Top Three Reasons to Have an Innovation Framework

Today we’ll talk about the importance of an innovation framework, and why you need one.

Last week, I unpacked what an innovation framework is and how to identify if your organization has one. If you're new here or missed it, you can catch up here.

Now, back to today's focus, the importance of a framework. As I was mulling over what to include in this newsletter, I could not help but think - am I not just going to state the obvious?

But then it hit me. The obvious is not always obvious. The value of a structured approach, which is essentially what a framework is, is often overlooked despite its obviousness.

Consider personal goals, like getting fit. The formula seems straightforward – a balanced diet, a workout routine, good rest, and the discipline to stick to it, for months at a time. Simple in theory yet challenging in practice and that’s easy to tell just by looking around. What’s the percentage of exceptionally fit people you see on a daily basis?

If everyone knows the basics, why aren't we all fitness models?

The same principle applies to other domains, including innovation. Here's a telling example from my experience last year with an innovation team at a large, traditional company. They had undergone extensive training in design thinking, jobs-to-be-done, lean startup, business modelling, and now they wanted to learn our methods – Design Sprints and Problem Framing.

Noticing there was significant overlap with what they had learned before, I asked the leader where she saw our methods being used. As I did not get a very clear answer, I tried a different approach, my conversation with her going  like this:

Me, curiously: “How does your team work, and innovate? Do they follow a specific process or framework?”

Leader, confidently: “Yes, of course”.

Me: “What is it? Can you tell me how it works?”

Leader: “Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.”

Me: … 👀

This response is akin to advising someone aiming to get fit: “Eat well, exercise, and rest.” Produces exactly the same results: none.

It was clear to me they did not have a framework, although they thought they did. That’s because a framework is something that tells you what to do and how to do it - which wasn't clear in their response.

Without a framework, your team lives in a state of confusion. They will be uncertain which way to go. What to do. They might try some things, similar to someone randomly using every machine in the gym, but this leads to mediocre results at best. Despite good intentions and significant efforts. The team I worked with checked both, yet was disbanded a few weeks after our training - a predictable outcome, albeit a regrettable one.

So, the number one reason you need an innovation framework:

It’s a Blueprint for How You Operate.

Simple as that.

I hope everyone reading this knows that innovation cannot exist without support from the business. That could be buy-in, funding, hiring, access to internal experts, and more. Often, innovation leaders struggle in these areas which makes them attribute performance issues to a lack of support from the business side.

However, it's a business reality to be hesitant about investing resources into what might seem like a black hole. This was partially the case with the team in my example. The business had funded various training programs for months, and when they did not get the expected return on the investment, they shut it down.

Now, picture this: You have a clear, well-defined blueprint, and you can describe what you do with your innovation processes, the decisions you make, and the activities that drive results and performance. This level of clarity makes it easier for business stakeholders to understand what you’re doing, recognize the value, and understand the support you need and why.

But it’s not just about having a compelling narrative. With a solid operational model, and assuming your team puts in the necessary effort, you'll have tangible results to back up the narrative. It completely changes the dynamics of your conversations with the business stakeholders.

The second reason you need an innovation framework:

To Secure Business Support.

The ultimate ambition of any innovation leader is to fundamentally transform the organization, embedding innovation into its very DNA and cultivating a culture of innovation. Much like Steve Jobs at Apple.

A well-defined innovation framework, acting as a clear operational model requires your team to perform specific actions, using designated methods and aiming for defined results.

Its clarity and structure make it accessible and actionable for everyone involved.

By consistently applying the framework, your team develops habits that gradually evolve into new behaviors. In time it will alter perceptions: of your stakeholders, customers, and even competitors. Your company begins to embody innovation, not just as a concept, but as a tangible, observable reality.

The third reason you need an innovation framework.

To Transform Organizational Culture and Perception

In conclusion, a robust innovation framework serves as a blueprint for your innovation efforts, secures vital business support and ultimately transforms the organizational culture. Remember, innovation isn’t a one-off event or a strike of luck. It is a continuous journey and with the right framework in place, your team can navigate this journey with confidence, clarity and above all BIG RESULT.

Next up: Getting Started with an Innovation Framework.

But that’s for next week.

Thank you.