Every organization focuses on innovation but very few are able to achieve it. The core reason for that is a lack of understanding of how innovation works. Many of us believe innovation happens when we visualize and understand revolutionary technologies and implement them immediately will produce the change. In reality, the process extends beyond technology because innovation directly involves people. People represent the most substantial barrier organizations face when implementing changes. Whenever Change is proposed the basic human instinct is "What's in it for me? Will it help me or not?”.
The implementation of disruptive innovation requires a systematic approach that focuses on human factors. ACE Framework (Align, Co-Create, Elevate) represents one such method for achieving this. The Framework establishes a systematic methodology for innovation which focuses on challenge alignment and solution co-creation and execution elevation through collective ownership. The methodology focuses on people first because it enables innovation systems that employees both adopt and maintain.
Align: The Process to Establish the Appropriate Challenge That All Parties Understand.
The initial step of innovation demands problem comprehension. But not just any problem—the right problem. The process needs multiple viewpoints to guarantee that we tackle problems which deliver maximum business value to our organization and our team and project initiatives.
Tesla launched the Electric Vehicle Revolution as an example of this concept. The company set out to develop more than an ordinary electric vehicle. The company formed a common understanding of how to build a desirable and sustainable alternative to gasoline vehicles with high performance capabilities. The alignment process required analyzing both consumer issues about range limitations and charging system development alongside environmental sustainability needs. They asked themselves "How can we transform electric cars into the most superior cars on the market?" instead of "Can we create an electric car?". The project needed multiple perspectives that combined expertise from engineering and design alongside market research understanding.
Every innovation initiative needs stakeholder interviews combined with workshops and data analysis to define problems and their potential impacts before launch. What core issues need resolution and will their resolution generate substantial value? What are the core issues we're trying to solve? and "How will solving these issues create significant value?"
Co-Create: Fostering Inclusive, Curiosity-Driven Dialogue
After establishing the challenge parameters, teams transition into solution co-creation mode. An open communication space should allow people to test assumptions while collaborative dialogue helps to refine ideas. The open-source software development model demonstrates the collaborative spirit.
Have you ever heard of LEGO Ideas? LEGO Ideas operates as a platform that enables fans to create their own LEGO set concepts. The LEGO review process takes effect after their designs get 10,000 fan votes. Through this co-creation approach, the LEGO community contributes their creative vision to develop innovative and well-liked sets. The essential aspect is to allow open feedback which should guide iterative development based on community engagement.
The implementation of brainstorming sessions and hackathons together with online collaboration tools should encourage idea sharing. Design a protected area where people can safely question assumptions and give helpful feedback to others. The practice of thinking "yes, and..." helps to enhance existing concepts. Organizations must embrace ongoing learning through iterative development because innovation works as a continuous process rather than a single event.
Elevate: The process of execution with shared ownership represents the final stage to advance innovation.
Great concepts lack value without proper execution. The process of elevating innovation requires leadership to implement solutions through collective ownership which results in integrated workflows. The organizational inner-source development model demonstrates its scalability through this approach.
Spotify's Agile Methodology. Spotify chose the "Spotify Model" for agile development which structured their teams into three distinct groups: squads, tribes and guilds. The organizational structure created ownership aspects that led to quicker improvement cycles. Spotify achieved higher innovation capacity and market adaptation through their implementation of autonomous teams that shared responsibility.
The implementation requires defined roles and responsibilities together with sufficient resources that enable teams to autonomously make decisions. The implementation of agile methodologies through sprints and retrospectives helps organizations monitor progress while discovering areas for enhancement. A culture of continuous improvement and shared ownership should be encouraged through the recognition of achievements and learning from mistakes. The organization should adopt inner-sourcing methods to disseminate best practices and organizational code.
The Power of People-Centric Innovation
A solution gains strength through the participation of all individuals. Solutions benefit from diverse viewpoints because they result in creative approaches with greater robustness. The practice of co-creation helps people welcome modifications more willingly. People who share ownership of projects exhibit higher commitment while showing decreased opposition to changes. Purposeful collaboration speeds up the transformation process. Shared goals together with streamlined processes enable faster and more effective implementation of solutions.
Innovation exists as a continuous process which needs to be repeated and scaled up and made open. A culture that supports people and promotes collaboration enables us to tap into innovation potential for creating substantial change. The power of outcomes grows with the number of people who participate according to open source and inner source principles.