Innovation Jump Start! A 5-Step Process for Seeding an Innovation Culture

Too often organizations think innovation is simply about generating a lot of creative or “out-of-the-box” ideas. But in organizations where innovation has truly become central to their culture, ideation is simply one step – and not necessarily the first – in an innovation process. Don’t confuse innovation with ideation. Ideation is a tool, but innovation is a process. Don’t let the word “process” intimidate you. Instead, focus on these five guidelines to jump start your innovation process.

1. Inclusion

Innovation isn’t an independent exercise. It takes the collective knowledge and, just as importantly buy-in, of the organization to be successful. Create an innovation team and get key stakeholders involved early and often. First, inform them of the process you want to use to jump start innovation, and then consistently include them in the steps and key outputs of that process. In other words, keep key stakeholders informed and involved. If you’re thinking that there are a million stakeholders in the organization, focus initially on those that have the power to impact whether the concepts defined as a result of the process will live or die on the vine. You can and should expand/modify the team as appropriate for different phases of the process, according to a report in Brainzooming.

2. Insights

Mine the knowledge that already exists within the organization and the market to inform the innovation process. Don’t let yourself get hung up on having every possible question answered before moving into Ideation. While you may find a need to fill some knowledge gaps to successfully implement the products, services or processes you are innovating, more than likely you already have access to what you need to create a solid frame of reference for the Ideation step.  >>More here

SOURCE:  brainzooming.com