Open innovation - when a flash of inspiration strikes from outside!
Reinhard Willfort
November 17, 2024
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In 2001, after the company innovation service network – isn GmbH was founded, we were looking for this job profile like a needle in a haystack among potential customers. Our goal was to sell innovation services, but in many companies we didn't find a contact person who had "innovation manager" on their business card. That was the starting point for me to launch a broad-based training initiative for innovation management. So we started training our future (potential) customers so that we could work with them.
Interest was initially very low, but due to the increasing pressure to innovate, more and more companies have started to assign at least one person to the topic of the future. More than 2,500 people have now taken part in our courses. The intensity ranges from personalized one-day seminars for companies to the Master's program Innovation Management MSc at the Universität für Weiterbildung Krems. In terms of format, we started out primarily with face-to-face exchanges in the seminar room. To date, many online formats have been added, including pure video courses.
We know from practical experience that there are now many companies with at least one person per 1,000 employees who can act as a hub for future projects. In dynamic industries, where the pressure to innovate is very high, there are now dedicated innovation departments that provide support as a service unit in all business areas. The focus is still on CIP, i.e. the continuous improvement process, in order to further increase efficiency, but strategic corporate development and the development of new solutions are now also on the agenda. What is usually missing are larger budgets.
We're talking about an exciting but very demanding job! In order to manage the "hub for the future" well, you need an insight into a wide range of corporate functions: What is the company's USP? What about the product life cycles? What is the company's turnover and earnings per product or service? What trends are important for us in the future? What are the company's strategic goals? When is the right time to start a change project? etc.
In addition, there are now innovation projects to seriously tackle the issue of sustainability with the design of the circular economy and, of course, sustainability reporting (ESG or CSDR). The technical tools are about introducing the right AI tools in different workplaces and thus mobilizing new resources. This is a massive impetus for innovation that all sectors and job profiles will have to deal with. Many are already on the way and experimenting. However, innovation management must bring order, a systematic approach and security to this change process.
Basically, we are looking for the "egg-laying wool-milk sow" with a high level of social competence, broad basic technical knowledge, a high willingness to learn, intuition, empathy and high frustration tolerance. Not forgetting the ability to manage future projects and to manage yourself in the sense of perfect self-organization in order to keep all the balls in the air. Why should anyone do this to themselves? Well, there are certainly quieter jobs and those who don't have a high energy level will find it a little more difficult.
High Energie GmbH deals with the development of energy systems and is the innovation leader in D-A-CH in this up-and-coming field. To expand our dynamic team, we are now looking for a:n erfahrene:n Innovation Manager:in.
Your tasks:
What we expect from you:
What you can expect:
I hope that this prototype job advertisement gives you a good idea of the challenging job profile of an innovation manager. In concrete terms, there will be different ideas and incentives depending on the company, industry and corporate culture. I would be delighted if the topic of innovation and the future were to become more important in all companies and corresponding positions were to be created. If you compare innovation with the topic of quality, a similar development could be imminent: Quality is an important topic in almost all companies. There is internal expertise, resources and support, and everyone in the company is required to work on it in their area.
The dynamics of change will lead to a need for innovation and support in all workplaces that cannot be covered by one person. The only thing that will remain constant in the future is the further increase in the speed of change. In this respect, an organization's ability to innovate and change will become an important part of its corporate culture in the future. The following also applies within the company: Let's innovate together!
I look forward to your feedback and wish you a restful and creative Sunday!
Reinhard Willfort, Innovation Doctor, www.willfort.at
Let’s innovate together!
I am happy to offer further support for innovation projects as an Innovationdoc, sparring partner and thought collaborator.
The “Laufend-kreativ” format is based on the ideas from this newsletter and provides an opportunity to reflect on your own positioning or tackle specific tasks with me personally in nature. Book your free innovation consultation now!
