Level Four - Innovation Leadership Master

Innovation Purpose Leader: 

• The organization has a distinctive and transformative innovation purpose or reason. 

• The organization sets the direction and pace for innovation in its industry and beyond

• There is a bold vision, mission, and goal for innovation that are visionary and aspirational

• There is a widespread degree of ownership and empowerment among different stakeholders, who co-create and co-deliver the innovation outcomes

• Innovation is seen as a purposeful and impactful activity

Innovation Focus Leader: 

• The organization has focus areas that are constantly updated and refined based on the market feedback and learning

• The organization proactively acquires new competencies and resources that are critical for the success of future projects in these focus areas

• The organization also manages a balanced and risk-adjusted portfolio of projects for each focus area, providing confidence about the value that could be generated for the organization and its partners

• Innovation is seen as a dynamic and adaptive activity

Innovation Pipeline/Portfolio Leader: 

• The organization has a dynamic innovation pipeline or portfolio

• The portfolio has a diverse set of projects to meet a range of organizational targets regarding time horizons, differentiation, barriers to entry, and impact

• The organization uses advanced methods and techniques to manage and optimize the innovation pipeline or portfolio, such as risk-adjusted net present value and option value

• The organization also balances its own innovation pipeline or portfolio with those of its partners and networks in the ecosystem, creating synergies and opportunities for collaboration and co-creation

• Innovation is seen as a strategic and systemic activity

Innovation Process Leader: 

• The organization has a clear criteria for selecting and advancing ideas/projects that are defined and communicated across the organization

• These criteria provide direction and guidance for teams and partners to manage and execute innovation projects effectively and efficiently

• The organization also considers multiple channels for launching and scaling up the innovations to maximize customer-pull and market spread

• The organization continuously monitors and evaluates the innovation process and performance and implements best practices and improvements

• Innovation is seen as a scalable and sustainable process

Innovation Teaming and Partnering Leader: 

• Innovation teams develop external partnerships across the value chain to formally access new competences, resources, and assets, thereby reducing risk and cost, and driving accelerated win-win results

• They use formal agreements and contracts to establish clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, and benefits for each partner

• They co-create value propositions and solutions with their partners

• They measure and improve their partnership performance and impact

•  Innovation is seen as a strategic and systemic activity

Innovation Resources Leader: 

• The organization has a formal budget and an inventory of tangible and intangible resources from across the organization and key partners for innovation

• These resources include those from the external ecosystem of customers, suppliers, competitors, academia, government, etc

• These resources are well documented and managed

• They are leveraged and optimized to maximize the innovation potential and impact

• They are also shared and exchanged with the partners to foster collaboration and co-creation. 

• Innovation is seen as a value-creating activity

Innovation Leader: 

• The leadership is recognized as an innovation leader in its industry and beyond

• The leadership promotes a comfortable, top-down and bottom-up environment involving a wide range of leaders who talk about innovation and share best practices

• The leadership connects the organization with the external ecosystem of partners, customers, suppliers, competitors, academia, government, etc. to foster collaboration and co-creation

• The leadership continuously monitors the trends and changes in the market and society and anticipates future opportunities and threats

• Innovation is seen as a way of life and a source of inspiration for everyone

Innovation Culture Leader: 

• Leaders create a safe environment to develop skills and confidence for employees to innovate by encouraging them to experiment, learn from failures, and course correct

• They provide coaching and mentoring to foster a growth mindset and a learning culture

• They continuously monitor the trends and changes in the market and society and anticipate future opportunities and threats

• They connect the organization with the external ecosystem of partners, customers, suppliers, competitors, academia, government, etc. to foster collaboration and co-creation

• Innovation is seen as a way of life and a source of inspiration for everyone

Innovation Measurement Leader: 

• The organization has a formal evaluation process that identifies, rewards, and recognizes individuals and teams who deliver outstanding innovation results. 

• This process involves multiple stakeholders, such as customers, peers, managers, leaders, etc. who provide feedback and testimonials

• This process also identifies and shares best practices and lessons learned from the innovation process and performance

• This process fosters a culture of excellence and continuous improvement for innovation. 

• Innovation is seen as a value or a culture

Creation Leader:

• The organization sets the industry standard for creating new value for stakeholders

• It establishes strategic partnerships across the entire value chain to co-create groundbreaking value propositions

• Stakeholders are actively involved in shaping innovation initiatives, and the organization continuously seeks ways to achieve transformative impact

• Value creation is pursued with a bold and visionary mindset

• Innovation is seen as illuminating the path for creating new value for stakeholders

Capture Leader:

• The organization sets industry benchmarks in capturing value through innovative approaches

• It goes beyond conventional metrics, exploring novel ways to generate revenue, enhance profitability, expand market share, and foster customer loyalty

• Innovation premiums are fully embraced, and the organization consistently introduces groundbreaking concepts that disrupt the market and create substantial and differentiated value

• Innovation is the pathway to drive exponential growth