Introduction: Setting the Stage for Business-Driven Innovation

A culture of innovation will separate organisations that thrive with AI from those that will struggle to stay relevant and profitable. Innovation challenges can spark a culture of innovation. Unlike hackathons, which focus on specific technical skills, innovation challenges aim to engage business stakeholders. These people know their domain and have long envisioned better ways to do things.

Innovation challenges provide a way to refine ideas. They aim to drive real change in the organisation. It's not just about generating ideas. It's about capturing the deep insights of business experts to create solutions that solve real problems and have the potential to shape the organisation's future.

But what is an innovation challenge? How can it spark creativity and produce results? This post will guide you through the entire process. From planning before the challenge, toactually making the winning idea into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP, you’ll learn how this process can help your organisation.

What is an Innovation Challenge?

An innovation challenge is more than a brainstorming session. It's a strategic effort to refine ideas that align with the organisation's goals. Whereas hackathons tend to be aimed at tech-focused developers, innovation challenges are designed with business stakeholders in mind. They understand the business's needs and pain points. They propose solutions that can drive real value.

An innovation challenge aims to create a competitive yet collaborative environment. In it, teams or individuals pitch their ideas for a chance to see them brought to life. The process aims to create practical, implementable solutions. It should also be fun and engaging for all involved. The challenge creates buzz and encourages creativity by motivating participants to think outside the box.

The winning idea is not just a theory. It is a solution that will be built and scaled across the business.

The Power of Collaboration in Innovation Challenges

An innovation challenge fosters collaboration across different parts of the organisation. Teams from different departments bring together diverse skills, views, and experiences. This cross-functional collaboration is where the magic happens. It allows ideas to be viewed from multiple angles. It ensures that the final solution is well-rounded and robust.

However, collaboration doesn’t always require large, cross-departmental teams. I’ve seen individuals or teams formed within a single division submit outstanding ideas. In a recent innovation challenge I was part of, the winning idea was from the legal counsel team. Their idea had the potential to save the business $10 million. It showed that powerful ideas can come from anywhere in the organisation.

Business stakeholders often excel at defining their problems. Compared to technical experts, they’re less likely to jump straight to solutions. This tendency to focus on the problem lines up with the Double Diamond framework in design thinking. This framework stresses the need to understand the problem before rushing to solutions. Focusing on the issue at the start helps teams ensure that their solutions are both innovative and meet the business's needs. This approach leads to more meaningful outcomes and broader benefits for the organisation.

Pre-Challenge Planning: Setting the Stage for Success

The success of an innovation challenge often hinges on the preparation involved. Pre-challenge planning is crucial, as it sets the foundation for the entire event. This phase has several key steps. They are: define the challenge, socialise it, and ensure all tools are in place.

First, we must recognize that true innovation comes from those closest to the work. It comes from those at the coalface of the business. So, instead of just telling them the problem to solve, we should get their input. They are the experts in the day to day processes, and would have the best insights on what needs to be improved or invented. Your role in planning is to set the stage for ideas to surface, not to prescribe a specific problem.

Next, socialising the challenge means reaching out to everyone, not just a few people. Share the challenge details at all levels of the organization. Emphasise that innovation can come from anywhere in the business. Explain the benefits of participation. Encourage everyone to get involved. Create a culture of inclusivity and collaboration.

In the days leading up to the innovation challenge, it's vital to showcase the art of the possible. This means demonstrating what solutions could look like by providing examples and inspiration. We should showcase digital tools, like Power Platform and Azure OpenAI Studio. This will inspire broad thinking. Make sure to include Copilot Studio, what will spark participants' creativity?

Finally, ensure that all the necessary tools and resources are available to participants. That includes access to relevant tech, case studies, and a submission platform. Effective planning can boost engagement and ideas. One challenge I was part of had a record number of submissions because the organisers had nailed the prep.

Running the Innovation Challenge: The Event Itself

The day of the innovation challenge is when all the planning comes to fruition. The challenge lasts about four hours. During this time, teams must develop their pitches and prepare their presentations. Tools like Microsoft Teams are crucial. They let people collaborate in real-time, even if they are in different locations. It’s then easy for the pitch recording to be done in Teams. This allows for playback and edits before final submission.

