Project Bux-Lab – Creating an ideation framework

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The objective of our project partner is cultivating a culture of innovation and fostering innovative ideas within the organization by identifying core competencies and leveraging ideas from all areas of their ecosystem effectively to create successful spin-offs.

Goal

The goal of this project was to develop a clear strategy for our project partner and become more efficient in supporting ideas from their ecosystem as well as developing them into viable spin-offs. This was to be achieved via the creation of a reproducible framework that could process ideas from different sources.

Methodology

In order to achieve this, we firstly analyzed the status quo of our project partner, consequently performed a best practice analysis and gap analysis to conclude our strategic recommendations. The status quo was evaluated by examing the company’s structure through organigrams coupled with interviews conducted both within the client’s organization and with key stakeholders. The best practice analysis consisted of two pillars: literature (desk) research, an examination of relevant papers and studies related to the topic of idea management as well as conducting interviews with organizations that already had successfully implemented similar spin-off programs within their ecosystem. This was followed by a gap analysis comprising of six main areas (Operational Readiness, Structure, Documentation, Incentives & Communication, Feedback Mechanism, Support). Based on the gap analysis in these six areas, we developed our strategic recommendation.

Results

We developed a strategic recommendation for optimizing idea flow with a five-phase origin-based system that caters to the different sources of ideas. Furthermore, we identified six prerequisites (Precision in function, Essential Support Framework, Feedback Architecture, Established Minimum Budget, Clear State-Gate Protocol, Incentive Framework) to ensure an effective idea collection and development process. Based on the six prerequisites the five-phase origin-based system was created stretching from Cultivation, Collection, Recognition, Development to Execution. This framework helps understand clearly what responsibilities and actions are required in which stage. Moreover, this framework is coupled to a State-Gate process, an effective way to allow for creativity during stage-phases and keep a clear structure through hard go/no-go decisions during gate-phases.

Cooperation Partner

• zero 2 one invest GmbH
  Harburger Straße 47-51, 21614 Buxtehude
  Germany
  zero2one-invest.com

Contact Person

• Christian Sinz - christian.sinz@zero2one-invest.com

• Sarah Marty - sarah.marty@zero2one-invest.com

Student Team

• Gianni Brugger

• Kilian Frischauf

• Timon Krieglstein

• Moritz Spary

• Miriam Tokmak

• Maximilian Walser

Project Manager

• Caroline Fabian, M.Sc. (LSE), M.Sc. (Eng.)

• Melina Mazzucato, M. Sc. (WU), M. Sc. (NOVA SBE)