A structured innovation workshop is a meeting of minds -literally.
It’s a gathering of people from all different parts of a company to generate new ideas. These ideas can be anything from new products or services to process improvements.
The structured part of the name comes from the fact that these workshops are carefully planned and facilitated. A specific process is followed to ensure that the meeting is productive and that the best ideas rise to the top.
If you’ve ever been in a meeting where people are just talking in circles and not getting anywhere, then you know how important it is to have a good structure. Otherwise, it can be very frustrating – not to mention a colossal waste of time.
How Does a Structured Innovation Workshop Work?
There are typically four phases to a structured innovation workshop
- Planning
- Preparation
- Execution
- Follow-up
Let’s take a closer look at each one.
1) Planning:
The first step is to identify the problem you’re trying to solve or the opportunity you’re trying to capitalise on. Then, once that’s been established, you need to set some objectives for the workshop. What do you hope to accomplish?
You also need to decide who needs to be involved. This includes people from different departments and levels within the company. It’s essential to get a variety of perspectives so that you can get the best possible ideas.
2) Preparation:
Once you know who needs to be involved, the next step is to prepare for their arrival. This includes creating any materials that will be necessary, such as an agenda, handouts, or presentation slides.
You also need to decide on the format of the workshop. Will it be more like a traditional meeting or more interactive? There are pros and cons to both approaches, so it’s essential to choose what will work best given the situation and the type of problem you’re trying to solve
3) Execution:
This is where the actual work happens. First, the facilitator will guide the group through various exercises designed to generate new ideas. These can be anything from brainstorming sessions to role-playing exercises.
Everyone must participate during this phase so that every good idea is heard. The goal is for everyone to feel like their voice has been heard and that their ideas have been seriously considered to ensure that all of the ideas are captured in some way so that they can be evaluated later on. You could do this with something as simple as sticky notes or with more sophisticated software like Idea Management Systems.
4) Follow-up:
Once all ideas have been generated and captured, it’s time for follow-up. This usually involves an evaluation process where ideas are screened and prioritised based on feasibility and potential impact. From there, implementation plans are created and assigned to various teams within the company. And finally, progress is tracked over time to ensure that things are moving along as they should be.
A structured innovation workshop can be an excellent way for companies to generate new ideas and solve problems creatively. By following a careful process and involving people from all different parts of the organisation, these workshops can help companies tap into their collective creativity and come up with solutions they may never have thought of.
FAQs
Q. What is a structured innovation workshop?
A. A structured innovation workshop is an integral part of the creative process within any company. By bringing together professionals from various business areas in a single setting, these meetings allow representatives to share their ideas and develop new solutions that meet the organization’s needs. To ensure that these sessions are as productive as possible, it is essential to have a well-defined agenda and structure to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved from the discussions. When run correctly, this workshop can be instrumental in uncovering fresh and innovative ways for businesses to remain competitive, enabling progressive advancement and further growth.
Q. What are the stages of a structured innovation workshop?
A. The process of innovative problem-solving can be daunting, but having a structured innovation workshop helps keep teams and their creativity on track. At any given workshop, there are typically four distinct phases. First comes planning, when participants define their expectations, set the agenda and map out their goals. Next comes preparation, where team members discuss all the resources they may need and assign roles to guarantee that everyone is on board with the value-added objectives. This sets in motion the execution phase – where everyone gets to work and tap into their collective potential. Last is the follow-up phase, which gives everyone time to reflect and review what was achieved during this innovation workshop. With each stage carefully planned out, solid results can be expected every time!