When we talk about innovation, we often deduce that it necessarily involves the development of new services/products and/or new markets. The following matrix is often used to illustrate the choices available to us:
Yet, a company can innovate on many levels, many of which go far beyond what is represented above. Indeed, innovation exists in several forms, and can be implemented in different processes or stages of a company's business plan.
What if we broadened the way we think about innovation? What if we thought outside the box?
Discover 5 ways to integrate and embody innovation from within your company:
An innovative creative process
Rethink your creative process by inviting employees from all walks of life to participate. It is by combining the minds of different profiles of individuals that you will be able to maximize the chances of success of your brainstorming or creative sessions.
Whether it is in the context of business development with a new target, the creation of a new product line, confronting your ideas in the context of a "Brainstorming" is always an interesting creative exercise. However, you need to know how to structure ideas and sequence parts in order to get the most out of them. To do this, it is possible to use different platforms such as Miro which allows you to create visual boards to facilitate brainstorming and collaboration. In addition, the teams at Slack, the famous professional instant messaging service, are specialists in "Brain Netting", a form of remote group brainstorming with a channel of ideas that is always open (especially when the teams are spread over several time zones).
An innovative decision-making process
You've hired qualified people, it's time to trust them to make the best decisions possible. Whether it's a decision with major implications – a pivot, the development of a new product, a major investment, the acquisition of new facilities – or a smaller decision – Where will the next 5 à 7 be held? Which coffee supplier to choose? – Your employees have their say, and it is the responsibility of the leaders of innovative companies to think about and implement decision-making processes that reflect their company's image.
An innovative hiring process
Your hiring process should reflect your values and company culture. If you define your company as an innovative company, then the hiring process must be representative of your innovative spirit.
An innovative hiring process can mean: using social media to recruit, creating a dedicated app for job postings, publishing a promotional video that highlights collaborators and employees, or picking up candidates directly in the field.
A good way to challenge traditional recruitment rules is to start the transformation by getting feedback from your employees and new hires.
An innovative team
If innovation is the heart of your business, then your employees are the vessels that power it! Make sure you surround yourself with people who share your mindset and think differently. In an era where good resources are scarce and not readily available, make sure you place your favourite candidates in positions that suit them, even if these positions are created from scratch to meet their needs.
Basecamp is known for its innovative spirit, and has also implemented an original hiring process that focuses on very specific elements.
Innovative collaborations
As the African saying goes, alone we go faster but together we go further! Collaborate with like-minded players on projects that will get things done. Consider partnering with partners who are complementary in terms of size, resources, mindset, markets they cover, etc.
In order to better understand, let's take the example of Jnuine and Total Energy, what is the relationship between Total and a mobile application for creating a photo album? A priori none... But in reality, the project approach can be very complementary.
Thus, the energy group needed to rethink its collaborative innovation platform. So they partnered with Jnuine who had already set up this platform produced for these customers. The interest was to allow Total employees to think about new ways of operating the internal platform, all while being guided by an external person with experience and a fresh perspective.
Open innovation is a good example of innovative collaboration. By combining the strengths of the startup with those of the large company, the projects created in this type of collaboration are as forward-thinking as they are efficient, fueled by considerable resources on all levels.
Moreover, the MT Lab testifies to the effectiveness of this type of innovation through its mission, which is to contribute to the co-development of projects between the startups it supports and its 12 major partners.
Another good example is that of the Lego company, which is now recognized for its open innovation projects. It constantly includes its consumers in its creative process. Moreover, several programs such as Mindstorms or Lego Factory, have been created and have led to the design of new products thanks to the participation of users.
Tips and tricks to facilitate innovation in all areas of your business:
- Listen. Your customers, your employees, your partners, your current, past and future employees. They are the ones who hold the keys to your success, yesterday and tomorrow.
- Observe. You can also stay on top of trends and what's happening in different industries, whether they're in your own or another field. Business intelligence ensures you seize new opportunities and innovations and stay up to date with the competition.
- Be empathetic. Anticipate your customers' needs with design thinking, a practice that highlights collective intelligence in order to find innovative solutions. By putting yourself in the shoes of the customers, you will be able to identify their needs, move away from your preconceived ideas and therefore find an innovative solution that is suitable!
The MT Lab is personalized support programs, a hub focused on collaboration and above all, a thriving community of mutual aid where new ideas are born and come to life.
Let your innovative solution shine!
