NOTE: The slides here are part of a longer discussion here - http://bit.ly/2czm4NU One of my recent clients was a large, multinational enterprise looking to integrate design thinking into their innovation model. During the course of our engagement, it became clear that their current model wouldn’t readily accept the adaptability of design thinking without a lot of reverse engineering. Let’s stop here for a minute: this is an important note. The model - the process through which ideas move - is only one part of a mature innovation system. As with any good project, there are other, symbiotic elements that must be developed alongside the model itself. In the case of “mature innovation,” this should include complimentary thinking around strategy, information, and culture. Without taking all four of these into account, an innovation system will become stale and difficult to adapt: precisely the opposite of what it is meant to achieve. Rather than shoe-horn an examination of all four parts into a single post, I’m focusing here solely on the model itself, how “innovation models” have evolved over time, and why hybrid models are the only appropriate choice for enterprises today.