Innovation Training
An American multinational and its subsidiaries, with over 60,000 employees, faced significant challenges selling its products in over 180 rapidly changing markets. The CEO challenged Information Systems (IS) to use their digital expertise and understanding of enabling technologies to move from passive to proactive and bring business units potential solutions. In turn, the IS organization asked us to further develop the mindset and capabilities required for IS to begin innovating with speed and at scale.
In response, we developed an innovation training strategy based on concentric circles. We started with the core IS team. We taught them our discipline of innovation and how to use tools like CO-STAR to develop and validate valuable ideas. We then created a global network of Innovation Catalysts. This required going on a world tour and training 50-75 IS staff at a time in 4 different countries. With ~250 IS innovation ambassadors, coaches, and facilitators successfully in place, we were invited to run training sessions for their Supply Chain and R&D groups. The core IS team is now self-sufficient and runs innovation trainings on request.
We brought in an idea management platform to complement the training. It not only encouraged the trained to apply their learnings but was a visible example of IS using technology to enhance innovation. The platform's transparency and ease of use allowed employees around the world to collaborate together generating, testing, and sharing new ideas with each other and the business units.
Highlight: The Innovation Catalyst Network
We regularly work with teams responsible for the widespread adoption of innovation methods as well as the collection of new ideas. Often they are expected to implement an ambitious strategy with a limited budget.
To respond to these expectations, your innovation team needs a cost-effective way to amplify its presence and scale its influence. A highly efficient yet simple way to achieve this is to find and bring together the believers, the idea generators, the problem solvers, and the mentors and sponsors in your organization. These natural change agents make good candidates for what we call Innovation Catalysts, and when unified as a cohesive community, can form a powerful network of front-line innovation leaders who know how to make things happen. The Catalysts network offers a distributed model for achieving near-term innovation objectives and sustainable gains over the long run.
We build these networks through a series of bootcamps which:
Establish mastery of core innovation tools and practices (e.g., CO-STAR)
Teach tips and techniques for facilitating groups and coaching individuals
Enhance teamwork and collaboration (create a support community among participants while building relationships with core innovation team)
Clarify goals, roles, and establish plans for going forward.
