Agile Innovation necessitates developing fast, cheap solutions. These solutions should be experimentally tested to gauge their effectiveness. Agile Innovation Processes are usually tailored to the organization’s innovation and strategic goals and require a high degree of collaboration.
Following an Agile Innovation Process typically involves four steps:
Step 1: Determine who will drive the innovation process. More specifically, designate a senior leader who is the most supportive of and understands the need for change. This individual will be responsible for developing clear objectives for the innovative change, diligently monitoring the organization as it undergoes the innovative process and instilling an innovative culture within the company. Having clear objectives for the innovation process will become an essential factor when it becomes necessary to make fast decisions.
Step 2: Establish what internal business process will be needed to implement the innovative change. In order to ensure that innovation actually occurs, it is essential to have (1) a plan to execute it and (2) business functions that can facilitate the enactment of the plan. In this stage, it is important to ensure there is consensus among innovation team members over what processes are needed to implement the plan. A lack of agreement among team members can become a hindrance to the enactment of innovative processes. One way to develop a consensus is to constantly communicate the roles, responsibilities and the overall goals of the innovation process to the team members. Open communication will lessen the resistance to the new process. Notably, customer feedback should be included the innovation plan as their input is crucial to developing each version of the plan.
Step 3: Make fast decisions. Because of the rate at which technologies and subsequently, the market, are changing, it is important that the organization make necessary changes to the innovation plan as quickly as possible. Although creating quick solutions to problems usually goes against corporate culture, one way in which to incorporate agility into the organization is to have executive members exhibit agile methods in their daily practices.
Step 4: Ensure that the innovation plan includes both processes internal and external to the organization. In addition to seeking the opinions of external consultants, consider giving voice to individuals lower in the organizational hierarchy as they are the ones closest to the product or service production. They will often be able to provide the most customer-focused insight on what needs to be changed and why.




