I was invited to this conference in Amsterdam discussing new product development strategies. It was interesting to see how wide selection of companies attended. Typically us working in IT or ICT tend to talk to each other, padding each others' backs and talk our very own jargon. But not here.

Perhaps most surprisingly, there were at least two tobacco companies and two beverage companies in the audience, asking a lot of questions and making good remarks. The traditional companies presenting, on the other hand, didn't have much radical new development strategies.

Next time there should be a open panel discussing how cigarette companies actually come up with their product development strategies. Now that would be interesting to hear.