But what does democratizing innovation really entail? It's about more than just generating ideas—it's about transforming those ideas into desirable value propositions and business models that drive growth. It's a journey that requires structured processes, collaborative teams, and a culture that embraces exploration.
Democratization of innovation
Innovation shouldn't be reserved for the elite few—it should be accessible to all. That's the driving force behind our mission at Strategyzer. While we have decades of experience with hundreds of companies, we admit that we do not have specialised expertise in any one specific industry. What we can do is bring our process into completely different domains, because it turns out, the fundamental challenges of innovation and exploration are very similar across different industries and company sizes. Strategyzer are not in business to do consulting. Ultimately, we want companies to be able to practice innovation independently.
In order to make this a reality, companies must be aware of some crucial ingredients. An innovation ecosystem starts with three key pillars:
- Leadership support: Leadership support is essential for fostering a culture of innovation. When top-level executives prioritize innovation and dedicate time and resources to it, the entire organization benefits. Our research suggests that dedicating around 40% of leadership time to innovation yields optimal results.
- Organizational design: Organizational design plays a crucial role in fostering an environment conducive to innovation. By implementing best practices in organizational design, companies can create structures that facilitate collaboration and creativity, regardless of size or industry.
- Innovation practice: This domain is the one that we have codified: the process of turning ideas into reality. At Strategyzer, we've developed a systematic approach to innovation that's rooted in evidence-based practices. From project investment to portfolio management, we provide the guidance and support needed to professionalize innovation practice. However, democratizing innovation isn't just about providing tools and resources—it's about empowering individuals to unleash their full potential. That's why we offer comprehensive programs and platforms that equip teams with everything they need to succeed.
A thriving innovation ecosystem
First, let’s agree — what is a thriving innovation ecosystem?
The first component is Explore/Exploit. This is about pushing the boundaries of what's possible and embracing transformative innovation. By focusing on exploration, organizations can uncover new opportunities and drive meaningful change that goes beyond incremental improvements. It's about daring to dream big and taking bold steps towards a brighter future.
The second component of a thriving ecosystem is Project volume. Innovation isn't a one-time event—it's an ongoing process that requires a steady flow of ideas and experiments. By running a high volume of projects each year, organizations can foster a culture of innovation and creativity that permeates every aspect of their business. It's about embracing an exploration mindset and encouraging everyone to contribute their ideas and insights.
Testing Speed: The goal is to run fast and cheap experiments in rapid succession so you can learn what works and what doesn’t as quickly as possible, way before you decide to invest big and build something. That's the idea of a very strong thriving ecosystem: you test, you learn, and then you build.
Aside from these 3 levers, having the right innovation tools is essential for bringing ideas to life. From The Business Model Canvas to The Lean Startup Canvas, these tools provide the framework needed to define and execute your innovation strategy. By leveraging proven methodologies and tools, organizations can streamline their innovation process and drive meaningful results.
Process management specifically designed for innovation is crucial for ensuring that innovation efforts are efficient and effective. While every industry may have its own unique challenges, the process of innovation itself remains remarkably similar. By standardizing innovation management practices, organizations can create a foundation for success that transcends industry boundaries.
Lastly, innovation skills are essential for empowering individuals to drive innovation within their organizations. From mastering The Business Model Canvas to facilitating structured interviews, these skills are invaluable for bringing innovative ideas to life. By providing access to world-class training and resources, organizations can equip their teams with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.
Easier said than done. It's a lot to take in. What if there was an easier way?
How we’ve systematized the ‘how’ with packaged workflows
Our packaged workflows represent the culmination of decades of industry experience, distilled into practical, ready-to-use frameworks designed to accelerate your innovation journey. With structured and self guided workflows, coach programs, and access to the latest innovation insights, we empower you to experiment boldly and learn quickly, fueling continuous growth and improvement.
With comprehensive resources and dedicated support, we're here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring that you have the tools and confidence needed to drive meaningful change.
