How mighty is the pen? Part 2

To answer some of the questions I posed in yesterday’s blog, I located a specific example of a good use of the pen as a convenience device. The June 5, 2007 Wall Street Journal article “Insulin Pens Go Sleek, With Options” by Avery Johnson goes into details about the use of the insulin pen for diabetics. Interestingly, these pens are not as widely used in the United States as they are in Great Britain.

As we explored yesterday, pens and the fast food society of America go hand in hand. So why the American reliance on tried and true needles and vials instead of the more easy to carry/easy to use insulin pens? Are we less adventurous when it comes to early adoption of new medical technology than the British?

I think the bottom line for why insulin pens were slow to catch on with Americans comes down to options. We are open to trying new ideas as long as the new idea adds something to the equation. If we can get the same results without changing, we are less likely to try the new thing.

When attempting to make a product switch such as this, it can be helpful to consult our Change Agent® tool, which will:
• Define the need/reason for chnge and Relevance for key internal and external audiences
• Create communications strategy, timetable, messages, measurements and tools
• Delineate Risks, Roadblocks, and Rewards
• Mentor managers through the current change event and prepare them for the next
• Train and motivate audiences to embrace and execute their specific change event responsibilities, and
• Prepare for new change opportunities