Nine practical tips to consider before starting an innovation or ideation project. Based on LinkedIn discussions and our own experience in running innovation projects for our clients.
Nine practical tips to consider before starting an innovation or ideation project. Based on LinkedIn discussions and our own experience in running innovation projects for our clients.
saeed_yIt all sound great as far as managing innovation is the concern. Your process explains a nice and structured way to manage innovation as any initiative (or any project if I may). If I do not misunderstand this, innovation must be a product of creative thinking. The key questions would then be: what is creative thinking? What stops us from being creative or thinking creatively? How do we implement such thinking process in our mind and in our organizations before we learn the ability to innovate?1 year ago
9 tips to boost your innovation project (by @nickdemey)Presentation Transcript
cc doitintheroad
Hi, we run an innovation office Helping organizations find better ways to make money, is what we do.
We handpicked 9 valuable lessons for innovation managers who want to... • Start a new innovation project • Set up a kick-ass innovation team • Impress Miss Lucy from Marketing • Take out risk when launching a new product or servicecc shenamt
...all based on our experience with ...And feedback from people in our Linkedin Group +4500 members already ! Many thanks for your replies !
1. One eye, one target2. Buy-in or you’re out!3. You’re not the expert4. Game on!5. Go stealth mode6. Hold on tight7. Annoy people8. Do the alpha9. Back to square one
1/9 Don’t try to solve all problems at once - stay focused cc jkunz
1. One eye, one targetYou don’t start an innovation project to do some “image building”A clear goal is crucial - Define why you innovate! Michael Schoultz Director, Business Development - Northrop Grumman Making sure (before starting) that you know and understand the problem you are trying to solve.
1. One eye, one targetBut be aware! Over time, during your project you might have toredefine your target when the context changes. Be flexible! James Gardner Director - Bondaii Ltd The initial goal or target may change dramatically as the project proceeds and better market opportunities emerge.
2/9 Know the importance of management buy-in cc pgoyette
2. Buy-in or you’re out!Don’t start without commitment from management.Don’t waste energy by pushing ideas upwards in the chain! Dick Lee CEO and Chief Innovation Officer - Value Innovations, Inc The CEO must be a full supporter. Laura Handrick Principal - Pearl Consulting Executive buy in is critical.
2. Buy-in or you’re out!Create multidisciplinary teams, select cross-departmental groups.We go for 1 core team (max 5) + an extended group (max 20) John Brooker Expert facilitator - Yes! And... The basic mantra "involve all functions!" ... if all functions are involved in the innovation there is likely to be much more support moving forward.
3/9 Don’t be too shy to involve experts. cc tim_ellis
3. You’re not the expert > OnlyAs an innovation manager you can’t do everything by yourself.Involve experts at every step & yes, clients can be experts too! Sebastian Grodzietzki Head of Product Management - datango AG Tip #1: Involving the target group (selected clients) in a very early stage.
4/9 Innovation should be exciting! - Live it up! cc nathaninsandiego
4. Game on!There is no better incentive to create commitment and ensure acontinuous flow of ideas.Example: Our process is repacked in a “Movie Making” themeSo we have ‘a Cast’, ‘Scenario sessions’, ‘Premiere’, ‘Shooting’,... Luis Oliveira Innovation Director at DYB Use your hands to think, play... but play serious games, as often as you can.
1. One eye, one target2. Buy-in or you’re out!3. You’re not the expert4. Game on! We’re halfway!5. Go stealth mode6. Hold on tight7. Annoy people8. Do the alpha9. Back to square one
5/9 Know when to stay low profile. cc alltheaces
5. Go Stealth mode!Innovation = Change = a red flag for many peopleBe prepared to face resistance, often from within the company. Tim Wright Managing Director - StepChange Strategy Don’t kill creativity at its roots. i.e., less exposure is better in early stages. Nathalie Picard Project Leader - Abbott Dont make it look like its potential innovation.
6/9 Keep firm control on the process. cc adamfranco
6. Hold on tightInnovation is about doing & creating new stuff,by definition you’re taking a deep dive.Lower the risk in your project by taking small incremental stepsBe sure to have structured innovation process in place Chris Turner Director, Brand Strategy - TAG Media LLC Coming up with good ideas is never the problem. Execution is where the challenges lie
7/9 If you don’t annoy people, you’re not innovating. Simple. cc tf28
7. Annoy peopleMixing the informal culture of innovation with traditionalcorporate culture might be your biggest challenge.Pay enough attention to reporting and communication Kevin Paylow Vice President of Strategy at Sabre Energy Services, LLC Never underestimate corporate antibodies’ Bill Wyatte Manager, Strategic Directions at Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland People nodding doesnt mean that they agree with your proposition.
8/9 You’ll learn the most via prototypes and testing cc kenstein
8. Do the alphaTest your ideas in a real market environment.Make a business prototype to get feedback on your projectBe careful, this is not an easy task! Sebastian Grodzietzki Head of Product Management - datango AG Expect more clients (guinea pigs) to jump off their commitment for “preview – alpha – beta” testing.
9/9 You will have to start over. cc hapax-pict
9. Back to square oneInnovation is not a one-time process. Document all lessonslearned from your project and iterate.Allocate enough resources in order to keep your pipeline filled up Sebastian Grodzietzki Head of Product Management - datango AG Have a system/infrastructure in place to track progresses, feedback and (agile) requirements changes.
Our structured way to create innovation blockbusters Board of Innovation has delivered a surprising, We very much enjoyed the training and will very well structured and productive approach to definitely use all the content and the method in our ‘innovation challenge’. Their strengths? A the future. good planning (that was strictly followed!), very Steffi Wolring, Innovation Lead at Otto Group short response times, and a continuous focus, in combination with a pleasant way of taking us out of our comfort zone and letting us think ‘out of the box’. Caroline Ameloot - Marketing & Sales Director, Carglass / Belron
Let’s have a virtual cup of coffee & discuss your innovation challenge! coffee@boardofinnovation.com @philderidder @nickdemeycc visualpanic
Marcos E. Rodríguez
If I do not misunderstand this, innovation must be a product of creative thinking. The key questions would then be: what is creative thinking? What stops us from being creative or thinking creatively? How do we implement such thinking process in our mind and in our organizations before we learn the ability to innovate? 1 year ago