WORKSHEET #12: How to Produce Results with Innovation Meetings
Step 1:
Gather a group of people who will be the innovation team. You will have the best results if:
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There are no less than three members, nor more than seven.
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The members come from various departments responsible for the brainstorming subject. For example, when innovating products and services, you would choose people from various departments serving customers, including sales, marketing, customer service, logistics and manufacturing.
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One person becomes the leader of the team who coordinates the team's schedule and activities and facilitates the meetings.
Step 2:
Schedule and conduct an innovation meeting, lasting two to three hours using the ideas in the Improve section of StrategyStreet.
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Hold separate meetings for segmentation, products and services, pricing and cost management.
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Start at the highest level of concept or ideas, with the first concept.
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Follow the ideas, either sequentially, or according to the team's view of the ideas offering the highest potential.
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Continue to follow the ideas and concepts to the next lower level until the ideas slow or stop.
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Move to the next concept on the list and start that concept at the highest level of ideas. Then continue to pursue more detailed concepts, as above.
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At the end of the meeting, summarize all ideas and circulate that summary to each member of the group.
Step 3:
The next step is to ask each member of the team to brainstorm individually for two to three hours at a separate time and place in order to:
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Expand on the current list of ideas.
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Develop new ideas.
At the end of this individual session, each team member would circulate his or her conclusions and new ideas to each other member of the team.
Step 4:
Return again as a group for a second team meeting, lasting two to three hours. This innovation meeting will:
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Agree on the top ideas for the company based on:
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The value to the customer and the company of the idea
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The ease with which the company can implement the idea
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The ease with which competition will be able to copy the idea
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Set priorities for the new ideas. Divide the ideas into priority groups, where Group 1 is the highest priority, Group 2 is the second highest priority and so forth.
Step 5:
In a third team meeting, determine initial implementation recommendations for the ideas in the most attractive groups, including:
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Who might have the responsibility for the implementation
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The time frame for implementation
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Suggested next steps
Step 6:
Prepare a written summary of the team's recommendations. Circulate this to each team member for review and comment. Edit and finalize the document. Submit the ideas and the initial implementation plans to senior management.