Business WeekSeptember 2, 2009

Background InformationDentists using composites had to choose

between strength and polishability

Sumita Mitra, employee of the 3M ESPE (dental products line) wanted to create a product that delivered both

Established Internal Networking ChannelsMitra went to 3M’s database of technical

reports to find nontraditional materialsWent and talked to the authors of the reports

she was interested in3M expects collaboration between employees

and unitsDue to collaboration, 3M designed a better

mix/apply system for putty used to repair dents in their automotive division. The lab adapted the material used to make dental impressions.

Collaboration’s Dividends3M launched Filtek Supreme Plus in 2002

and it is now the industry’s leading composite for restorative dental work.

3M would not have made such a breakthrough if it did not use collaboration as an important part of innovation and create the systems to support it

What can executives learn from 3M? Support networks

Build web-based social networks that help employees find the right people to help answer their questions

Build collaboration into employee evaluation system Reward employees for spreading innovative products, ideas,

processes not just for developing them Encourage curiosity

3M allows employees to spend 15% of their time working on projects of their own

Create innovation funds Funds that employees can go to for funding of innovation projects

that do not fit into existing departments Don’t underestimate the value of proximity

3M’s Post-it Note team wanted to accelerate product development so they put the team’s marketing and financial members into the same building as the tech people