There are two types of organizations in the world today: those have retrenched, shut down their idea machines, and are trying to coast through the recession. Then there are those who are making sure that they keep their team focused on the future, opportunities, and the need for innovative thinking.

I've been confirmed to be the opening keynote speaker for next a global leadership/franchise conference for a company in this is industry.

This is really quite an honor, and I think is indicative that my theme that "organizations need to stay on the innovative edge despite the recession" resonates strongly.

Every industry is changing at a furious pace, and the quick service food industry is no exception. We're seeing rapid change in terms of branding and marketing, particularly in terms of outreach and interaction with the new mobile consumer. There's a lot of fast paced change in terms of consumer preferences. If we think about issues of restaurant design and construction, there are fast and furious developments in terms of energy usage and environmental footprint. The list goes on and on - there is no shortage of opportunity for new and innovative thinking.

I'll set the stage by challenging the audience to focus on growth, focus on opportunities, and think about how innovation can become a core component of how they progress into the future.

I wrote about these trends in a previous blog post, High velocity change in the food/consumer products sector.

(p.s. I found the photo on iStockPhoto, and dreamed up the "hunting innovation" title. It seemed kind of fun!)

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