In a world where the only constant is change and the doubling of available information causes continuous disintegration of the current business context and rules – the ability to think faster, better and innovatively is essential, and yet most of us are not future literate. Individuals and organizations are prisoners of old thinking patterns developed for a stable predictable environment...

The key to prospering during the 1990s was process innovation, being faster, better and cheaper. Success in the upcoming decade lies in product and service innovation, growing the top line of the cash statement through sales and growth, by competing based on value to the customer instead of the cost of competitors from low wage regions

During the 1990’s the primary focus of organizations was process improvement – doing things faster, better and more cost effectively. As overall process improvement took place certain geographic areas were able to offer products in the marketplace at significantly reduced prices as they we were operating from a significantly lower cost base – specific examples being China and India. As commoditization of products/services took place customers were able to source their goods and services from a variety of vendors - with price becoming the main differentiating factor. In the future - price pressure is not going to subside – all indicators point to an increase. The only way to hedge an organization from commodity price competition is through constant innovation.
Future success lies in offering new and unique products and services where pricing is based on value provided to the customer rather than the cost from low wage region competitors.

What is Innovation?
Not only is innovation one of the buzz words most often heard in business but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Innovation is not one person having a great idea that’s creativity or invention. It’s also not just a bunch of folks generating lots of ideas...that may be creative, but it can also be a waste of time and energy if the ideas don’t go anywhere...

"Innovation is about people creating value by implementing new ideas"
InnovationNetwork

Innovation is a "people dependent", collaborative skill involving scouting the future, generating new ideas, choosing the best, rapidly and effectively implementing and then learning the lessons from successes and failures in order to begin again.

Rhetoric or Reality?
A recent survey conducted by Strategos found that although 90% of large organizations are committed to innovation, people within these companies could not describe their corporate innovation system.

A reason for this gap between rhetoric and reality, word and deed is that many leaders do not have a clear, well – developed model of what innovation looks like as an organizational capability and therefore do not know how to build such a capability.

Building Innovation as a Capability
PriceWaterhouseCoopers identified three critical success factors in building Innovation as a capability within the Organization:

• Leadership and Followership
• Climate and Environment
• Structured Idea Management Process that gathers ideas from Employees, Customers and Supply Chain Partners

Mindman’s Enabling Innovation Framework is focused on these three critical factors.

Innovation Assessment

The process starts off with an Innovation Assessment determining the level innovation within the Organization. The model uses various parameters individually scored and compiled into a profile.

Completion of the profile is then used to design, customize and tailor specific Client Solutions for Enabling an Innovative Organization.

Specific Client Solutions could include any of the following depending on the outcome of the Assessment

Leadership and Followership:

Innovation by definition involves journeying into the unknown. It is therefore critical that organizations have confidence in the vision, strategies and intention of their leaders.

Equally innovation requires innovative thinking by every member of the organization looking for new possibilities to generate ideas, think together productively and make sound decisions and gain the commitment needed for rapid and effective implementation.

Innovation is ultimately a mindset; it’s about being innovative, understanding your role and influence as an innovator and not as someone else’s or another department’s responsibility.

People drive innovation – the focus is to engage individuals at all levels within the organization, utilizing all available toolsets / technologies to truly transform the environment to one of becoming an innovative environment.

How Mindman addresses leadership, followership and mindsets:

Revolutionary Thought Leaders
Innovation requires leaders who are willing to take smart risks and respectfully challenge how it has "always been done"; leaders who can model and pass along a culture that is empowering and flexible, leaders who can envision a bright future and engage the hearts of the people providing the necessary support to make the vision a reality.

Our extensive leadership development program focuses on building these skills and behaviors while at the same time concentrating on transforming mental frameworks, not just memorizing mechanics. Leaders are encouraged not merely to focus on what they need to know but rather who they need to be, unlearning what they assume to be true about what they can ( and cannot) accomplish. Their learning is supported by coaches and mentors; consists of an identity retreat and a series of business forums and is grounded in 360 assessment, self – reflection and work based projects.

