There are 3 types of unique pipeline implementation strategies  we call Boxes: Box 1-keeping profits by managing current competition, Box 2-enhancing profits, and Box 3- finding new profit centers, along with 10 different areas  to innovate. This means your innovation pipeline or funnel, can accommodate 30 different varieties of ideas for innovation. Additionally, there are 4 categories of innovation organizational structures you need to consider to make it all happen, depending on your climate, culture, commitment, and most importantly courage. You will harvest a lot of ideas that will require evaluation.

The funnel allows a collection of ideas to be considered for viability through a process of filters, gates and rules devised to determine applicability for a particular implementation pipeline or Box. The intent is to purposefully target the type of proposed innovation while taking into account the organizational structure best suited to make it all happen.

At each stage in the Ideation process, ideas either pass through the filters and gates, or they do not meet the criteria. A new idea after analysis may become archived if it is not relevant at this time, or may continue to pass through stages. They may become active, be investigated for a pilot project, rejected, seen as a duplicate, or approved. This Ideation Process “buckets” ideas, for example, in categories from approval for those that clear all the gates, to revisiting at a later date or are discontinued, depending on the primary aim of the proposed innovation.

The key objective is to generate a large number of ideas relevant to the current business situation, and also new areas for growth. This will ensure a pipeline of ideas at various stages of business development which are relevant to the business philosophy of the organization.

At The DeSai Group, we will help you strategically expand the entrance of the funnel. This will allow you to gain a better idea generation balance while ensuring that individual ideation is strategically linked to business objectives. Most innovation funnels are clogged with incremental enhancements, which do not allow organizations to see the real innovations within their grasp.

Gain access to innovation blind spots by employing our Innovation Execution Methodology.

To learn more about how we can collaborate about building your very own innovation management process and the innovation funnel, please fill in the form below, email us at info@desai.com or call us on 860-233-0011 to set up an introductory meeting.

We invite you to visit our resources page where you can download articles, podcasts and stories. You can also visit our video gallery and Jatin DeSai's Blog to learn more about his view on innovation, strategy, leadership, globalization, etc.