Course Highlights
This virtual innovation skills course will:
- Differentiate between creativity and innovation and clarify how they drive organizational growth.
- Provide an overview of various levels and types of innovation, including incremental and disruptive.
- Introduce models and frameworks such as Porter’s Five Forces and PESTEL analysis to identify innovation opportunities.
- Offer strategies to navigate common innovation roadblocks and evaluate the effectiveness of innovation initiatives.
- Teach techniques for problem definition, root cause analysis, and ideation.
- Share best practices for forming and managing innovation teams.
Course Overview
Innovation is the engine that drives progress in any organization, but building a culture of innovation requires more than occasional brainstorming sessions. “Spark Smarts: Skills for Driving Innovation at Work” offers participants a structured approach to foster creativity, manage innovation processes, and implement effective strategies that bring impactful ideas to life.
In the first segment, participants will explore the foundational concepts of innovation, distinguishing it from creativity and examining various levels of innovation, from incremental to radical. Through case studies, they will learn about innovation errors that led to the downfall of once-successful organizations. Participants will also discuss proactive versus reactive approaches to innovation and gain insights into practices that set innovative organizations apart. The segment concludes with an innovation profile that helps participants identify their own innovation preferences and strengths.
The second segment focuses on understanding the current state and troubleshooting common innovation obstacles. Participants will explore different innovation patterns, assess potential roadblocks, and evaluate balanced approaches that prioritize both incremental and breakthrough ideas. This segment also introduces methods for measuring innovation success, offering ways to track progress and avoid common pitfalls.
In the final segment, participants dive into the creative process itself, learning ideation techniques and methods for defining and evaluating problems. Participants will also gain practical tools for evaluating ideas and strategies for building and managing effective innovation teams. This segment includes best practices for team dynamics, ensuring that organizations engage with their innovation teams in constructive and supportive ways.
Segment One Objectives
At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Differentiate creativity and innovation.
- Define levels of innovation.
- Describe examples of innovation errors that caused successful organizations to close their doors.
- Identify areas where incremental innovation can often be found.
- Explain the difference between reactive and proactive innovation.
- Apply Porter’s Five Forces and PESTEL analysis within the context of innovation.
- Discuss what innovative organizations do differently.
- Complete an innovation profile.
Segment One Modules
- Little Steps to Big: Innovation Fundamentals
- Motivation: Reactive and Proactive Moves
- Embedded Success: What Top Organizations Do
- Instincts and Preferences: Style Management
Segment Two Objectives
At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Ask good questions to understand the current state.
- Explain proven innovation patterns.
- Troubleshoot common roadblocks organizations encounter.
- Discuss the importance of a balanced approach.
- Describe various elements organizations use to measure the success of an innovation initiative.
Segment Two Modules
- Homework: Three Areas to Explore
- More Than 100: Innovation and Change Strategies
- Getting There: Roadblocks and Balance
- Measures: Tracking Success (or Failure)
Segment Three Objectives
At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Explain the creativity–innovation connection.
- Define a problem.
- Find root causes.
- Practice multiple ideation techniques.
- Apply several idea evaluation tools.
- Describe high-level best practices for composing an innovation team.
- Outline errors organizations make when interacting with their innovation teams.
Segment Three Modules
- Creativity Meets Innovation: Bridging the Gap
- Problem Identification: Defining the Challenge
- Finding the Why: Root Cause Analysis
- Ideas Unleashed: Ideation Techniques
- Green Light or Red Light: Evaluating Solutions
- Team Dynamics: Building and Managing Innovation Teams
Target Audience
This virtual training program is designed for groups that want to:
- Foster a culture of innovation and drive continuous improvement.
- Develop skills for identifying and solving complex problems creatively.
- Build structured approaches for ideation, evaluation, and implementation.
- Enhance team dynamics to support innovation and avoid common obstacles.
Suggested Format
- Three-Segment Virtual Classroom Course
Questions This Page Answers About Innovation Training
- Where can I find virtual training to help my team develop innovation skills?
- Who offers training on structured innovation processes and frameworks?
- How can our organization learn to avoid common roadblocks to innovation?
- What are best practices for building and managing innovation teams effectively?