Making a Success of Innovation

Learning and continuous improvement

There are key aids that can be helpful in making innovations successful. Some of the key aids and how they can help are listed below:

• Systematic process for progressing new products and services - Provides stage-wise monitoring and evaluation.
• Early involvement of all relevant functions - Brings key perspectives into the process early enough to influence design and prepare for problems later in the process and increases efficiency in detecting problems early.
• Overlapping/parallel working - Concurrent or simultaneous engineering aids faster development while retaining cross-functional involvement.
• Appropriate project management structures - Allows choice of structure--matrix/line/project/heavyweight project management--to suit conditions and task.
• Cross-functional team working - Involves different perspectives. Ensures effective team-working and develops capabilities in flexible problem-solving.
• Advanced support tools - Use of tools assists with quality and speed of development.
• Learning and continuous improvement - Encourages carrying forward lessons learned--through things like post-project audits. Develops a continuous improvement culture.

ACTION POINT: Establish a culture of continuous improvement.