Step 1: Setup (Phase I)

1. Purpose

Many innovation projects fail because they never get the right foundation in place. For bigger project setups, we tend to write a Project Charter that outlines the motivation, goals and scope of the project. For inspirational research (step 2), we keep the setup phase as lean as possible. We define a Project Team and nominate an experienced Team Coach. Both need enough time and resources to run the project — plan around one day per week for each Team Member. The Project Sponsor of the research project is usually part of the company's management. They make sure the resources are available and that the Project Team pursues the right ambition: how much change is expected within a given timeframe. This can range from many small, incremental changes to a radical overhaul of the entire business model. For the next step 3, the Project Team usually changes to C-Level Managers either responsible for business units that are involved in the process and / or C-Level Managers of the entire company.

Depending on the appetite for change, the Project Team focuses the research accordingly.

2. Key Activities

The following activities are the core of the Setup phase:

1. Gain internal sponsor support: Every Business Design project needs legitimacy and resources, so you need to identify and win over an internal Project Sponsor. For inspirational research, the right Project Sponsor is someone who will later take part in developing the Picture of the Future and the strategy — usually the head of a business unit or a C-Level Manager.

2. Define project focus: Get a clear picture of the appetite for change — this is what makes the outcome valuable for the strategy process. Define how much change you expect, and within what timeframe, before you start the research or design the Picture of the Future.

3. Build a curious team: Inspirational research (step 2) needs two to three people who are curious to learn and open enough to challenge the status quo. Seniority or industry experience doesn't matter much at this stage. Ask the internal Project Sponsor for advice on the team line-up, and make sure everyone can dedicate enough time over the next few weeks. The design of the Picture of the Future requires rather visionary people, who don't instantly dive into numbers and the status quo, but understand that Leadership also means painting and communicating a vision others can follow.

3. Formats

• Setup Meeting with Sponsor

• Get-to-know calls (30 min.) with Team Manager and Team Members

• Kick-off Workshop (preparation)

4. Participants

Step 2:

• Project Sponsor

• Team Manager

• Team Members

• Team Coach

Step 3:

• Project Sponsor

• C-Level Managers as Team Members

• Team Coach

• Designer