In order for any business to stay ahead, it must maintain competitive advantage by differentiating itself. This requires continual innovation – for example to increase the customer base, offer new services, grow margins or reduce costs. Knowing how to manage the creative and commercial processes necessary to enact change is a challenge in itself. Each business is unique and requires a tailored approach based on the application of common underlying methodologies and processes.
Creativity and nurturing
Innovation depends firstly on creativity and secondly on nurturing. Each of these processes requires careful management to foster an environment that supports innovation. A creative climate will ensure that all ideas are captured, analysed, filtered and the best ones nurtured. During nurturing, support is required at many levels of the business to validate the viability of the creative ideas and bring them into being.
The first stage of the innovation process requires the gathering and generation of many ideas. Through filtering and refinement many of the initial ideas will be discarded but the end result should be a shortlist of potentially winning concepts. The leading contenders are then taken into the nurturing phase where, if they continue to be viable, they will be developed to fruition.
Our approach to innovation
This approach to the innovation process is well tried and tested at Atos Origin. We understand about creativity – it comes from within, needs a positive environment in which to flourish and cannot be turned on and off like a tap.
We also understand the importance of commitment to nurturing. It is a process that needs plenty of support and buy-in, lots of discussion and communication between stakeholders, but under close and careful guidance to maximise the potential value that innovation can deliver.
Innovation is integral to our own business. We have a core team focused exclusively on innovation. By sharing this knowledge and experience with our customers through a managed innovation programme, we help them to gain competitive advantage and maximise the benefits and value from their IT investments.