Bonn, Germany and Wilmington, Delaware, Feb. 27, 2024 — In a groundbreaking move, HYPE Innovation and Planbox, two trailblazers in the field of innovation management, proudly announce their merger today. This dynamic union creates an unparalleled platform, solidifying their commitment to empowering organizations to conquer the ever-evolving challenges of the business world, ensuring they are not merely current but future-fit.

“Our journey began with a vision to transform the way businesses innovate. Merging with Planbox solidifies this vision by combining over two decades of insights, technology, and passion. As the boundaries between regions and markets blur, our combined expertise stands as a beacon for innovation management systems built on AI and ISO 56000, ensuring that our clients don’t just adapt but thrive. We’ve witnessed how tectonic market shifts can redefine entire sectors — with this merger, we’re set to ignite a new era of innovation management leadership for the world,” said Frank Henningsen, CEO of HYPE Innovation.

Over the past decades, HYPE Innovation has built a reputation for no-nonsense, customer-focused innovation projects. Catering to a diverse clientele, including Fortune Global 500 companies and hidden champions alike, HYPE specialized in dedicated innovation software and consulting. Amid the dynamic landscape of innovation endeavors, HYPE clients report billions of ROI, underscoring the tangible value derived from its platform and services. In 2020, HYPE made waves by acquiring HLP, their primary competitor in the idea management market within the DACH region. Building on this momentum, 2021 saw the strategic additions of Viima, a prominent player in agile, self-service innovation processes, and INNOSPOT, offering AI-based startup-engagement. Adding to its accolades, HYPE Innovation has been recognized as the Customers’ Choice 2023 with the highest-rating in the latest Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer for Innovation Management Tools, a testament to its unparalleled commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction in the innovation management sector.

Now, with the integration of Planbox, HYPE enters a transformative chapter. Planbox, a pioneer from its inception, has pushed the market through agile innovation solutions. Since its merger with Brainbank software in 2015, Planbox has consistently topped analyst reports, including the prestigious Forrester Wave in 2020. Noteworthy acquisitions of Imaginatik and IdeaConnection have endowed Planbox with unparalleled depth and breadth. Together, HYPE and Planbox establish a commanding presence in the market.

HYPE Innovation has been an imposing success story in the DACH region, consistently demonstrating its robust presence across Europe for the better part of the last two decades. Simultaneously, Planbox has risen to prominence as the go-to platform for innovation management in North America, further strengthened by a formidable local team in the United Kingdom. Today’s strategic merger forges a collaborative powerhouse that offers clients and global organizations seamless access to world-class innovation management software, expertise, and services. 

“Our combined strengths represent more than just a strategic merger — it’s a commitment to our clients. Together, we’re creating an environment where businesses are poised to be future-fit by preemptively adapting to market trends and capitalizing on them rather than reacting. With our enhanced capabilities, we envision a future where an innovation management system built on AI and ISO 56000 becomes the cornerstone of every successful enterprise,” said Ludwig Melik, CEO of Planbox.

HYPE Innovation and Planbox aim to revolutionize the innovation management industry, delivering unparalleled value to organizations worldwide and igniting new levels of growth and achievement. With the emerging ISO 56000 global standard for innovation management and Generative AI on the rise, the merger sets new industry standards for innovation management systems. Much like how ISO 9001 revolutionized quality management and ISO 27001 set the gold standard for information security, ISO 56001 is poised to fundamentally redefine the realm of innovation management. This standard, which builds upon the ISO 56000 standards series, has been in development for the past decade and is expected to be finalized next year.

HYPE’s AI capabilities, such as the innovation network graph, AI-based data research and management, are now extended and enriched with robust features from Planbox. The resulting best-in-class platform represents a transformative shift in the innovation management landscape, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter where human creativity, artificial intelligence, and governance converge to unlock unprecedented potential for innovation. It simplifies processes, enables efficient resource utilization, and bridges gaps between front-end innovation work and back-end processes and systems.

“While many see mergers as a culmination, for us, it’s a new beginning. The tools and expertise we bring are comprehensive, but what excites us most is the untapped potential between us. However, this merger goes beyond tools and platforms — it’s also about cultivating a mindset of perpetual evolution. We aim to equip organizations with the foresight to not only foresee change but to architect it in order to excel at innovation,” concluded Henningsen.

Beyond the tremendous opportunities, the acquisition safeguards the clients’ investment: With the HYPE Group nearing a significant milestone of €30 million in revenue, the union of these companies now boasts a more robust financial standing, offering clients enhanced confidence in the longevity and sustainability of their innovation management partner. Additionally, customers benefit from an expanded network of partners, collaborators, and experts that the merged entity provides, fostering opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and accelerating their innovation efforts.

For all the latest news and updates, follow Planbox on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About HYPE Innovation

HYPE Innovation is a leading provider of software and consulting in the field of innovation management, offering a comprehensive platform for the entire lifecycle of your innovation program. Our solutions encompass end-to-end Ideation, Technology and Trend Management, Startup Scouting, Innovation Partner Management, and Ecosystem Engagement. As a top-tier player in the innovation management landscape, we enable our clients to uncover opportunities, foster collaboration, and drive strategic goals, from growth to cost-saving and sustainable transformation, enabling them to excel at Innovation. For more information, visit www.hypeinnovation.com.

About Planbox

Innovation is at the heart of becoming Future-Fit. Built on ISO 56002 and AI, our end-to-end agile innovation management platform and services empower medium and large-sized organizations to become more adaptive, creative, and resilient. Planbox helps you turn creative ideas into winning projects and integrate everyday tools to collaborate smarter with your community of employees, customers, partners, startups, governments, academia, and expert solvers. Planbox has offices in Canada, UK, and USA, with customers around the world in over 140 countries.

