Innovation Pipeline Task Force Report – Task 2
Introduction
The Innovation Pipeline Task Force continued their charge of planning and implementing an Innovation Pipeline for Technology Services. The first task of the task force lead to a detailed process being developed and shared with the organization, which can be found in the Task 1 Report. This second task picked up from the work of the first task and started creating an implementation plan for that newly defined process.
The Sponsor’s charge for Task 2: Develop an implementation plan for the Innovation Pipeline process
- Identify functional requirements of tools necessary to support the process
- Identify functional areas that should participate in the various stages of the process
- Recommend a functional area (or team) that should champion this process
- Develop a way to scope an effort such that the “appropriate overhead” can be applied
- Develop an evaluation framework that scales depending on the defined scope of the effort
The task force decided to make a sequential set of steps to help guide the rest of the Innovation Pipeline building process. A set of six steps have been outlined below, each one playing an important part in moving towards an organization-wide roll out of the pipeline. Within each step are the task forces’ recommendations for the work to accomplish for the step along with the appropriate responsible parties.
Having a process clearly defined in the first phase of the task force, the task force was able to spend more time thinking about the approach and making plans. A bulk of the work done during this phase of the task force revolved around defining plans in the following areas:
- Communications and Outreach
- Innovation Matrix Squad
- Support and Maintenance
- Tools and Solutions
- Testing and Piloting
Building an Innovation Pipeline
The steps outlined are the recommended approach to build the Innovation Pipeline at Technology Services. Step 1 was accomplished with the first phase of the Innovation Pipeline Task Force. Step 2 (making plans) was the main focus of this phase of the task force. This phase of the task force also spent a substantial amount time and energy thinking about the overall process of implementation beyond the plans developed during this phase. The task force put the steps together in successive order to indicate the best possible path to a successful deployment of the pipeline.
Special consideration should be given to the first bullet item in Step 2. These are the ‘pre-requisites’ the task force felt needed to be contemplated before moving into a full implementation.
Building an Innovation Pipeline – Step by Step
Conclusion
The steps above are the recommended approach to implementation of the Innovation Pipeline. Steps 1-5 focus on the implementation, while Step 6 centers on the durability and longevity of the pipeline. There are many factors that will lead to either the success or demise of the Innovation Pipeline. It is the task force’s recommendations to consider each of the points made above for each step. Each step is significant, and it builds upon the step before it. This task force recognizes the importance and value of the Innovation Pipeline and the impact it can have on the organization. However, adoption of the pipeline by all levels of the organization is key. Encouragement and engagement from leadership is a vital step to making this worthwhile, as is the outreach that is done with the managers and directors.
At this point of the process, the next step is Step 3, where the Squad Sponsor will begin working with the Matrix Management Office (MMO) on the process of forming a squad. As this task force wraps up their work on the Innovation Pipeline, they wish to avail themselves as needed for further information, clarification or advice on the recommendations and plans provided thus far and are grateful for the opportunity to have been involved in this exciting new endeavor.