT Sloane School of Management & Horton School at University of Pennsylvania & author of 'Enterprise Architecture as Strategy', 'Brick by Brick' and 'The Power of Little Ideas') about his work with LEGO and how his findings helps drive and govern innovation.  How do you think not only "outside the box" but also "around the box" and how does the Business Model Canvas help with categorising and organising around innovation?  We begin and end the conversation with the advantages and disadvantages of using Enterprise Architecture...

TLDR:
00:45 Intros
02:03 Cloud conversation with David Robertson
37:00 Is there a role of Enterprise Architecture in an Agile world?
45:16 New book looking at the next phase of the LEGO journey!

Further reading:
Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: https://amzn.eu/d/68ezC9w
Brick by Brick: https://amzn.eu/d/3q3IsiX
Power of Little Ideas: https://amzn.eu/d/69Zq7Uq

Guest
David Robertson:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchrobertson/

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sjouke Zaal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjoukjezaal/

Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Production
Marcel Van Der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-van-der-burg-99a655/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/

Creators & Guests

Host

Dave Chapman

Chief Cloud Evangelist with nearly 30 years of global experience in strategic development, transformation, program delivery, and operations, I bring a wealth of expertise to the world of cloud innovation. In addition to my professional expertise, I’m the creator and main host of the Cloud Realities podcast, where we explore the transformative power of cloud technology.

Host

Rob Kernahan

VP Chief Architect for Cloud and Cloud Realities podcast host, drives digital transformation by combining deep technical expertise with exceptional client engagement. Passionate about high-performance cultures, he leverages cloud and modern operating models to create low-friction, high-velocity environments that fuel business growth and empower people to thrive.

Producer

Marcel van der Burg

VP Global Marketing and producer of the Cloud Realities podcast, is a strategic marketing leader with 33+ years of experience. He drives global cloud marketing strategies, leveraging creativity, multi-channel expertise, and problem-solving to deliver impactful business growth in complex environments.

What is Cloud Realities?

Exploring the practical and exciting alternate realities that can be unleashed through cloud driven transformation and cloud native living and working.

Each episode, our hosts Dave, Esmee & Rob talk to Cloud leaders and practitioners to understand how previously untapped business value can be released, how to deal with the challenges and risks that come with bold ventures and how does human experience factor into all of this?

They cover Intelligent Industry, Customer Experience, Sustainability, AI, Data and Insight, Cyber, Cost, Leadership, Talent and, of course, Tech.

Together, Dave, Esmee & Rob have over 80 years of cloud and transformation experience and act as our guides though a new reality each week.

Web - https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/cloud-realities-podcast/
Email - [e-mail]