People need to understand clearly the common journey ahead (purpose-driven communication in action), and to have a voice in the process. Besides, they need to trust the process.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation. Number 8 has to be properly geared
Online platforms are powerful innovation enablers – the building blocks to produce outcomes. But they won’t stand on their own. If you want to create a true innovation culture, you need to have as many people as possible participating in the process. You need to manage those tools efficiently.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation. Number 7 ignites motivation
‘What’s in it for me?’ is the question your people will ask. Incentives motivate people. It’s not necessarily about tangible rewards such as prizes, but, most of all, recognition. Being recognised and to gain visibility inside the organisation motivates people to contribute to idea management programmes in every stage of the process – from thinking to creation to action.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation. Number 6 assures community awareness
If people don’t come, your innovation efforts stand no chance. Active and clear communication is fundamental to maximising engagement, guaranteeing adequate participation. It also assures community awareness. Building a witty communication plan – one that lives and breathes innovation – is paramount for the success of your idea management programme across borders.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation. Number 5 gets you to pick the right fights
Whether you seek to apply innovation management to solving very specific business challenges or to creating a companywide culture and capability, ask yourself, ‘What do I want to change in my organisation?’ Understanding your ambitions helps you materialise a migration path, set your expectations and allocate resources more rationally.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation: Analysing number 4
Nike’s goal is ‘to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world’. Barnes & Noble bookstores’ mission statement is ‘to operate the best specialty retail business in America, regardless of the product we sell’. And Starbuck’s motto is ‘to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time’. What is the perfect umbrella for your initiative?
10 best practices for cross-border innovation: Analysing number 3
What sometimes is less obvious when launching your innovation programme across borders, is the need for a constituency inside your company to provide needed support throughout different phases of the process. Still, forget about employing a huge army of innovation musketeers. That’s not going to happen.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation: Analysing number 2
We’ve seen that, not just sponsorship, is key when developing an innovation management initiave across borders. I won’t lecture on the importance of the second must-have: the capital to effectively launch and manage your programme. This is clear, and I’m sure you’re taking care of it.
10 best practices for cross-border innovation. Number 1 gets you on the right track
These days, you rarely find an organisation worldwide where innovation is not part of leadership’s mantra. Yet the time and resources dedicated to it are far less than other disciplines, like quality and customer service.