Archive for the '24/7 Innovation Diagnostic' Category

Jul 3rd 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: PERFORMANCE

Measures and Incentives

  • Are stretch targets used to create a challenge?
  • Are performance-based incentives and team measures used?
  • Do the measures focus on outcomes rather than tasks?
  • Are “fear based” incentives avoided?
  • Are performance targets defined concurrently, or in advance of the business design?
  • Are measures “balanced?”
  • Are measures holistic? Has their impact on other measures been taken into account?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jul 2nd 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: STRATEGY

Strategic alignment

  • Are all initiatives aligned to the overall strategy?
  • Are all stakeholders considered when defining the strategy (stakeholder wants & needs)?

Targeting

  • Are capabilities targeted that create the greatest stakeholder value and represent the greatest opportunity for improvement?
  • Is the most valuable work converted into knowledge work?
  • Is a holistic view maintained?
  • Is the organization’s capacity to change considered?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jul 1st 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: PROCESSES

Flexible Processes

  • Are the 7Rs used to define innovative processes?
  • Are illogical solutions considered?
  • Are overly prescriptive processes avoided?
  • Does the organization have processes/procedures for protecting intellectual property?
  • Is technology used to enable innovation rather than prescribe procedures?

Eliminate administration

  • Are knowledge workers freed to focus on value adding activities rather than administration?
  • Is the effective use of critical resources optimized?

Focus Outside In

  • Is the organization customer focused, designing from the outside in?
  • Does the organization stand in the customers’ shoes and observe their processes in action?
  • Does the organization focus on redesigning customer processes rather than internal processes?
  • Does the organization create customer needs rather than just responding to them?
  • Are different customer segments handled differently?
  • Is the organization “easy to do business with?”

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jun 30th 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: ORGANIZATION

Collect and connect dots

  • Is knowledge and skills building encouraged?
  • Are people encouraged to explore new disciplines?
  • Do individuals collect and combine ideas?
  • Are individuals encouraged to look at work through various filters?
  • Does the organization collect, combine, disseminate, and reward best ideas?
  • Are individuals encouraged to challenge norms?
  • Is a standard process used for innovation (diverge then converge)?
  • Are centers of excellence used to build broad-based expertise?

Invest time and money

  • Are efforts adequately funded in terms of money and resources?
  • Is time allocated for innovative thinking, reflection, and planning (15% rule)?
  • Does the physical environment facilitate communication and collaboration?

Networked Organization

  • Is your organization an “alliance-based network of capabilities?”
  • Are procedural or technical standards used only where informal coordination is ineffective?
  • Is data shared across the organization?
  • Are non-critical capabilities outsourced?
  • Are performance objectives aligned across organizations?
  • Is decision making pushed to the lowest levels of organization?

Internal Markets

  • Is cross-unit cooperation encouraged through appropriate incentives?
  • Is internal competition used to keep people on their toes?
  • Are survival of the fittest/free market models applied throughout the organization?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jun 29th 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: COMPETENCY (The Inner Innovator)

Assumptions

  • Are underlying assumptions/rules surfaced and challenged?
  • Is the organization prepared to break with tradition?
  • Are the root causes of problems identified and addressed?

Filters

  • Are individuals and teams encourages to apply different “filters” to the daily activities?
  • Are individuals encouraged to try new things?
  • Is “yes, and” used rather than “yeah, but”?
  • Do you “think in opposites”?
  • Do you consider “the worst ideas”?
  • Do you consider “illogical combinations”?
  • Do you and your team engage in competitor war games?

Simplicity

  • Are simple solutions used over sophisticated ones?
  • Is over-analysis avoided? Is a build it, try it, fix it approach used when appropriate?
  • Are overly formulaic approaches avoided?

Roles

  • Is everyone in the organization provided an appropriate challenge? Are people matched with jobs to minimize boredom or employees being overwhelmed?
  • Do you only keep employees who subscribe to the values of the organization?
  • Are jobs, roles, or tasks rotated to keep people challenged and growing?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jun 28th 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: LEADERSHIP

Goal-orientation 

  • Are clear goals and outcomes provided to avoid ambiguity?
  • Are detailed procedures avoided when delegating work?
  • Is there a clear structure for managing commitments?

Advocates and Owners

  • Are managers/process owners advocates for innovative thinking throughout the organization?
  • Are managers/process owners empowered to work across relevant functions?
  • Are the managers/process owners chosen for their communication/management skills rather than their technical skills?
  • Do managers/process owners facilitate rather than dictate?

Consistency and Trust

  • Does management demonstrate the organization’s commitment to the success of initiatives and individuals?
  • Does management follow through on ideas generated by employees?
  • Does management avoid the frequent changing of goals?

Strong Leadership

  • Do leaders demonstrate their commitment to innovation?
  • Do leaders make tough, unpopular decisions (intestinal fortitude)?
  • Are the leaders inspirational?
  • Do the leaders serve as a role model for the rest of the organization?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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Jun 27th 2007 24/7 Innovation Diagnostic: CULTURE

Context 

  • Is an exciting context created for employees?
  • Are people made aware of the big picture?
  • When selling new ideas internally, is “why” addressed before “what” and “how?”
  • Is a powerful “burning platform” created to stimulate interest?
  • Do people understand how their work fits in with the overall effort?
  • Are personal passions aligned with organizational objectives?

Diversity

  • Does the organization develop teams with diverse skills and analytical styles?
  • Does the organization value contention, debate, and tension?
  • Do managers acknowledge, but avoid punishing, failure?
  • Are conversations structured to accommodate different analytical styles?
  • Does the organization avoid the lowest common denominator, analysis paralysis, and “right of infinite appeal?”
  • Are new organizations created when a new culture/skill-set is needed?

Language and Behaviors

  • Are employees encouraged to stay open to new possibilities?
  • Is “inclusive” language used?
  • Are employees encouraged to contribute ideas?
  • Are employees encourages to take risks?
  • Is gossiping and politicking discouraged?
  • Is negative, pessimistic language discouraged?

Encouragement

  • Are efforts of individuals and teams privately acknowledged?
  • Are efforts of individuals and teams publicly acknowledged?
  • Are people shown the result of their efforts?

Source:
24/7 Innovation Diagnostic
24/7 Innovation

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