Provide a PowerPoint template to help teams structure their pitch. It will ensure they cover all critical aspects of their solution, from the business value to the potential ROI. This method helps teams express their ideas. It also makes the evaluation fair and consistent.

When evaluating the ideas, I prefer "evaluation" over "judging," as the process is more collaborative. A jury typically carries out the evaluation, but additional options must be considered. For example, allowing all employees to vote on their favorite ideas can boost engagement and inclusivity. However, it’s important to separate this popular vote from the formal criteria. It is essential to ensure that charisma does not unduly influence the outcome. A great way to gauge popular support is to add a "People's Choice Award" alongside the main evaluation. This won't compromise the test's integrity.

Submission and Evaluation Criteria

Once the teams have developed their ideas, the next step is submission and evaluation. Teams must upload their PowerPoint decks and a 5-10 minute video to a designated platform. This video is crucial. It helps teams tell the story behind their idea. This makes it more compelling and easier to understand.

The criteria for an innovation challenge ensure the winning idea is innovative, feasible, and aligns with the organisation's goals. The criteria often include:

• Innovation (20 points): How creative and unique is the solution?

• Problem Statement (10 points): Does the solution address a significant problem or opportunity?

• Business Value (45 points): How will the solution drive value for the organisation?

• Digital Strategy (25 points): Is the solution aligned with the organisation's digital strategy?

• Feasibility (20 points): Can the solution be realistically implemented within the organisation?

• Social Impact (10 points): Does the solution positively impact society?

For instance, a team that finds a problem, proposes a new solution, and shows the business value will score highly in these categories. In a past challenge I was involved in, the HR team proposed an AI tool that would streamline hiring and improve the candidate experience. They won because their submission scored highly in innovation and business value.

Submission Template: Where to Start

Knowing where to start with their submission can be challenging for many participants. Here is a template for submissions. It will guide teams through the process.

Submission Overview

Purpose: Present the most important aspects of your solution for the Innovation Challenge. This section should capture the essence of the idea and its potential Impact on the organization.

Marking Criteria

• Innovation (20 points): How does your solution creatively transform the organization? Consider both long-term and short-term value.

• Problem Statement (10 points): Identify the problem or opportunity your solution addresses. Explain why it's essential.

• Business Value (45 points): Explain the benefits to the organization. Include how the solution can be reused in other contexts.

• Digital Strategy (25 points): Explain how your solution fits the organisation's digital strategy, which focuses on the Microsoft Power Platform and AI.

• Feasibility (20 points): Is your solution realistic and scalable? Discuss available data sources and other resources.

• Social Impact (10 points): Note any positive outcomes. These include better mental health, energy efficiency, and inclusion.

Team Presentation

Team Name: Come up with a clever and memorable team name.

Team Members: List all team members and their respective business areas.

Problem Statement

Focus: Use the design thinking methods to state the problem. It should show the gaps in the current process and the pain points. It should also highlight the unique aspects of your solution and the people who will be using it.

Business Value

Value Articulation: Explain how your AI or Power Platform solution helps the organisation. It should enhance its market edge and support future-proofing.

Innovation Acceleration: Show how your solution can speed up product development and innovation. It should give a competitive edge.

Way of measuring Value to the business

Productivity

• Employee Productivity: Highlight the potential to improve productivity through automation or new workflows.

• Spend Reduction: Identify where your solution can reduce operational costs.

• Revenue Increase: Show how your solution can contribute to top-line growth.

Cost Reduction

• Employee Time Impact: Show how your solution can save time. It should let employees focus on higher-value tasks.

• Spend Reduction: Quantify direct cost savings from efficiencies provided by your solution.

• Revenue Loss Prevention: Explain how your solution can prevent revenue loss. It can do this through better forecasting, automation, and decision-making.

Strategic Impact

• Customer Experience Improvement: Explore how your solution can enhance customer interactions and satisfaction.