Mark your calendar; 2024 is the year when Innovation Management takes a giant leap forward with the introduction of ISO 56001. This long-anticipated standard is set to revolutionize how organizations conceive and bring innovations to market. ISO 56001 serves as the blueprint for constructing a robust Innovation Management System (IMS), promising consistent and sustainable innovation results.

In this blog, we aim to tackle the ten most commonly asked questions about ISO 56001 by innovation practitioners. Our focus is to offer best practice advice that not only ensures compliance but also maximizes value in the short, medium, and long term. We’ll explore how fostering a culture that embraces a future-fit mindset can be achieved by leveraging ISO 56001 as a tool to enhance creativity and innovation.

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The key lies in creating a culture of innovation that values creativity while ensuring a structured approach to execution.

1. How Does ISO 56001 Balance Creativity with Standardization?

Establishing an innovation standard, as facilitated by ISO 56001, is not about stifling creativity or impeding execution. Instead, it’s a framework designed to enhance the innovation process. The key lies in creating a culture of innovation that values creativity while ensuring a structured approach to execution.

When implementing ISO 56001, it’s crucial to emphasize that the workflow being proposed remains adaptable and unique to each company’s operating style. The standard provides a flexible framework that organizations can tailor to fit their specific needs. This allows for the preservation of the creative spirit within the company, ensuring that the innovation standard enhances, rather than hinders, the ideation and execution processes.

2. What Competitive Advantages Does ISO 56001 Offer?

ISO 56001 sets a global benchmark for innovation management, but its real value lies in how it can be strategically leveraged to create competitive differentiation. This standard is not just a checklist; it’s a framework that, when applied thoughtfully, can propel an organization ahead of its competitors. 

Here some key aspects where ISO 56001 can drive strategic advantage:

• Customized Implementation for Unique Value: While the standard is universal, its implementation is not one-size-fits-all. Each organization can adapt the framework to their specific strategic goals and market position, crafting an approach to innovation that sets them apart from competitors.
• Driving Market Leadership through Innovation: ISO 56001 encourages organizations to prioritize innovation strategically. This forward-thinking approach can position companies as market leaders, setting trends rather than following them.
• Building a Strong Innovation Brand: Consistent adherence to ISO 56001 elevates a company’s reputation as a serious innovator. This enhanced brand perception can be a key differentiator, especially in industries where innovation is a critical factor for success.
• Fostering Collaborative Innovations: The standard promotes collaboration both within the organization and with external partners. This can lead to more groundbreaking innovations, as diverse perspectives and expertise converge.

3. Is ISO 56001 Certification Worth It?

While ISO 56001 certification is not mandatory, it offers tangible benefits (as detailed in our ultimate guide on ISO 56000) that can significantly improve organizational performance in innovation management. 

Here are just a few key benefits of obtaining certification:

• Systematic Innovation Process: Certification ensures that an organization adopts a systematic approach to innovation, which can lead to more consistent and repeatable success in innovation initiatives.
• Enhanced Stakeholder Confidence: Achieving certification can boost stakeholder trust, as it demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high standards in innovation management.
• Operational Efficiency: With a structured approach, organizations can streamline their innovation processes, reducing inefficiencies and focusing resources more effectively.
• Risk Management and Compliance: The certification process helps identify and manage risks associated with innovation, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Global Recognition and Opportunities: Certified organizations gain international recognition for their commitment to innovation excellence, opening doors to global markets and partnership opportunities.

4. Where Should Organizations Start with ISO 56001?

Begin with an understanding of your current practices by performing an innovation health checkup. Develop a roadmap based on your organization’s needs, involving key stakeholders. A phased approach, integrating Future-Fit principles, ensures a smooth transition.

As a valuable addition, leverage ISO 56004, the Innovation Management Assessment (IMA), to conduct a benchmark and gap analysis. This will provide a clear, thorough understanding of your current innovation maturity and help you identify areas for improvement. By using ISO 56004, organizations can strategically build from their existing strengths and address specific gaps in innovation management, ensuring a more targeted and efficient implementation of ISO 56001.

Watch our expert-led webinar to gain further insights into the checks and balances of ISO 56001:

5. What Are the Costs and Time Required for ISO 56001 Compliance?

Timelines and costs vary based on organizational size and complexity. Invest in training to empower your team and expedite the adoption process. Determining the timeline and financial investment for ISO 56001 compliance involves various factors. For example for a large organization, the implementation process may range from 12 to 18 months on average, allowing for a thorough integration without rushing critical steps. 

As for costs, the investment can vary and it is difficult to state an exact figure. These related costs can encompass expenses related to training, software adoption, consulting services, and internal resource allocation. It’s essential to conduct a detailed assessment and engage with experienced domain experts to derive more accurate estimates tailored to the specific nuances of your organization.

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Embracing a dedicated software platform for ISO 56001 compliance becomes not just a choice but a strategic necessity.

6. Is Software Necessary for ISO 56001 Compliance?

Embracing a dedicated software platform for ISO 56001 compliance becomes not just a choice but a strategic necessity. The adoption of a comprehensive software system brings transformative benefits to the compliance process. Beyond mere convenience, it serves as a vital tool that simplifies the attainment and maintenance of compliance. 

The right software can streamline the entire compliance lifecycle, reducing complexities associated with documentation, tracking, and reporting. It simplifies the process of adhering to ISO 56001 standards by providing a centralized platform for managing the related innovation workflows, documentation, and collaboration. By automating these processes, the software minimizes the resource-intensive nature of compliance efforts, freeing up valuable time and resources for more strategic innovation pursuits.

Furthermore, the software system ensures instant audibility, transparency, and reporting capabilities, aspects that would traditionally demand substantial resources and time. Instead of sifting through paperwork and coordinating disparate information, organizations gain real-time insights into their compliance status. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also facilitates quick and informed decision-making.

