3 Keys to Innovation

Framework for evaluating the quality of an idea.

Innovation is awesome. And a word that is much overused. Everyone seems to be doing innovation, and everything is described as innovative. How do you know if something is truly innovative? Is it in the eye of the beholder?

The truth is that you can’t know with certainty, and without exploration. If innovation in our context represents a new idea that delivers value to customers or stakeholders–you have to somehow be able to connect it to a need for it to even have potential. 

IDEO has developed a simple business framework that can help discern if an idea will bring value to your customer or organization. What I like to call the 3 Keys to Innovation, is actually well aligned with behavior change models that consider the motivation and friction of doing something differently.   An innovation has to be worth abandoning the status quo.   The simple framework explores that. Here is a quick way to build the confidence that your idea is a good one.

Is it wanted? (DESIREABILITY)

Can we sustain it? (VIABILITY)

Can we do it well? (FEASIBILITY)

Collect qualitative and quantitative data to support your pitch and build the business case. Obviously, this becomes bound by the availability of resources, but asking these questions can help you discern if that next great idea you have is worth its salt.

Schedule an advisory call if you want to confidently move your organization’s great ideas forward.