So what? who cares? why you?
Developed by WKI founder and CEO, Wendy Kennedy, So what? who cares? why you?® is a systematic methodology to define the business value proposition of a science or technology concept, idea or project. Based on more than 20 years of academic and entrepreneurial expertise, the methodology is in use by more than 10,000 scientists, engineers and researchers at organizations in more than nine countries.
The So what? who cares? why you?® methodology provides a systematic means for organizations to instill common tools and a common approach. The methodology delivers a critical component to an organization’s commercialization, innovation and entrepreneurship agenda by bridging the gap in understanding that often occurs between science and technology innovators and those people who assess and managed the commercialization of ideas, projects or programs.
In practical terms, the methodology empowers organization to guide science and technology innovators through a step-by-step process of developing the business value of their innovations. With it, they can discover and communicate compelling propositions for investors, customers, managers and partners.
It has been implemented by leading global organizations that share a common goal: to identify early-stage science and technology innovations that have the potential for commercial success, ultimately accelerating the path to market for these innovations.
How It Works
The power of the So what? who cares? why you?® methodology lies in its disciplined, structured process proven to systematically transform ideas, projects and programs into the value propositions. Each question of the methodology represents a central theme in the business value discovery process and is anchored by a visual tool or framework to explore, model and map business value.
The methodology is based on a fundamental belief at WKI — science and technology commercialization must begin with the founder of the idea – at the early stages of idea development, the founder who developed the idea is best equipped to frame what the business value proposition “might” be.
Why it Works
The So what? who cares? why you?® methodology has been adopted internationally as a web hosted platform, in book form, workshops, coaching clinics, and executive retreats in organizations, government research labs, incubators, economic development agencies and leading universities. The magic of the methdology lies in simple, practical tools that get to the heart of the business value of an idea. The tools guide innovators to focus on key elements that business people want to understand at the VERY early stages of idea development. The tools are proven to work because they align with the way innovators think and they produce the outputs that business people want.
How it’s Being Used
The So what? who cares? why you?® methodology is in use in a variety of contexts, helping to advance the innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship agendas of organizations:
Open Innovation – organizations use So what? who cares? why you?® inside the idea-submission process for open innovation systems. Idea submissions are developed into clearly articulated value propositions through an online interactive, web hosted platform.
Intrapreneurship and Corporate Entrepreneurship – incubators and commercialization organizations weave So what? who cares? why you?® into the fabric of their operations to accelerate time to market for ideas and to make better bets on investments in emerging technologies.
Commercialization Offices use So what? who cares? why you?® to see the value of their intellectual property in business terms. It equips inventors to present the commercial value of their work to both the tech transfer office as well as industry partners, creating an acceleration effect in moving IP to the market.
Business Incubation– incubation centers use So what? who cares? why you?® as the platform for their pre-incubation program to guide pre-venture entrepreneurs with early stage ideas to determine the business viability of the idea or concept.
Research Organizations – use So what? who cares? why you?® to aid their staff at all levels to be more industry focused and accelerate conversations with industry partners about market ready innovations.
