Navigating Disruption: The IMAGINE Mindset for Innovation in 2023

The Year 0 of the Big Digital Disruption

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The year 2023 will likely be etched in the annals of innovation history as the moment when AI truly came of age, becoming an integral part of mainstream technology. This transformation has ushered in a period of accelerated disruption across various industries. What sets this revolution apart is that AI is no longer the exclusive domain of tech-savvy individuals; it has democratised access and fundamentally reshaped talent hierarchies.

Today, the ones who can extract the greatest value from AI aren't necessarily the tech experts, but those with deep domain knowledge. The ability to precisely articulate situations and needs has become a prized skill. Every manager must embrace this paradigm shift and identify the untapped potential within their teams.

Furthermore, the impact of AI extends beyond individuals to the very products themselves. Launching an AI-powered product isn't a straightforward process like traditional ones. It necessitates a new set of processes. AI introduces novel parameters and raises user expectations, leading to a host of new emotional reactions, ethical dilemmas, and collaboration models. All of these factors determine whether an innovation is sustainable in today's landscape.

You've likely heard the adage, "AI won't replace you, but those who use AI will." While this holds true at the individual level, it only paints part of the picture at the company level. Thus, a fresh approach is needed to address the looming challenge of disruption, which has the potential to impact every company.  

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Just IMAGINE

a perfect synergy between corporate resources and a startup agility, in a palm of your hand. Thanks to our unique mindset, you can transform your business to turn your imagination into reality.

IMAGINE is in a way inspired by the forward looking approach of Jeff Bezos: Amazon's employees are encouraged to imagine the ideally successful outcome they want to achieve in an ideal world and then they go backward to define how the present should look like to achieve this goal.

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'/Imagine:'  is also the prompt command used by a famous generative AI application to produce images. but an image is frozen in time ,so we have decided to go one step further in our case as IMAGINE is for us more than just an image.

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This is the movie of your company success, a movie with heroes, protagonists, with a scenario, and a well equipped studio. All movies need also a film maker and producers as well! Last but not least most films that are financed should have a target audience---And therefore potentially bring money back to the producers. Anyway producers are also financing films from promising artists as a training path to learn and reach maturity level.

With these ideas in mind, we arrived to the following 7 aspects of innovation:

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I : Identification.

M : Mindset.

A : Alignment.

G: Generation.

I:  Ignition.

N: Nurture.

E: Emotions.

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I: Identification

Innovation's value lies in its alignment with broader strategic objectives. Not all innovations, even if profitable, are worth pursuing for an existing company. Identifying the right opportunities is pivotal to success. The difficulty lies in determining which opportunities are truly aligned with the company's vision.

Most of the successful company Implement a structured innovation governance process. For instance, a cross-functional innovation board that meets quarterly to assess alignment and conduct regular innovation portfolio reviews to ensure projects stay aligned with strategic goals.
that's a first good step!

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M: Mindset

The innovation pipeline thrives not just on business ideas but also on the ability to push boundaries and question the status quo. These are skills that can be cultivated. Intranove offers the Art of Innovation learning curriculum, comprising hands-on workshops designed to instill entrepreneurial thinking in both managers and individual contributors.
Unfortunately fostering an innovative mindset can be met with resistance, especially in a company with a long history and traditional culture. if it is the case you need to Create a culture of experimentation and risk-taking. To tackle this challenge, you can introduced an internal "Innovation Champions" program. This program identifies employees who show a proclivity for innovation and equips them with resources to drive change within their departments. It has led to a cultural shift that encourages innovation at all levels.
There is much more to do in that area, because each specific part of the organisation could be the lagger and will need a specific answer. During an Intranove engagement, we always start by identifying where the barrier to innovation are situated before planning the action plan... And believe me, they are not always where you think they would be.