• Employee Experience Improvement: Consider how your solution can improve the work environment and employee satisfaction.

• Safety and Risk Reduction: Explain how your solution can improve safety, cut business risks, and ensure compliance with regulations.

• Data Accuracy and Integrity: Emphasize the role of your solution in improving data quality and consistency.

• Cross-Department Reusability: Highlight how your solution can benefit multiple departments.

• ESG: Discuss your solution's role in sustainability and responsible business.

• Competitor Benchmarking: Compare solution adoption with industry peers to justify staying competitive.

Scalability & Flexibility

• Scalability: Show how your solution can scale with the business as it grows.

• Adaptability: Discuss how flexible your solution is to market conditions or customer needs.

• Integration Capabilities: Explain how your solution will integrate with current and future technologies. It must ensure a smooth transition.

Employee Empowerment

• Skill Development: Highlight opportunities for upskilling employees with new capabilities.

• Decision-Making: Enhance decision-making processes with AI-driven insights or advanced analytics.

• Talent Attraction & Retention: Attract and keep top talent. Position your organisation as an innovation leader.

Business Value Measures

• Quantification: Calculate the number of hours your solution saves by role. Provide detailed examples to illustrate the value measure.

• Metrics: Consider using Return on Investment (ROI) and Net Present Value (NPV) for your solution; clarify all assumptions.

Social Impact

• Positive Outcomes: Explain how your solution affects mental health, energy use, inclusion, and employee engagement.

• Visual Demonstration (Optional): Include sketches, screenshots, or diagrams if available.

Final Submission

• Video: Record a 5 to 10-minute video. Present your slides and tell your story.

• Submission: Upload your PowerPoint deck and video recording to the designated platform.

From Concept to MVP: Building the Winning Solution

Winning the innovation challenge is just the beginning. The real work begins with building the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). It will turn the winning idea into a testable, functional product. Then, we can refine it. This phase is critical to determine whether the concept is viable and scalable.

A fusion team, composed of members from different departments, usually develops the MVP. They work together to define success, set milestones, and keep the project on track. The goal is to create a testable product version. It will provide insights to guide further development.

Communication with the broader organization is equally important during this phase. It is vital to keep the business updated on the winning idea and its progress as it moves into MVP development and, eventually, production deployment. Regular updates help keep the organization engaged. They show the value of the innovation challenge. They show the potential impact of the winning solution.

Transparent communication builds trust and excitement as the project advances. It lets stakeholders see how the initial concept evolves into a product. This dialogue keeps the business aligned with the project's goals. It also prepares it for the project's future use in daily operations.

Measuring Success and Building a Backlog

Measuring success is one of the most critical aspects of an innovation challenge. It's not just about the winning solution's immediate results. It's also about fostering a culture of innovation in the organisation. You create a rhythm of improvement and creativity by justifying the value of running such challenges regularly, ideally at least once a year. To do this, track key metrics like ROI, productivity, and customer satisfaction. This will show the broader impact of the winning solution. These metrics prove the current challenge's success. They also support future innovation challenges. We must document these metrics. They are key to improving the process and embedding innovation in the organisation.

Innovation challenges often create a backlog of good, but losing, ideas. In addition to evaluating success, they aim to find new ideas. These ideas can be revisited later. They offer a pipeline of innovation opportunities for the organisation. By nurturing this backlog, you create a cycle of innovation. It keeps the organisation moving forward, even between formal innovation challenges.

Conclusion

Innovation challenges are a powerful tool for driving business transformation. They promote teamwork, spark creativity, and offer a plan to turn ideas into action. These challenges do more than generate new ideas. They create a culture of innovation that can greatly impact your organisation.

I've used the Power Platform to build a solution for the innovation challenge process. This includes everything from setting the criteria to ranking the winning ideas. The Power Platform streamlines these aspects. So, your innovation challenges are now practical, easy to manage, and scalable.

So, are you ready to start planning your innovation challenge? If you need help, feel free to reach out.

If you wish to share this post: https://bit.ly/3M9FGcW