Discovering the new era of Scrabble
The Daily Mail headline mocked the simplicity of the word “THICK” on April 9th, reacting to Scrabble’s recent revamp. The classic game now offers a double-sided board in some regions, with one side featuring a more approachable design aimed at being more welcoming and inclusive.
The notion of making Scrabble less cutthroat to appeal to Gen Z was bound to stir controversy. Critics joked about future minimalist versions of chess, but amidst the backlash against perceived “snowflakes” and “wokeness,” the updated game by Mattel, launching globally except in North America, presents a sensible solution to updating beloved products.
Innovation studies stress the importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making. Relying on the same group for ideas limits breakthroughs. Research by Paul Vicinanza and colleagues at Stanford University highlighted how groundbreaking ideas often come from unconventional sources. This applies not only to internal teams but also to customer perceptions. Customers resistant to change may hinder product evolution.
2024-04-18 07:59:33
Originally posted on www.economist.com