7. How Does ISO 56001 Integrate with Other ISO Standards?

Leverage synergies between ISO standards, ensuring a holistic approach to governance. A Future-Fit organization integrates ISO 56001 into its existing frameworks, creating a unified approach to management systems. The integration of ISO 56001 with existing ISO standards, particularly ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management, is a strategic move that amplifies organizational governance. 

By aligning ISO 56001 with ISO 9001, the focus on quality seamlessly extends to innovation processes, ensuring that innovative initiatives meet the same rigorous standards as other business operations. Concurrently, incorporating ISO 14001 into the mix enhances environmental sustainability considerations within the innovation life cycle. This triad of standards establishes a robust framework, promoting a holistic, efficient, and integrated approach to organizational excellence. 

The interplay between ISO 56001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 ensures that innovation, quality, and environmental management mutually reinforce each other, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence across diverse organizational facets.

8. Why is the PDCA Cycle Crucial in ISO 56001?

The PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle is the backbone of ISO 56001. This iterative framework, with its origins attributed to the pioneering work of statistician Walter A. Shewhart has evolved into a cornerstone of quality management and continuous improvement methodologies. The PDCA cycle entails a systematic approach:

• Plan: Define objectives and processes necessary to deliver results that align with innovation goals.
  
• Do: Implement the planned processes, keeping in mind the variables identified in the planning phase.
  
• Check: Monitor and evaluate the implemented processes against objectives and specifications to ensure alignment.
  
• Act: Take corrective actions and make necessary adjustments based on the evaluation, closing the loop and initiating a new cycle.

Displayed above is the integration of the PDCA cycle within the ISO 56002 framework. Each number corresponds to one of the seven guiding elements outlined in the ISO 56002 guidance standard.

The beauty of the PDCA cycle lies in its adaptability and applicability across various ISO standards, providing a universal framework for continuous improvement. Whether in quality management (ISO 9001), environmental management (ISO 14001), or information security management (ISO 27001), the PDCA cycle serves as a unifying thread.

Integrating the PDCA cycle into ISO standards ensures a consistent and dynamic approach to management systems. The PDCA cycle is instrumental in creating a feedback loop, allowing organizations to refine their innovation processes iteratively, ensuring they stay responsive to evolving market dynamics and organizational goals.

9. What Role Should the PMO Play in ISO 56001 Adoption?

The Project Management Office (PMO) and innovation management team are the most logical choices for leading the effort towards ISO 56001 certification. The PMO brings project management skills and experience, while the innovation management team brings expertise in innovation processes and outcomes. By working together, the PMO and innovation management team can ensure that the implementation of ISO 56001 is successful and that the organization is able to achieve its goals.The PMO also plays a crucial role in ensuring that the innovation management processes and procedures are followed consistently throughout the entire organization, establishing a proper progress reporting structure, developing an innovation management charter, and building an innovation center of excellence. Organizations that choose to collaborate in this way are likely to achieve ISO 56001 certification more quickly and with fewer challenges than those that do not.

10. Is ISO 56001 Suitable for All Industries and Organization Sizes?

ISO 56001 is adaptable across industries and organization sizes. Its flexibility allows customization to meet the unique needs of diverse sectors, but it’s particularly compelling for:

• Companies Bidding for Business: As organizations bid on projects and contracts, the need to demonstrate a high level of focus and discipline in innovation becomes a competitive advantage. ISO 56001 certification may soon evolve from a choice to a business requirement, providing a tangible showcase of an organization’s commitment to systematic innovation management.
• Industries Valuing Innovation: Industries that inherently place a higher premium on innovation, such as technology, healthcare, and research, find ISO 56001 particularly valuable. The standard offers a structured approach that aligns with their innovation-centric ethos, providing a clear roadmap for sustainable and impactful innovation.
• Long-Term and Transformative Innovations: Organizations committed to long-term and transformative innovations, where the stakes are high, find ISO 56001 indispensable. The standard facilitates the cultivation of a disciplined innovation culture, ensuring that these organizations can navigate the complexities of transformative initiatives effectively.
• Larger Companies with Complex Innovation Processes: Larger enterprises, with more intricate and multifaceted innovation processes, stand to derive substantial value from ISO 56001. The standard provides a systematic framework to manage the complexities of innovation at scale, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Wrapping Up

ISO 56001 brings a disciplined and transparent approach to innovation management, removing the veil that often shrouds organizational processes, ultimately empowering innovation practitioners by providing them with the visibility needed to invest confidently in the future. Alongside the standard, a future-fit mindset plays a crucial role, ensuring organizations do more than just comply—they actively leverage the standard as a strategic asset for ongoing success.

By embracing ISO 56001 and incorporating Future-Fit principles, organizations can begin a transformative odyssey towards a future where innovation is not just an objective but a fundamental aspect of their culture and operations.

Creating an innovation approach that is as effective as it is exciting should be the focus of every innovator.

As we embark on the “corporate innovation odyssey” that is 2024 (as Planbox CEO Ludwig Melik calls it), equipping ourselves with the right features in our innovation toolkit cannot be overstated. The innovation management landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by technological advancements like AI-enhanced self-service and emerging frameworks like ISO 56000. In this dynamic environment, creating an innovation approach that is as effective as it is exciting should be the focus of every innovator.

But what exactly constitutes “must-have” features for innovation management in 2024? Well, let’s put it this way: they have to elevate your existing toolkit, blending elements of fun and functionality in a way that transforms traditional processes. Taking inspiration from our biggest “Innovations & Improvements” updates over the past year (here and here), let’s explore the five essential features for innovation management in 2024, from the most engaging to the most impactful.

The Most Engaging: Avatar Mode

TL;DR: Boost inclusion and engagement by empowering contributors to participate under the guise of personalized AI-generated avatars. Also, here’s a real-world use case about it featuring Bayer.