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A: Alignment

Enterprises, ecosystems, and partners are intricate organizations with divergent goals. Early alignment is essential to avoid political pitfalls. Identifying a budget for incubation by finding common goals and challenges is crucial. This budget should be managed by an independent entity working for the greater good of the entire company, not just a dominant business unit or manager. It involves creating a roadmap and KPIs accepted by all stakeholders.

Of course we have all heard the “there is no budget” sentence, So Intranove is proposing to help you to find the budget resources via our innovation audit.
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One of the response to the political conflicts is setting up an Innovation Office with its own budget. This entity acts as a neutral mediator, ensuring alignment by focusing on the greater good of the company, not individual units. This approach has often successfully mitigated political conflicts and fostered alignment.

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G: Generation

Generating innovation is the primary goal of the IMAGINE mindset. The process must be transparent for innovators and managers alike. Fair rules of the game and transparent decision criteria for investments should be established. This is where many initiatives collaspse!‍

you should develop an innovation playbook that outlines the entire innovation process, including decision-making criteria and milestones. This document should be readily accessible to all teams, fostering transparency. Additionally, an innovation review committee that convenes monthly to evaluate project progress and make funding decisions.

one of the important part of generation is of course the tool stack you should use to support the process efficiently. AT Intranove we see that the different ideation platform are bringing different values depending on your company structure and culture. Analysing their fitness to your needs is a long process that we can guide you through.
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I: Ignition

Every chain reaction needs a spark. In innovation, this spark must come from intrapreneurs, but it's the company's responsibility to provide the right tools and a conducive environment. Often, managerial practices, while prudent, can inadvertently hinder innovation. Intranove employs a product discovery process to identify company-specific barriers and adapt its innovation mindset accordingly.

Lead by example. As Chief Innovation Officer, I actively engaged in innovation projects, demonstrating that senior leadership values intrapreneurship. To break down hierarchical barriers, we implemented a "Pitch Your Idea to the CInO" initiative. Employees can submit innovative ideas directly to me for consideration, creating a sense of ownership and empowerment.

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N: Nurture

Ideas, especially brilliant ones, cannot be summoned on command. Good ideas are both rare and fleeting, so organizations must ensure they are captured and evaluated. Successful ideas rarely emerge fully formed; innovators experience a rollercoaster of hopes and disillusionments. Thus, organizations must support ideas when they falter, as this counterintuitive response can pivot a seemingly strange idea into a successful business.

Teams that are not winning hackaton or Innovathon should receive an individual feedback on what is needed to get a positive decision. The incubation of their ideas should continue with a pivot plan.

This is one of the main issue on nurturing I have seen in many companies but there are many more.

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E: Emotions

Emotions are the glue that holds the preceding six stages of the mindset together. Innovation is a human endeavour, and humans are guided by emotions. While we like to believe that logic governs business and personal life, research often suggests otherwise. Emotions play a role at every stage of the innovation process, from idea creation to implementation. Understanding what evokes emotions in innovators, managers, stakeholders, and customers can make the difference between success and stagnation. Avoiding prejudice and bias is essential.

I would say that we touch here the elephant in the room for many companies that have a cultural problem, but  Emotional intelligence trainings are also needed at all level of the companies. To be true, everybody need some ... even the expert in Emotional inteligence.
Innovation is about playing with extremes and the limits, therefore emotions are also sometime extreme.
It could lead to a disaster such as talent churn. My advise here is read again the 6 previous chapter.

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Interlaced Parameters than need to be fine-tuned for every company

These seven facets of the IMAGINE mindset are interconnected and must be meticulously orchestrated and prioritized. Intranove, drawing on its experience and that of its partners, leverages the best practices from the most innovative organizations to chart a path for your company's success.

If you're uncertain about where your company stands in these aspects, Intranove offers several options, ranging from a simple audit to a comprehensive action plan or a 14 days proof of concept implementation. Alternatively, you can begin by building awareness through an innovation workshop. These options provide different starting points to ensure your company doesn't fall victim to disruption but instead becomes the disruptor in your industry.

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