A sneak peek into Strategyzer's innovation programs
Program timeline
Imagine logging onto our platform and being greeted with a comprehensive project timeline, program milestones, and a dashboard to track your progress. With our intuitive interface, you'll never lose sight of your goals or your path forward.
e-Learning modules
Through our e-Learning modules, you and your team receive targeted training tailored to your specific needs and challenges. From mastering new skills to building a shared vocabulary, our platform enables you to absorb the fundamentals of our experience in bite-sized formats.
Structured workshops
Structured workshops provide a step-by-step guide to success. They allow you access to a wealth of resources from the experiment library to business model assessments.
Data objects
And with our platform backed by data, you can analyze evidence, identify patterns, and make informed decisions every step of the way. No more guesswork—just data-driven insights to fuel your innovation journey. Our program design helps you come back to the business model again and again, so that you focus on the larger picture instead of getting lost in the details.
Real world use cases: How have people used it in the industry?
1. An innovation leader in a large company
The challenge
As an innovation leader in a large company with thousands of employees to upskill and a need for rapid scalability, the pressure is on to deliver results quickly. The question of capacity looms large—are there enough coaches, and can you keep up with the demand?
The solution
By establishing an internal accelerator based on our innovation programs and platform, organizations can swiftly train and upscale their coaches at scale. In a particular case, within a matter of weeks, Strategyzer enabled a large organization to run five teams through our programs, using their own coaches. The team was able to generate impact very quickly, with the five teams producing actionable evidence.
The impact
By setting up an internal accelerator and leveraging our programs, the organization was able to train their coaches quickly and efficiently. Within a matter of weeks, they had five teams up and running. By utilizing internal coaches, they significantly reduced costs and gained independence in the innovation process at an accelerated pace.
2. An innovation leader in a small or medium company (SME)
The challenge
In SMEs, there may not be a top-down mandate for innovation, and convincing stakeholders of its importance can be an uphill battle. Innovation leaders must demonstrate the value of innovation in a company where skepticism reigns. The need to showcase the potential for greatness in innovation becomes paramount.
The solution
By leveraging training modules tailored for both operators and team members, even individuals without prior training can quickly adapt and perform like world-class teams. These modules provide the necessary guidance to navigate the innovation process effectively, enabling teams to embrace innovation with confidence and clarity.
The impact
SMEs equipped with such training modules can transition overnight into testing like world-class teams. This rapid transformation represents a significant leap in their ability to explore new business models autonomously, without the need for external consultants. By generating evidence within a matter of weeks, these SMEs demonstrate a remarkable shift towards innovation prowess and self-sufficiency. Despite the skepticism initially encountered, these companies now operate as innovation powerhouses, rivalling even the biggest players in the industry.
3. An independent innovation coach
The challenge
Independent innovation coaches face the daunting task of delivering top-tier results to clients under tight deadlines. When one coach needed to swiftly guide teams through innovation initiatives without compromising quality, we devised a solution to meet this pressing need.
The solution
Implementing a self-service innovation program enabled teams to dive into projects within days. Through e-Learning modules and structured workflows, team members quickly grasped essential concepts, fostering a shared language and reducing the learning curve. Clear milestones ensured progress was measurable at every stage.
The impact
Teams navigated through four iterations of their business model in 12 weeks, informed by real-world testing. Armed with tangible evidence, the coach demonstrated the effectiveness of evidence-based methodologies, leading to program expansion and future growth opportunities.
By leveraging efficient tools and methodologies, independent innovation coaches can navigate challenges with confidence, empowering teams to achieve innovation excellence in record time.
Streamline your innovation journey
Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of innovation processes? You're not alone. Many corporate leaders struggle to find the right approach to drive innovation effectively. But fear not—Strategyzer is here to simplify the process for you.
Take the guesswork out of innovation with our proven methodologies and ready-to-use workflows. With this guidance, you can focus your efforts where they matter most and achieve remarkable results in less time. Don't waste another minute on inefficient processes—let our wealth of experience show you a better way forward.
Ready to take your innovation game to the next level? Schedule a demo today and experience the Strategyzer difference firsthand.
