Sagantia Innovation Boot Camp - Kick Starting Innovation
Sagantia is a UK based technology and product development company that I've been studying as part of the research for a new project. Among the many interesting things they do is run an innovation boot camp (click on the link to download a case description), which has many characteristics in common with other innovation sessions that I have organized myself. It's got a lot of similarities to the driving organic growth and innovation program that Bob Cooper led for some time at DuPont and for other companies. Among the salient features:
Rock-ribbed senior level commitment from the top to provide resources once an idea is endorsed
Time to focus on ideas that could lead to possible business, rather than shoring up existing businesses
Facilitation by experts with a process architecture (in the Sagantia case, it's a three week intensive process; in the Market Driven Growth case it involves several iterations over a few months)
Input from external experts and customers as well as insiders
Clear decision points and clear decision criteria
Generation of lots of ideas to get to a few that might be worthwhile
A process of true engagement, not just an 'event' or lip service
We've all been part of those horrible 'no idea is a bad idea' brainstorming sessions where everyone has a good time and nothing ever happens. Case studies such as the Sagantia example can help us from getting off on the wrong track.