3M Century of Innovatiom

3M initially struggled to produce quality sandpaper.

The founders mistakenly thought anorthosite would perform like garnet.

Each founder contributed $1,000 in start-up capital.

<p>The local bank trusted 3M based on the founders' solid reputations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>3M sold its first batch of minerals in March 1904, totaling one ton.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The partners voted to cut their salaries and eventually abolished them altogether.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>William McKnight credited Dwan, Ober, and Cable with 'remarkable faith and tenacity'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The lack of revenues and a bare treasury motivated the founders to seek new strategies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He was a sales manager in the national sales office in Chicago.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He started his career as an assistant bookkeeper in 1907.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He believed that risk was necessary to achieve success.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He viewed mistakes as a part of the process and emphasized learning from them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He warned against micromanagement and its negative effects on initiative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To study the commercial value of research projects and recommend whether to continue them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He cautioned that destructively critical management could kill initiative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>His approach suggests a progressive and trusting leadership style focused on empowerment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Joe Duke was given the responsibility to lead the effort.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Anything worth doing is worth doing before it is perfected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It reveals a culture of adventure, challenge, and tolerance for failure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It suggests that while it is beneficial to have diverse skills, it is also important to specialize in a specific area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Objectives should always be updated to adapt to the evolving nature of tasks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It encourages taking initiative and experimenting without waiting for prior approval.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Market surveys were conducted to identify the potential size and profitability of new markets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He was tasked with supervising product quality throughout the development process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They believed in the potential to succeed despite others not investing in their corundum.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ober came from modest means and had high aspirations, which drove him to take risks with his investments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>3M had little success selling stock and was rapidly approaching disaster.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Edgar Ober, a railroad clerk, and John Dwan, a lawyer, were the key investors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It set 3M on a new, stronger course, allowing for greater control and innovation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Acheson discovered how to make an artificial abrasive by combining carbon and silicon at high temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ober demonstrated hard work, ambition, and faith in his investment decisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It suggests that strong belief and vision are essential components for turning ideas into successful realities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He was a retired corporate scientist in the Office Supplies Division.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>3M provided a tolerance for experimentation and allowed employees to pursue independent product ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It suggests that 3M encourages employees to pursue their passions and innovative ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carlton set the tone for the lab as an idea man, promoting a culture of experimentation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bootlegging was the practice of independently working on product ideas outside regular assignments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>His vision involved diversification, which led to innovative thinking and surprising results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He was a founding member of the 3M Technical Forum and worked in the Central Research Laboratory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Employees could adjust their work hours for personal activities, like fishing, and make up the time later.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He decided to hire a strong technical person to lead and coordinate 3M’s research, manufacturing, and engineering activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carlton was a 27-year-old engineering graduate from the University of Minnesota with experience in drafting and electrical contracting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>McKnight was curious about Okie's request and dispatched sales manager Robert Skillman to investigate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Okie created quite a stir among the workers for being the first live inventor they had ever met.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both McKnight and Okie were described as quiet, soft-spoken, and unaffected individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carlton acknowledged that some successes were due to luck and mistakes, stating you can't stumble if you're not in motion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>McKnight could only pay Carlton $65 a month, less than one-third of what he was already making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carlton indicated that some products were stumbled upon rather than intentionally developed.</p> Signup and view all the answers