LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

Innovation Insight: How to Implement Innovation

Katherine Raleigh
Katherine Raleigh
Programme Manager | Wed 21 Oct
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Innovation Insight: How to Implement Innovation

Dr Kamaljit Birdi, Sheffield University Management School, joined this month’s Innovation Day to demonstrate that innovation is much more than idea generation – it’s about having the skills and strategies to implement it.

Providing the space and time to think about innovation and allow idea generation is fundamental. However, although some organisations may generate plentiful ideas, they can often fail to implement them successfully.

The ‘CLEAR IDEAS’ model developed by Dr Birdi provides a practical framework for organisations to both generate and implement novel ideas.

The first stage – IDEAS – looks at developing the skills of managers to be creative:

  • I – Illuminate an area for innovation
  • D – Diagnose the problem
  • E – Erupt with ideas
  • A – Assess options
  • S – Select the best options

The second stage – CLEAR – focuses on building a strategy to overcome the barriers and internal influences that can prevent an innovation from implementing successfully, and ensure they stick:

  • C – Commit to the innovation: Build creative perseverance and don’t give up too easily. Understand the barriers to stakeholder commitment and buy-in. Think of reasons why each stakeholder might say no to your idea; then develop multiple arguments or strategies to persuade them to say yes.
  • L – Lead the innovation: Provide a clear, compelling vision; motivate employees; raise accountability and reduce role ambiguity; provide time and resources; give regular feedback; and earn respect (hierarchy and seniority aren’t everything).
  • E – Engage those affected by innovation: Determine what individuals or groups you should engage in the innovation process and how you can make engagement effective. Success is often predicted by the extent of engagement with users.
  • A – Align strategies, systems and resources to deliver the innovation: Clearer strategic goals equals better alignment – internally (skills, finance, strategy) and externally (reaching the right people). Ensure the solution is right for target users.
  • R – Review progress and adapt the innovation regularly: It is important to get feedback and set goals to clarify who is doing what. Plan for the upcoming months, detailing key milestones to assess progress. Monitor whether aims have been achieved and take appropriate action.

Clients at the Innovation Day, including Miki Travel, City of London and Serco, recognised that they had to move away from just providing the space to think about innovation, but also develop the skills and provide the right frameworks to do innovation.

Next, this group will discuss how to Build your Personal Knowledge Infrastructure to ‘Stay in the Know’. For more information and to join, please view the event page.

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