Revamp your innovation strategy with Planbox’s Avatar Mode, enabling contributors to engage and innovate using anonymous personas. This feature fosters an immersive and dynamic environment, encouraging free-flowing creativity and participation from all levels, including top executives, without compromising anonymity. Ideal for various scenarios, it enhances team competitions, brainstorming sessions, and company-wide events, bridging the gap in remote team interactions and driving peak innovation engagement.

Read this case study to learn how Bayer leveraged Avatar Mode to propel cross-disciplinary engagement and fast-track the selection of 25 world-changing projects from months to weeks.

The Most Collaborative: Collaborative Canvas (duh!)

TL;DR: Explore new business opportunities with your team by capturing the key elements of an idea or concept in an easy-to-read, one-page format.

Transform brainstorming into an effortless and engaging experience with the updated Collaborative Canvas, enhanced with a fresh design and new features that elevate the business case development process, fostering seamless collaboration among team members:

• Enhanced Connectivity: Link your canvas or cards to existing ideas or challenges, ensuring alignment and clarity across your team.
• Flexible Viewing Options: Choose between classic canvas or list views for optimal readability and navigation, regardless of your project’s complexity.
• Customizable Design: Personalize your canvas with color changes for the background, columns, headers, and cards, aiding in organization and visual appeal.
• Template Reuse: Save successful custom canvases as templates, allowing you to replicate effective strategies easily.
• Collaborative Voting: Engage your team with voting on canvas cards, highlighting the most impactful ideas for progression.

The Most Innovative: AI Stream

TL;DR: Find inspiration for ideas and challenges with AI-curated content streams spanning private and public data sources.

AI Stream offers a personalized flow of AI-curated content, empowering contributors to transform emerging trends and weak signals into ideas or challenges by tapping into an array of public and private data sources, including Salesforce, Jira, ChatGPT, RSS feeds, Twitter, the US Patent Office, and your existing pool of ideas and support tickets. AI Stream also suggests captivating titles for your ideas or challenges, tailored to the content you choose, adding an extra layer of creativity and relevance to your initiatives.

The Most Practical: Challenge Gallery

TL;DR: Launch challenges in no time with an ever-growing gallery of ready-to-use, customizable templates.

Challenge Gallery provides an extensive collection of pre-designed and configurable templates, that streamline the launch of challenges for innovation advocates. This feature allows easy duplication of information, form fields, business rules, and workflows from previous challenges, saving time and ensuring consistency and best practices. Beyond its practicality, Challenge Gallery is a rich source of inspiration, empowering innovators to embark on innovation challenges they might not have previously envisioned, expanding the scope of their creative efforts.

The Most Impactful: Idea Seeding

TL;DR: Accelerate your challenges’ momentum by infusing them with AI-generated ideas.

Idea Seeding acts as a dynamic catalyst, simultaneously jumpstarting and accelerating the momentum of your challenges. Using essential information like your organization’s industry, website, Twitter handle, and challenge specifics, it crafts a stream of ideas uniquely suited to your objectives. From this curated selection, you choose the ideas that best resonate with your goals. Launch your challenge with these pre-populated, engaging ideas to immediately spark participation and brainstorming, setting the stage for rapid, collaborative innovation.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it, the five must-have features for innovation management in 2024. If they’re not part of your current toolkit, it might be time to reevaluate and consider if you’re maximizing every opportunity to make innovation both exciting and effective. Remember, while individual features may evolve, the foundation of a robust platform remains constant, and luckily for you, when it comes to must-have innovation software, the choice is clear and singular. (Hint:)

Lucas Potasso-Justino

Chief Editor for the Future-Fit Manifesto and Content Marketing Specialist at Planbox. I write stuff that inspires front-line innovators on their journey towards an impactful innovation program. Follow me on LinkedIn.

This article originally appeared on Innovation Leader.

In the annals of technological evolution, we find ourselves at a juncture akin to the iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Just as the monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece symbolized a leap in human evolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a monumental force poised to reshape how we live, work, and interact with machines. 2024 beckons us to embark on our own odyssey, a transformative voyage into the heart of corporate innovation. As we peer into the abyss of AI’s limitless potential, we must equip ourselves not only with agility but with structured methodologies, visionary strategies, and a commitment to professional standards. Welcome to the machine, where the convergence of human ingenuity and AI promises to redefine the very essence of corporate innovation.

While agility has long been hailed as the answer to rapidly changing business landscapes, it’s time to recognize that being agile alone is no longer enough to navigate the challenges of the corporate innovation odyssey in 2024. In the past, agility served as a lifeline, allowing organizations to pivot quickly in response to unforeseen disruptions. However, the innovation environment has evolved to a point where agility must be coupled with structure and strategy. Simply being reactive and adaptable doesn’t provide the depth and foresight required to thrive in a world where the pace of change is ever-accelerating.

Reflecting on the Innovation Journey

As we embark on this corporate innovation odyssey, it is imperative to retrace our steps and contemplate where we’ve been and where we need to go. Traditionally, innovation has often been perceived as a chaotic realm, characterized by its lack of structure and recognition. It’s a realm where investments are challenging to account for, and the decision of which projects to fund or cut seems almost arbitrary.

In 2024, it’s time to redefine the role of innovation within organizations. No longer can it be an isolated entity; it must be intricately woven into the very fabric of the company’s strategy, vision, and policy.

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AI can be a powerful ally in our quest for corporate innovation excellence. Nevertheless, to harness these capabilities, we must lay a strong foundation of data for AI to work effectively.

Resources, Methodologies, and Approaches

It’s vital to ascertain whether we possess the right resources, software, methodologies, and approaches to propel us into the future. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reshaped the innovation landscape. Unlike innovations of the past that took decades to mature, AI evolves at lightning speed, and it’s essential to integrate it seamlessly into our innovation practices.

