{"id":1748,"date":"2016-02-04T23:09:20","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T22:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1748"},"modified":"2020-01-04T12:01:34","modified_gmt":"2020-01-04T11:01:34","slug":"the-stage-gate-process-kills-true-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1748","title":{"rendered":"The Stage Gate Process Kills True Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>Last week\u2019s Thursday Thoughts raised many comments from readers: which has certainly made me think a lot more about innovation in the past week! &nbsp;Many thanks for those of you that engaged in the conversation!<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div>My hypothesis that customers were the best source of innovation was challenged by quite a few!<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Kit thought that innovation stemmed from technology, newbies AND customers;<\/li>\n<li>Lucy thought it was all about execution;<\/li>\n<li>Jerry echoed Steve Job\u2019s famous saying that \u201ccustomers don\u2019t know what they want until we\u2019ve shown them\u201d. &nbsp;(Apple again!);<\/li>\n<li>Joanna highlighted the fact that we can become swamped by the choices that we all face, so that we don\u2019t know what we want;<\/li>\n<li>Brian made a great distinction between inventors and designers (very close to my heart);<\/li>\n<li>Ryan complained of Apple\u2019s cables and pop-ups and vented his frustrations about spellcheckers and such; and<\/li>\n<li>James made a very insightful point &#8220;<i>Customers are certainly a good source of innovation, but I read somewhere one of the gurus suggesting the people who weren\u2019t yet customers, or weren\u2019t customers anymore were even better.<\/i> <i>A bit more difficult to access, but an interesting thought.&#8221;<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<div>Given that the subject (combined with my rather over-simplistic conclusions) created so many comments, I thought I would carry on with the same theme &#8211; though this week look at the <u>process&nbsp;of innovation in great companies<\/u>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In my research, I came across a very interesting book:&nbsp;<i>\u201cWinning at Innovation: The A-F Model\u201d by Fernando Tr\u00edas de Bes and the famous Philip Kotler published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2015.<\/i><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><i>&nbsp;<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>There were a few very useful Ideas I have gleaned from the book. &nbsp;Firstly, on page 16, the authors state that:&nbsp;<i><i>\u201cthe phases or stages of an innovation process cannot be pre-determined, but must emerge as a result of the interaction of a set of functions or roles performed by certain individuals.\u201d <\/i><\/i><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><i>&nbsp;<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>This resonated with a thought I had last Sunday that the true source of innovation was probably not the customer, but more likely a passionate,&nbsp; problem-solver driven to do something new. &nbsp;Like Steve Jobs &#8211; a catalyst that wants to put a &#8220;ding in the Universe&#8221;. &nbsp;Somehow this made me feel a lot better, because it meant that this \u201cinnovation activist\u201d could really make a difference by simply believing that they could!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The book&nbsp;\u201cWinning at Innovation\u201d&nbsp;called this first role (in their A-F model) an &#8220;Activator\u201d. &nbsp;Perhaps Activator is a better word than an activist. &nbsp;Less revolutionary and more chemical. &nbsp;The six roles that they define are:<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Activators &#8211; these are people who will initiate the innovative process without worrying about stages or phases.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Browsers&nbsp;<strong>&#8211; these are the experts searching for information.<\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Creators &#8211; The people who produce ideas for the rest of the group. &nbsp;Their function is to ideate.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Developers &#8211; People specialised in turning ideas into products.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Executors &#8211; The people who take care of everything to do with implementation.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Facilitators &#8211; Those who approve the new spending items and investment needed as the (team-defined) innovation process moves forwards.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>The book gives a chapter to each role. &nbsp;Rather like a Jazz band, the magic only happens when the players perform their parts &nbsp;with each other by getting&nbsp;\u201cin the groove\u201d.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>How far away this model is from the classic&nbsp;\u201cStage Gate\u201d process! &nbsp;So many large companies try to institutionalise innovation by forcing new ideas through a series of gates, each gate blocking innovation and creating an economy of scarcity and &nbsp;innovation prevention agents. &nbsp;Some might say it is a game and chant &#8220;gamification&#8221;, but that is not my experience.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?attachment_id=1755\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1755\"><img data-attachment-id=\"1755\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?attachment_id=1755\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?fit=600%2C360\" data-orig-size=\"600,360\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Design Process Crossed Out\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?fit=300%2C180\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?fit=525%2C315\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1755\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?resize=525%2C315\" alt=\"Design Process Crossed Out\" width=\"525\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?w=600 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Design-Process-Crossed-Out.jpg?resize=300%2C180 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>Innovation is everybody\u2019s job &#8211; and everybody\u2019s right! &nbsp;By defining roles and allowing the players (within a scope \/ budget \/ set of objectives) to define their own process (or set the rhythm to their own music), innovation flows naturally. &nbsp;No need for costly gates and financial cook-books.