the Pathway Curve Methodology

IFD Pathway Curve 1

By taking a more systematic approach to any innovation you achieve a greater understanding over time of what is involved.

Firstly you have to ask what you are trying to achieve, is it incremental innovation, distinctive, disruptive or even radical white space innovation? Do you approach innovation differently for each of these? I would argue you need to learn and build from one to another as you learn on the way, this is my going up a curve that increases in complexity and its scope/ outcome.

How do we embed innovation in all its forms needs what I feel is a unique approach that I have called the Pathway Curve Methodology

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How do you evolve?

The two needs to evolve a business

Checking your pulse for innovation vital signs

IFD Vital Signs

So how do we check our innovation vital signs?

I think there are many ways we can make constant checks and often when I’m visiting organizations you can begin to sense these vital signs and pick up on many warning signs from the conversations. These can come from that ‘buzz’ that does or does not seem to be circulating around the building, or the way the people simply talk to you about innovation. They often don’t speak of innovation with pride but in whispers carefully checking that no one important is in hearing distance, often with implied innuendo of the things not right, more than the many good things that are actually healthy and good. Many times I find it is simply what is not said that speaks volumes about the health of innovation within organizations.

Pulse of innovation 4
The search for a strong innovation pulse

So what do I use for part of my pulse check on my visits?

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An opening CSF for innovation

IFD Smart Goals

A brief overview of critical success factors for innovation to check against.

  • The organization: structure of innovation processes to be explicit by treating innovation as a systematic process and continued ongoing process
  • Keep innovation separate from daily work routine, remove barriers, give accoutability
  • Set ambitious goals and a vision and combine these with small attainable steps
  • Focus on results, doing things for clear results, satisfying evaluation criteria
  • Learn from the innovation process for courage, acknowledge mistakes, continuous
  • Create a climate for creativity- trust, openness
  • Foster values that enhance innovation- core ideology, values, diversity
  • Break patterns, abandon accepeted truths and historical myths, contrarian thinking
  • Motivate personnel- good ideas, risks and achievements rewarded and recognised
  • Make people central to it all- the real power of innovation
  • Communicate about innovation- positive signals, setting example, commitment, faith.
  • Involve the top directly- word and deed, setting the example, protective shield
  • Search for and make use of opportunities- systematic inside and outside
  • Be customer-orientated- use as a source, the ‘burning platform’
  • The use and involvement of multiple stakeholders- open and flowing
  • Define the context, the clarity and prespective of the problem faced
  • Search to obtain the experience with the subject on hand
  • Pursue a range of paths and solutions
  • Evaluate problems, trigger ideas and access success
  • Commit sufficient resources, time and space.