AI can be a powerful ally in our quest for corporate innovation excellence. It can categorize ideas, summarize concepts, analyze sentiment, foster collaboration, and predict the success of ideas. Nevertheless, to harness these capabilities, we must lay a strong foundation of data for AI to work effectively.

The Right Metrics and Alignment

It is paramount to reevaluate our metrics and alignment. The conventional metrics often fall short in capturing the true impact of innovation. We must adapt our metrics to measure value generation, customer satisfaction, and long-term competitiveness accurately.

Furthermore, corporate innovation cannot be a solitary endeavor; it should be deeply entwined with the broader organizational priorities and initiatives. It’s time to move past viewing innovation as a side project and recognize it as a central driver of our business’s success.

Leaving Behind the Past

As we journey into 2024, it’s crucial to identify what we should leave behind in 2023. One aspect that should remain in the past is the perception of innovation as a chaotic, disjointed process. We must replace the era of ‘innovation as madness’ with a structured, purpose-driven approach.

Resolutions for 2024

What resolutions should innovation teams adopt in 2024? A significant resolution is the professionalization of innovation. Regrettably, innovation teams and programs often go unnoticed or underappreciated. However, ISO 56001 offers a framework to standardize and professionalize innovation practices. This framework rooted in the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle by Dr William Edwards Deming, empowers organizations to systematically measure and enhance their innovation endeavors. PDCA embodies the scientific method central to all ISO standards, offering the same rigor and reliability to the innovation standard as it does to those for quality, information security, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.

The seven elements of ISO 56001, which include Context of the Organization, Leadership, Planning, Support, Operation, Performance Evaluation, and Improvement, chart a course for building a disciplined and predictable innovation program.

Becoming Future-Fit

In the face of this disjointed and agile landscape, we must adopt a future-fit mindset that redefines the way we approach work. Future-fit organizations transcend the traditional Agile methodology by embracing a relentless focus on driving paradigm shifts, using principles as their guiding light to shape their world. Unlike the reactive nature of Agile, future-fit values encourage organizations to predict and adapt to change proactively. Forrester’s The State Of Future-Fit Technology Strategy, 2022 report found that companies with a future-fit tech strategy grew revenue 1.8 times faster than their peers. This approach enables them to anticipate the next evolution of innovation, moving beyond the constraints of the Agile Manifesto to navigate the ever-evolving landscape more effectively and with a broader perspective.

The AI Revolution

In 2024, the spotlight shines on the AI revolution. AI isn’t merely another verse in the innovation song; it’s the symphony of 2024. AI is not a fleeting trend but a transformative force that continually evolves at an astonishing pace. Innovators must recognize that AI isn’t a threat but a valuable tool to augment their work. 

As AI edges closer to surpassing human intelligence, innovation teams must lead with AI, integrating it comprehensively into every aspect of their work. AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets, identify patterns, and make predictions can be harnessed to prioritize ideas and allocate resources more effectively.

Navigating Corporate Innovation in 2024

In 2024, organizations must act decisively to thrive in an AI-driven corporate innovation landscape:

• AI Integration: Make AI an integral part of your innovation strategy.
• Cross-Collaboration: Encourage interdisciplinary teamwork for creative breakthroughs.
• Professionalize Innovation: Certify and apply ISO 56001‘s PDCA framework.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Leverage data and AI analytics, using ISO 56006 for best practices in data utilization.
• Future-Fit Culture: Cultivate adaptability and principled thinking.
• Continuous Learning: Invest in skills and foster a learning culture.
• Metrics Realignment: Ensure metrics align with strategic priorities.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate externally for fresh insights, following ISO 56003’s guidelines on partnership management.

These actions will guide organizations through their innovation journey with confidence and purpose.

The Road Ahead

As we embark on the corporate innovation odyssey in 2024, we must bid farewell to the disjointed, chaotic approach of the past and embrace a structured, data-driven future. Organizations must recognize the pivotal role of AI in their innovation endeavors and professionalize their programs using standards like ISO 56001.

Welcome to the machine, where innovation is structured, data-driven, and poised to lead us into a new era of possibilities. To paraphrase “2001: A Space Odyssey”, as we navigate this ever-evolving landscape, our future truly lies in our own hands. By aligning our innovation agenda with strategic priorities, integrating AI seamlessly, and adhering to professional standards, we can ensure that innovation remains the cornerstone of our future success.

Ludwig Melik

CEO at Planbox and author of the Future-Fit Manifesto. I help organizations build a sustainable culture of innovation. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Welcome to our special gobble-bloggle where innovation results meet gratitude!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a time when we reflect on the bounties and blessings of the year, we turn our spotlight to ICON, Bayer, Bobcat, CAE, MOH, and Electrolux Professional—trailblazers that have not only pushed the boundaries of innovation, but have also embraced a sense of gratitude for every challenge and triumph along the way.

With that in mind, join us as we raise a toast to the thinkers, the doers, and the innovators who remind us that innovation truly is the gift that keeps on… thanks-giving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lucas Potasso-Justino

Chief Editor for the Future-Fit Manifesto and Content Marketing Specialist at Planbox. I write stuff that inspires front-line innovators on their journey towards an impactful innovation program. Follow me on LinkedIn.

Unifying the PMO and Innovation Team through ISO 56001 to Move the Business Forward.

The business universe is ever-expanding, and any organization not moving forward risks being sucked into the black hole of stagnation. Oh, the horror! Indeed, in this age of relentless change, the last thing any enterprise wants is a free-falling portfolio of innovative projects. Yet, there’s a problem of cosmic proportions in the world of PMO (Project Management Office), as evidenced by the distress signal sent from the CHAOS Report of The Standish Group:

• Only 29% of projects touch down successfully—on time, within budget, and with satisfying outcomes.
• 52% of projects veer off course—either going over budget, missing deadlines, or not meeting the set expectations.
• And, 19% crash land—either abandoned halfway or completed but left unused.