<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div>One wonders whether the corporate and public sector dinosaurs of the 20th Century will be able to adapt to such models in the next 10 years. &nbsp;I predict that they will really struggle and find it difficult to beat the innovation pioneers who take knock-down the stage gates, put themselves on stage and leave Gates to his philanthropic endeavours!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I call this idea <strong>&#8220;Presence over Process&#8221;<\/strong>. &nbsp;Think about it. &nbsp;It really helps if you are struggling to navigate any corporate or government process.<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div>Long live the spirit of Jobs and all other innovation activators!<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div>That also gives a clue to next week&#8217;s piece. &nbsp;But it probably isn&#8217;t the Jobs you think it is!<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week\u2019s Thursday Thoughts raised many comments from readers: which has certainly made me think a lot more about innovation in the past week! &nbsp;Many thanks for those of you that engaged in the conversation! &nbsp; My hypothesis that customers were the best source of innovation was challenged by quite a few! &nbsp; Kit thought &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1748\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Stage Gate Process Kills True Innovation&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[80,68,85,96,49],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DQGK-sc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1734,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1734","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":0},"title":"The Best Source of Innovation","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"28\/01\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The news this week that the upwards-ever-upwards iPhone sales are finally stalling was a stark reminder that even the greatest companies struggle to keep the juices of innovation flowing year-on-year. \u00a0The Apple Watch couldn't replace the iPhone and the iCar (if it ever arrives) is still a few years out.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Big Ideas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Big Ideas","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=42"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/AdobeStock_94946121.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":529,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=529","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":1},"title":"Innovation at the Edge of Elecricity","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"30\/05\/2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Although this is almost exactly a year old and quite US-centric, the video below \"Innovation at the Edge of Electricity\" was made. It has some great stories that may well make the minds of anyone living in the US or Europe boggle at how true innovation is happening in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Big Ideas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Big Ideas","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=42"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1429,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1429","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":2},"title":"The Seven Questions of Innovation","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"01\/07\/2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes you get stuck. \u00a0You can't think of a way out. Well, it's not the first time! \u00a0Mankind has a long history of innovation. This video explains it beautifully - and gives us seven questions to ask when you get stuck: Go on! Try it! \u00a0Ask the seven questions: 1.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Animated&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Animated","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=70"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":835,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=835","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":3},"title":"Bedrooms, Markets and Coffee Cups","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"17\/01\/2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Anthony kindly sent me this brilliant short video from Hans Rosling on why economies are made in bedrooms, not markets! So, whatever you do, if you are European or American and want to grow your business, go seek out new markets in China or India....or start serving the over 60s!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Attention&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Attention","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=78"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1088,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=1088","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":4},"title":"Two-Speed Engines and Wonky Gearboxes","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"20\/09\/2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I was with a client yesterday and drew attention to a recent article Two-Speed IT: A Linchpin for Success in a Digitized World\u00a0from BCG Perspectives on how some organisations are being forced split in two with the pressure of the internet. \u00a0The BCG paper describes a \"two-speed IT\" - but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Architecture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Architecture","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lornemitchell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/automatic_gear_shift.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":911,"url":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?p=911","url_meta":{"origin":1748,"position":5},"title":"Lorne at the Lords","author":"Lorne Mitchell","date":"29\/03\/2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I gave evidence at the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications on Tuesday - all about the future of UK Internet Access. There is\u00a0 a video of it here:","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Architecture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Architecture","link":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1748"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1748"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1967,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1748\/revisions\/1967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lornemitchell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}