Level Three - Innovation Leadership Proficient

Advanced Purpose: The organization has a compelling and inspiring innovation purpose or reason. The link between innovation and business strategy is clearly communicated across and beyond the organization. There is a shared vision, mission, and goal for innovation that are ambitious and challenging. There is a strong degree of commitment and engagement among different stakeholders, such as employees, customers, partners, etc., who support and contribute to the innovation efforts. Innovation is seen as a meaningful and motivational activity.

Advanced Focus: The organization has focus areas that leverage both its capabilities and partners, and its understanding of the customer value proposition, to win significant new business opportunities in the future. These focus areas are based on extensive market research and validation, and they are aligned with the strategic objectives and customer needs. The organization has a high degree of clarity and alignment on the innovation objectives and priorities. Innovation is seen as a strategic and customer-centric activity.

Advanced Pipeline/Portfolio: The organization has an advanced innovation pipeline or portfolio. The innovation projects or initiatives are time-sequenced and are proactively slowed down or accelerated to shifting market conditions and investments to meet growth targets. The organization has clear and transparent criteria and metrics to evaluate and prioritize the innovation projects or initiatives, based on their potential value and risk. The organization has efficient and effective processes and tools to manage and monitor the innovation pipeline or portfolio, such as stage-gate models, agile methods, dashboards, etc. Innovation is seen as a dynamic and optimized activity.

Advanced Process: The organization has a structured innovation process that also sources insights and ideas from customers, suppliers, partners, and other external sources beyond the organization. This process leverages open innovation and co-creation methods to tap into the collective intelligence and creativity of the ecosystem. This process also incorporates feedback and learning loops to improve the quality and relevance of the ideas and solutions. Innovation is seen as a collaborative and adaptive process.

Advanced Teaming and Partnering: Innovation teams have strong, fluid networks to informally access new competences, resources, and assets. They use social media and other platforms to connect and communicate with internal and external experts, influencers, and communities. They share information and knowledge freely and openly. They seek feedback and input from diverse sources. Innovation is seen as a networked and social activity.

Advanced Resources: The organization has a formal budget and an inventory of tangible and intangible resources from across the organization for innovation. These resources include equipment, lab spaces, trade secrets, licenses, customer lists, relational assets, etc. These resources are well documented and managed. They are leveraged and optimized to maximize the innovation potential and impact. Innovation is seen as a value-adding activity.

Dedicated Innovation Team: The leadership has established a formal innovation team comprised by individuals from different business areas and fields of expertise. The team has a dedicated budget, resources, and autonomy to pursue innovation opportunities and challenges. The team works closely with internal and external stakeholders to identify customer needs, generate ideas, test solutions, and implement innovations. The team uses advanced tools and techniques to measure and improve innovation performance and impact. Innovation is seen as a systematic and disciplined process that delivers value to customers and stakeholders.

Entrepreneurial Culture: Employees take advantage of the time and space allocated to innovation and collaborate across functions. They are empowered and accountable to pursue innovation opportunities and challenges. They use customer-centric and agile methods to generate, test, and implement solutions. They measure and improve their innovation performance and impact. Innovation is seen as a systematic and disciplined process that delivers value to customers and stakeholders.

Advanced Measurement: The organization acknowledges individuals who deliver innovation activities, outputs, and results through some reward and recognition mechanisms, such as bonuses, promotions, awards, recognition events, etc. These mechanisms are based on the innovation metrics and indicators. They are fair and transparent. They motivate and inspire employees to innovate more and better. Innovation is seen as a behavior or a competency.