That’s concerning. And it gets worse! Another study by PMI unveils that poor project management leads to a staggering $97 million wastage per $1 billion invested. That’s a frightening 9.7% loss. Yikes! What in the world is going on?! Well, in the vast expanse of the PMO, it has become clear that organizational fine-tuning, enhanced budgeting, and alignment with the business strategy are mission-critical.

Perhaps, then, it’s time for an interstellar solution.

Close Encounters of the Innovation Kind

As the PMO stays focused on the set objectives, ensuring projects don’t drift off course, the Innovation Team pushes boundaries, challenging the status quo, reinventing strategies, and boldly going where no team has gone before. Their skill set? Not just managing, but mastering the art and science of innovation, effectively ensuring a continuous and cost-effective approach to value creation and realization.

Specifically, here are four ways in which innovation management enhances the PMO’s capabilities:

1. Systematic Ideation and Evaluation: It provides a structured approach for generating, evaluating, and implementing ideas, ensuring projects align with organizational goals.
2. Enhanced Resource Forecasting: It emphasizes data-driven decision-making, enabling the PMO to forecast resource needs, minimizing budget overruns.
3. Adaptive Methodologies: It introduces early-stage project prioritization, ranking, and vetting, facilitating adaptability and minimizing project failure risks.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration Platforms: It offers tools that enhance collaboration and improve stakeholder communication and decision-making, crucial for project success.

Given this emphasis on innovation, the findings from Boston Consulting Group’s Most Innovative Companies 2023 report come as no surprise: this year, two-thirds of companies ranked innovation as their number one priority. What’s more, 90% anticipate ramping up their innovation budgets, with nearly all increasing by more than 10%!

Now, this begs the question: what if the PMO and the Innovation Team were not extraterrestrial to one another? Imagine, if you will, if these two teams collaborated, all while embracing a universal blueprint like ISO 56001. The result? An astronomical force for strategic and boundless innovation.

The PMO’s Guide to ISO 56001

ISO 56001, the standard for innovation management systems, isn’t merely a shiny badge of honor. Think of it as a set of practices ingraining innovation deep within the fabric of the organization. By embracing ISO 56001, PMOs are not only transcending agility but also professionalizing innovation. 

This act of formalizing and streamlining innovative processes lay the groundwork for a future-fit innovation portfolio, ensuring the enterprise sails smoothly through cosmic winds and is ever ready to explore new frontiers. In fact, according to Forrester, organizations with a future-fit strategy—one underpinned by systematic innovation—grew revenue 1.8 times faster than their counterparts.

It’s worth noting that, as of writing this, ISO 56001 is still awaiting its official release in 2024. However, this delay shouldn’t deter you from getting ahead. Organizations can begin their journey with ISO 56002, the foundational guide for innovation management systems. 

The War of the Mandates

Every initiative faces challenges, and adopting ISO 56001 is no exception—it’s like navigating through an asteroid belt: demanding, complex, and resource-heavy. Ensuring success requires organizations to select the right team for the job.

For instance, the IT department typically leads the implementation of ISO 27001, a standard for information security management systems (ISMS), while manufacturing departments often handle ISO 9001, a standard for quality management systems (QMS).

Conversely, the leadership for ISO 56001 isn’t as clear-cut. Departments such as IT, operations, manufacturing, and R&D, among others, play crucial roles in an organization, yet they might lack the expertise in innovation management to effectively helm the ISO 56001 initiative. The pressing question then becomes: who should take the lead?

Short answer: PMO and the Innovation Team!

It Came from Innovation Management

ISO 56001 orbits around innovation management, so it’s a no-brainer that the Innovation Team would be necessary for its successful deployment. But beyond processes, it’s the team itself that sets the tone, making the difference between mere adoption and transformative implementation. Here are the critical roles that the Innovation Team undertake:

• Performance Oversight: Oversees the innovation system’s performance and ensures regular evaluations.
• Cultural Development: Fosters a culture that supports innovation and creates awareness of its importance.
• Visionary Alignment: Sets a clear innovation vision, strategy, and policy in alignment with the organization’s goals.
• Resource Allocation: Provides the necessary resources and structures for the effective execution of the innovation system.
• Value Advocacy: Advocates for the realization of value through risk management and experimentation.
• Ethical Commitment: Maintains a commitment to ethics, sustainability, and continuous improvement in the innovation policy.

ISO 56001: A PMO Odyssey

While we’ve delved into the role of the Innovation Team, what then is the function of the PMO within this framework? Well, the PMO stands as the trusted captain, navigating the organization through the nebulous realms of innovation using ISO 56001. In this capacity, the PMO’s responsibilities encompass:

• Consistency and Compliance: Ensures innovation management processes align with ISO 56001 standards throughout the organization.
• Progress Reporting: Establishes a system to track progress towards ISO 56001 certification, identifies areas for improvement, and monitors the Innovation Team’s performance.
• Innovation Management Charter: Collaborates with the Innovation Team to outline the organization’s innovation goals, processes, and procedures, serving as a roadmap for ISO 56001 certification.
• Innovation Hub: Facilitates the establishment of an Innovation Center of Excellence that:
  • Provides resources and support for innovation.
  • Serves as a central platform for sharing best practices and knowledge on innovation management.
  • Ensures alignment with the organization’s innovation objectives.

When Teams Collide

So, picture this: the PMO and the Innovation Team hopping into a cosmic cruiser, co-piloting the organization towards ISO 56001. By joining forces, they’re not just ensuring a smooth ride but also aligning the enterprise’s trajectory with its big-picture goals. That means innovative efforts get a major boost, making an impact where it counts the most. The PMO’s knack for juggling projects becomes a superpower when combined with the Innovation Team’s pioneering expertise, leading to better risk management and more successful outcomes.

