Bart Gras
Recent Strategyn Convert, Strategyn Netherlands
Locale: The Netherlands
Biography: Bart Gras has 20 years of innovation, knowledge management and process improvement experience in business-to-business environments mainly in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. He joined Strategyn in 2008.
“Before I focused on structured ideation and problem solving in product and process development using methods like TRIZ,” Bart said. “Now I am able to connect a predictable innovation approach like Outcome Driven Innovation with a structured ideation/problem solving approach like TRIZ. This ensures creative solutions with a high added value for the market.
Before joining Strategyn, Bart worked as a consultant with such clients as Akzo Nobel, SCA, Shell, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Avebe, Wavin, Numico (now Danone), Organon (now part of Merck). He focused on new product development, production process improvement strategies, and knowledge management strategies.
Having started his career at DSM Research, he held several positions where he optimized chemical processes and introduced knowledge management. At Cap Gemini’s Bolesian, Bart was a senior business consultant in knowledge based systems and knowledge management strategies.
Next Project: Right now I am working on a program that will allow people worldwide to work together on one innovation topic. This is quite exciting and only possible because we use a structured and predictable innovation process like ODI.
Personal: Married to Lia, with four children, two daughters and two sons. I’m into running, reading and geocaching. I was also a beekeeper in a previous life.
Greatest Frustration: The lack of entrepreneurship in times of recession. Most companies start cost-cutting programs without looking into expanding business or preparing for the future after the downturn.
Quote: We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. – Einstein
Last Book Read: Tim Harford’s The Logic of Life.