Revolutionary Thinking Seminar
In a world where the only constant is change and the doubling of available information causes continuous disintegration of the current business context and rules – the ability to think faster, better and innovatively is essential, and yet most of us are not future literate. Individuals and organizations are prisoners of old thinking patterns developed for a stable predictable environment.

In this seminar we explore why we can no longer solve new and ever changing problems with old solutions by studying the playing field and in this way addressing those who would rather "keep their head in the sand." We then learn a number of highly practical Revolutionary Thinking techniques that participants can use to constantly challenge established thought patterns in order to survive and Excel.

Free to Win
Many organizational members exhibit the classic "external locus of control" mindset where they believe they are victims of their "boss," organization or environment. They are passive agents believing that the key to success and fulfillment in life as well as innovation in the workplace is in the hands of someone else.

Through our Free to Win process, participants discover and experience "loser" and "winner" mindsets as well as their implications. The prevailing collective mindset of the group is also explored. Techniques from the "winners life skill toolbox" are studied which aid in shifting the individual and collective mindset from an external to an internal locus of control. The result of this is constructive mobilization of positive energy with employees understanding their own ability to take charge of their own lives as well as the organization’s destiny.

This program greatly facilitates individuals taking ownership of new / innovative initiatives within the organization as a sense of urgency is created and they come to understand that they, as individuals, have the power, the capability and the responsibility to make a difference to both their and their organizations future.

Coaching
Mindman coaching focus’ on assisting individuals engage in the practices to support enabling an innovative environment.

Climate and Environment

For innovation to be a capability, the organization must be, "fertile for the seeds of ideas and solutions to grow. An environment that is empowering, flexible, welcomes ideas, tolerates risks, celebrates success, fosters, synergy and encourages fun is crucial." InnovationNework

Creating such a climate is one of the biggest challenges facing organizations wanting to be more innovative.

Creating compelling visions
Innovation begins with a compelling purpose captured in a vision that engages people’s hearts and minds and in this way allows them to overcome the powerful emotional barriers to any change which innovation necessitates. Inspiring organizational members with a sense of purpose, a collective sense of destiny is essential for achieving "what could be."

Mindman facilitates processes at the individual, group and organizational level that inspires and articulates imagined futures as possibilities to live into.

Ideation and Creativity sessions
Everything starts with an idea. We can guide, facilitate or instruct in a number of techniques to enhance idea generation and creative thought for a variety of purposes from new product development to process innovations. Techniques include: Brainstorming; Labrador Experiences, Open Space Sessions, Blue Sky Days, Innovation Fairs, and Breakthrough Challenge Discovery Sessions.

Innovation Recognition Program
An appropriate and cost – effective incentive and recognition program can serve to induce needed energy and enthusiasm into the innovation process. Working in a tightly coupled complementary fashion with Innovator designed by MindMatters, this program provides direct personal/ team and nominal financial recognition to individuals and or teams who distinguish themselves as key contributors and participants in the process.

Positive Reinforcement System
In partnership with MindMatters we provide a dedicated Innovator eLearning site consisting of on-site training, e-mail notifications, and web links to ensure that members of the organization understand and are reminded of the organizations’ strategic innovation initiatives.

Consulting
Additional consulting services provided or referred as specific needs arise.

Structured Idea Management Process

Mindman is excited about our new strategic partnership with MindMatters Technologies Inc.
MindMatters "Innovator" Software is a web enabled enterprise solution that creates digital innovation networks throughout the enterprise connecting the right people and expertise with the right ideas and innovations. This technology can be used as a place to inspire employees, tap expertise company wide, review what others are doing and showcase employee and departmental efforts. One can highlight critical innovation initiatives and present strategic challenges directly too employees, building critical momentum and sparking passion in the process.