It gets better, though: this collaborative partnership ensures innovation isn’t just a department thing—it becomes an organization-wide ethos. Everyone, from the front desk to the top floor, gets in on the act, adding their own creativity to the mix. This not only fosters a sense of unity and engagement; it boosts coordination, drives efficiency, and makes sure every resource is put to its best use.

The best part? With this power duo at the helm, a culture of innovation isn’t just about coming up with innovative projects; it’s about staying ahead in a cutthroat galaxy where everyone’s racing to be number one. All said and done, when these teams collide, they don’t just float—they soar, ensuring the enterprise rides the wave of change, rather than getting swallowed by it.

Lucas Potasso-Justino

Chief Editor for the Future-Fit Manifesto and Content Marketing Specialist at Planbox. I write stuff that inspires front-line innovators on their journey towards an impactful innovation program. Follow me on LinkedIn.

This article originally appeared on Forbes.

Innovation is more than a checklist. It’s a vibrant journey, bursting with collaboration, strokes of genius and a collage of viewpoints. If you’re itching to sprinkle something fresh into this mix, it’s time to bring in the wild card: avatars. They’re more than a mere digital face swap; using avatars turbocharges your online personas. The result? A dynamic culture of innovation that champions every voice, enhances teamwork and develops diverse perspectives, all while cranking up the creativity dial.

Let’s dive into the pivotal advantages of integrating avatars into your innovation strategy, supplemented by three fun examples illustrating how avatars can be leveraged:

Flattening The Hierarchical Landscape

Avatars push ranks to the sidelines, spotlighting ideas instead. Imagine an intern’s avatar pitching an idea that gets a nod from the avatar of a senior executive. With job titles taking a back seat, innovation can ring loud and true. Fresh, trailblazing solutions rise without any baggage related to rank.

Strengthening Bonds Across Business Units

Avatars can ease departmental tensions, paving the way for new relationships and interdepartmental collaboration. Think of what can be achieved when the marketing and production avatars start co-creating! Because avatars conceal real identities, you can start to pool wisdom from every nook of the organization.

Fueling Candid Conversations

Avatars serve as digital armor for those participating in open discussions. The CFO’s avatar might candidly admit a budgeting challenge, opening the door for innovative solutions. Hidden behind their virtual veil, participants can unleash groundbreaking ideas, making for clear, enriching brainstorming.

Harvesting A Medley Of Ideas

Entering avatar mode is like hopping into an innovation playground. A participant, usually shy in boardroom settings, might surprise everyone with a game-changing idea under the guise of their avatar. Liberated from their day-to-day selves, participants question norms, opening the gates for a broader, richer pool of ideas.

Boosting Engagement And Creativity

Avatars sprinkle magic dust on the innovation journey. Using them is akin to joining a virtual masquerade ball, where every mask hides an idea maestro. With these whimsical online personas, there’s an infectious sense of enthusiasm, revving up creativity. It’s important to note that, while avatars can offer a mask during an innovation event, every idea should be credited back to its real-world genius, melding innovative thinking with due recognition.

Three Fun Examples Of Avatars In Action

Here are three fun examples of avatar-powered use cases that you can leverage in your own meetings and innovation events:

1. Harnessing Inner Strengths

Participants, as their avatars, can unveil latent talents that could add value to a project. For example, a finance employee might reveal a knack for illustrating complex ideas through simple sketches. Showcasing talents in a fun environment boosts morale and uncovers untapped resources, leading to potential innovative solutions.

2. Rethinking Systems

Avatars, each representing different workplace goals, can dive into existing processes, reimagining them creatively. For example, an avatar symbolizing speed and efficiency might suggest ways to streamline a slow-paced process. The added layer of creativity here, combined with the distance from standard roles, encourages out-of-the-box thinking, revealing dormant avenues for innovation and enhancing productivity.

3. Ideas Clash In The Virtual Ring

You can hold a vibrant debate session where avatars spar over preplanned, pressing topics, leading to comprehensive insights. Friendly competition and lively banter under the guise of avatars can encourage sharing opinions that are usually held back, leading to more holistic solutions and innovative strategies.

Best Practices

Based on my experience working with clients, here are three best practices for leveraging avatars:

1. Define Clear Guidelines: Establish clear guidelines for avatar use, including purpose, expected behavior and limitations to avoid confusion and miscommunication.
2. Provide Training: Make sure all participants are comfortable and adept at using the technology required to participate in avatar-powered activities by providing training or resources.
3. Implement A Feedback System: Collect feedback after the event to make necessary adjustments and enhance the effectiveness of using avatars in future events.

When considering implementing avatars in your own meetings or activities, consider the following questions:

• What are the objectives of the exercise, and how can avatars help achieve them?
• How will the use of avatars impact the dynamics of the team or the discussion?
• Are there any potential challenges or barriers that could arise from using avatars, and how can they be addressed?
• How can we ensure that the use of avatars is inclusive and does not alienate any participant?
• What metrics or indicators will we use to measure the success of the exercise and the impact of using avatars?

Avatars combine the serious intent of professional innovation with the delightful energy of animated personas. If you’ve been seeking a method to bring more innovation and fun into your workplace, then avatars might just be the twist you need.

Ludwig Melik

CEO at Planbox and author of the Future-Fit Manifesto. I help organizations build a sustainable culture of innovation. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.

With this year’s International Day for Failure coinciding with Friday the 13th, the atmosphere couldn’t be more apt.

Wilmington, Delaware — In the spirit of the International Day for Failure on October 13th, Planbox, the pioneering innovation management platform, is excited to spotlight its most memorable missteps from the past year. Founded in 2010 by students at Aalto University in Finland, this unique day aims to challenge the fear of failure in the business world and to advocate for embracing risk and creativity.

