by Tomislav Buljubasic
While innovation is a top priority in institutions and businesses, often there are barriers that impede its rollout and adoption. There are many different kinds of obstacles and challenges, but many are surmountable, given the right approach. Some can be mitigated while the organization moves forward with change, and others can be eliminated completely.
1. You have a new idea? Try to inform yourself about existing ideas from that field.
2. Show similar products that the competition already have on the market – what is the advantage of your idea in relation to the competition?
3. If your idea is connected to the area in which you work, you have the best chance for success (since you are an expert in your field).
4. Can you show, from the beginning, the new value for the customer?
5. Are the technologies needed for the development of your application available in-house? Is your idea technically feasible?
6. Does your company have sales channels which could place your innovation on the market?
7. Can the result of your innovation be a new product?
8. Highlight the usability of your idea for the customer. If your idea is strictly technical, try to show it to be understandable to everyone.
9. Show which problem is solved with your idea.
10. A good presentation can be the key! Your idea must be explained in a simple way.
When trying to make a successful innovation, the best way to help yourself is to prototype! We all have made many prototypes – as kids. Kids are doing it all the time! Fast prototyping is the work on your product, even before you have all answers. You can try your chances by making prototypes – by experimenting.
There are few rules which shouldn’t be forgotten: Prototypes must be made quickly. Try to keep the process cheap; skip the details and try to have many versions. Edison made 9,000 experiments before manufacturing the most efficient light-bulb and 50,000 before the invention of the battery. He did not think that he has many faults, but that he learned thousands of ways in which the experiments failed. Each failure was a step closer to innovation.
Leonardo da Vinci made a picture of helicopter back in 16th century, but only few centuries in the future it was possible to make a prototype.
Keep in mind that criteria can help you at the start when you have to shape your idea, whether you need to submit it inside your organization or if you are the independent innovator. Sometimes, the prototype can be an application with just few basic functions, maybe it could be just a wooden model or just a presentation which shows the basic functionality.
Making the prototype helps in visualizing the possible solution. This would facilitate the decision that will lead to the realization of your innovation!
