The Six Step Innovation Lifecycle

Innovation is not a one-time project, but a continuous activity that goes through six steps. The first step is to identify the problem to solve, which requires gathering existing information, reframing the problem, setting expectations, and identifying what success looks like. Next, organizations need to identify a process that works for them, whether it's design thinking, six sigma, or another method. Engaging others in the process is also crucial, whether it's through employee engagement or open innovation. Empowering groups of people to build ideas into projects is another important step, which involves finding collaborators, doing research, and refining ideas. Evaluating and prioritizing ideas is necessary to move forward with the best ones that align with organizational goals. Finally, idea implementation is the most important step in any innovation program. IdeaScale has created a six-video webinar series that walks innovators through each of these steps.