To fully embrace this occasion, Planbox initiated the “Oops!” challenge, encouraging the Planbox community to share their notable failures from the year. By doing so, Planbox hopes to shift the narrative from one of avoiding failure to one that celebrates the inherent value of mistakes as drivers of innovation, creativity, and learning.

Here are the top business-related and off-duty “oops” moments of 2023:

• Orange Juice Cappuccino, Anyone?: “In my morning haze, I mistakenly frothed orange juice instead of milk for my cappuccino. Let’s just say it was a zesty surprise.”
  

• Hasty Edits, Timely Lessons: “Under the gun, I hastily began editing a crucial project template without creating a backup. In the process, I found myself entangled in a web of alterations. Thankfully, a teammate had a saved version to spare, bringing about a sigh of relief. This experience served as a poignant reminder of an ancient adage, ‘Festina lente’ or ‘speûde bradéōs’, translating to ‘make haste slowly’. Sometimes, urgency requires a pinch of patience.”

• Bowling Blunders: “As a lawn bowls enthusiast, I took the role of ‘Skip’ in a recent ‘Triples’ match. But in a comedy of errors, I mistakenly disturbed our advantageous positions not once, but multiple times. Our final score? A humbling 3-25.”

• Monsters Under the Bed: “I didn’t identify a potential risk that later becomes a major issue, halting project progress. The lesson? Always perform comprehensive risk assessments and take the time to really analyze a potential situation before dismissing the threat.”

• The Jeans Journey: “In my rush to pack for a visit to my in-laws, I forgot my jeans. With no men’s clothing stores in town, I had to resort to charity shops. Fortunately, I found a perfect pair at a mere £4.50.”

• Oops-sumptions: “We made an assumption about a key project component without verifying, resulting in costly revisions later. The lesson? Always validate assumptions, especially if they can impact the project outcome. Asking more questions and confirming what needs to be done is a lot better than missing a key project deliverable due to a misunderstanding.”

Recognizing failures is not just about admitting mistakes but understanding how to derive value from them. This process is essential for fostering a culture that encourages innovation and continued investments in future-centric ventures.

For organizations, the key lies in deriving insights from such experiences and turning them into growth opportunities. If you’re keen to discover strategies successful innovators employ to transform failures into stepping stones, we invite you to schedule a conversation with one of Planbox’s innovation advisors.

For all the latest news and updates, follow Planbox on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About Planbox

Innovation is at the heart of becoming Future-Fit. Built on ISO 56002 and AI, our end-to-end agile innovation management platform and services empower medium and large-sized organizations to become more adaptive, creative, and resilient. Planbox helps you turn creative ideas into winning projects and integrate everyday tools to collaborate smarter with your community of employees, customers, partners, startups, governments, academia, and expert solvers. Planbox has offices in Canada, UK, and USA, with customers around the world in over 140 countries.

Wilmington, Delaware — Planbox, the pioneering agile innovation management platform, has been named an Idea Management Software Leader for four consecutive quarters by G2, an industry leading software marketplace where technology buyers evaluate vendors based on validated peer reviews.

Planbox has ranked Leader in three separate Grid® reports:

• Grid® Report for Idea Management Software, Fall 2023
• Enterprise Grid® Report for Idea Management Software, Fall 2023
• Momentum Grid® Report for Idea Management Software, Fall 2023

Vendors in the Idea Management Software category are ranked by customer satisfaction and market presence and placed into four quadrants on the Grid®: Niche, Contenders, High Performers, and Leaders. The Leader quadrant is characterized by vendors that are rated most highly by G2 users and that have substantial market presence.

Planbox’s recognition as a Leader in multiple Grid reports underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality solutions that drive meaningful outcomes for its clients, positioning it as a trusted partner for large organizations seeking to drive innovation and growth.

Additionally, G2 awarded Planbox with eight trust badges that represent a vendor’s performance relative to others in its category. 

• Leader, Fall 2023
• Leader, Enterprise, Fall 2023
• Momentum Leader, Fall 2023
• Best Relationship, Enterprise, Fall 2023
• Easiest Setup, Enterprise, Fall 2023
• Users Most Likely To Recommend, Fall 2023
• Users Most Likely To Recommend, Enterprise, Fall 2023
• Users Love Us

According to G2, Enterprise badges are awarded based on reviews from users who are employed at companies with a workforce of 1,001 or more employees.

Additional customer insights into the Planbox platform can be found on G2, where users rated Planbox with a 4.8/5 rating based on 39 reviews as of October 10, 2023 — the highest user rating among all other idea management software vendors.

“This achievement is an inspiring reflection of our team’s pursuit of excellence, as well as our commitment to helping our clients unlock their full innovative potential. This acknowledgment from G2 energizes us to continue pushing the boundaries in delivering effective solutions that empower our customers to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace,” said Sara Husk, Chief Customer Officer of Planbox.

See why Planbox is ranked number one by analysts and users.

For all the latest news and updates, follow Planbox on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About Planbox

Innovation is at the heart of becoming Future-Fit. Built on ISO 56002 and AI, our end-to-end agile innovation management platform and services empower medium and large-sized organizations to become more adaptive, creative, and resilient. Planbox helps you turn creative ideas into winning projects and integrate everyday tools to collaborate smarter with your community of employees, customers, partners, startups, governments, academia, and expert solvers. Planbox has offices in Canada, UK, and USA, with customers around the world in over 140 countries.

About G2

G2 is the world’s largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 80 million people annually — including employees at all of the Fortune 500 — use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of software and services companies of all sizes partner with G2 to build their reputation, manage their software spend, and grow their business – including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, and Adobe. To learn more about where you go for software, visit www.g2.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.