Structured Innovation Methods & Tools - Methodology and Pedagogy in Innovation Training & Project Workshops

In this chapter, we introduce X-IDEA, a comparatively new innovation process method and related thinking toolbox, and discuss how such a structured innovation method can be used in the context of social innovation and corporate social responsibility activities.

In this chapter, we introduce X-IDEA, a comparatively new innovation process method and related thinking toolbox, and discuss how such a structured innovation method can be used in the context of social innovation and corporate social responsibility activities. We structure this chapter as follows: Part 1 sets the theoretical background by discussing some of the pertinent literature related to structured innovation methods on the one hand, and social innovation, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability on the other. Next, we introduce the X-IDEA innovation method and thinking toolbox. We describe X-IDEA’s comprehensive yet elegant design architecture and special methodological features, and explain why X-IDEA goes beyond existing thinking frameworks for creative problem solving, innovation and design. In the third part, we discuss three case studies that illustrate how an innovation process method like X-IDEA may be used for social innovation projects, and can contribute to corporate social responsibility activities of corporations. In the concluding fourth part, we sum up how corporations may align their innovation initiatives with aspects of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social innovation.

This exploratory empirical paper is research-driven because it ventures into new territory: We investigate the learning experience of business professionals undergoing a training program in structured innovation. The paper tracks how the beliefs, feelings and competencies of learners of creativity and applied innovation evolve over the duration of the training program. We also examine the learners' perceptions of the efficacy of this systematic approach towards innovation. Part 1 establishes the need to elucidate the learner experience and efficacy of training programs in innovation. The second part briefly summarises learning theories as they pertain to the current context of learning creativity and innovation. After discussing the chosen research design in part 3, we present the empirical findings and map out what learners experience as they journey through a training in structured innovation. The final part discusses how these findings may provide guidance for innovation trainers and invite future research directions.

X-IDEA is an awards-winning innovation process method enabling organisations to reliably produce meaningful deliverables in innovation projects. One key distinguishing feature of X-IDEA is its separation of the creative phase into two distinct stages, Ideation and Development. I structure my paper into five parts. Part 1 establishes the desire of organisations moving beyond conventional ideas. The second part reviews the literature on how selected innovation process methods approach the creative process phase. After briefly discussing the chosen research approach for this paper in part 3, I explain the creative stages of X-IDEA in detail in the fourth part, thereby describing how the two creative stages Ideation and Development distinctly differ and build upon each other to enable more novel, original, and meaningful idea outputs. The final part discusses how X-IDEA's approach of two separate creative process stages may inspire business practitioners and researchers alike.