Internal Innovation Networks - foundation for success

Establishing internal innovation networks is a crucial step in corporate innovation, yet many companies neglect this missing link. This often results in innovations that don't receive internal support and fail to gain traction. Internal networks promote collaboration and provide operational support for external innovation programs. They also identify emerging thought leaders and promote internal brainstorming for multinational corporations. Qualcomm's FLUX is an excellent example of an employee-driven, cross-departmental network. Although innovation management software and web-based platforms can also be used, it is essential to have properly connected people within organizations to identify and define their own needs before experimenting with external innovation programs.