Organizations are going through a paradoxical period: they must innovate faster, even as employee engagement is eroding, that The teams are scattered and Everyday irritants accumulateHow can collective intelligence be mobilized when managers lack time, priorities are constantly changing, and employees no longer feel heard?
For Bruno de MontalivetAs a recognized expert on the subject, the answer can be summed up in one word: structureParticipatory innovation is not an informal approach or an ideas competition, but a powerful tool for solving problems, uniting teams and strengthening performance.
In this exclusive interview, he reveals the mechanisms that make the approach effective — and those who cause it to fail.
Bruno Montalivet's background and expertise
His career
Bruno de Montalivet has dual expertise: operational management and human resources, particularly in B2B and B2C services. For over 10 years, he has been supporting organizations as a interim managerparticularly during cultural or organizational transformations.
In parallel, he runs an HR consulting firm specializing in supporting interim managers (positioning, arguments, posture).
How did he become an expert in participatory innovation?
In 2002, while working as a Project Director in the HR department of the Accor group, he worked on the integration of innovation into corporate values.
Noting that employees lack leverage to to bring their ideas to fruitionIt draws inspiration from the industrial sector and is working closely with the Inergie consultancy to share best practices.
This dynamic leads to the creation ofInnov'Actors, an association that structures the participatory innovation approach at the national level, with the support of large companies like Renault.
A phrase from the president of Renault at the time, Louis Schweitzer, left a lasting impression on the expert:
"Taylorism separated the thinking heads from the hands that produce. Participatory innovation fixes that."
Developing a participatory innovation approach: what experience shows
💡 The fundamentals of a sustainable approach
Bruno de Montalivet reminds us that success is not solely based on the number of ideas. It depends on managers' buy-in, first relays of the teams.
Key role of managers
- Ask for the opinion of colleagues
- Identify priority problems
- Facilitating the emergence of ideas
- Supporting the implementation
- Valuing contributions
👉 Participatory innovation should not be seen as just another task., but as a tool for achieving objectives.
The impact of digital technology on participatory innovation
Digitalization has transformed the approach:
✔ What digital technology brings
- Real-time view of ideas
- Categorization and analysis of recurring themes
- Database of good practices
- Administrative simplification
The Anact (National Association for the Improvement of Working Conditions) notably supported Innov'Acteurs, recognizing the positive impacts on the well being at work and sense of belonging.
⚠ An important reminder
Digital technology is a means, not an end.
The key remains the commitment of the teams and management.
Expert advice for successfully implementing a participatory innovation approach
Drawing on his experience (particularly at Accor, where he led a global program across 5 continents), Bruno identifies several best practices.
🔧 The 6 key tips
- Start with a targeted challenge
→ a concrete problem + a clear scope = quick wins. - Supporting managers
→ show them that the approach facilitates problem-solving. - Promote the ideas implemented
→ to boost pride, to fuel momentum. - Measure performance
→ economic gains + human impacts (motivation, autonomy, cross-functionality). - Share good practices
→ inter-team / inter-departmental dissemination.
Establish co-construction rituals
→ workshops, micro-hackathons, structured brainstorming sessions
The benefits of participatory innovation
Bruno identifies concrete benefitsobserved in all its missions:
🔵 Economic gains
- gains linked to implemented field ideas
- process optimization
- reduction of operational irritants
🟢 Human gains
- increased sense of belonging
- greater autonomy
- increased initiative
- strengthening teamwork
- improved well-being
🟡 Managerial gains
- better understanding of field problems
- increased efficiency
- strengthened commitment
The main obstacles encountered
❗ Frequent braking
- perception of an additional task for managers
- culture not very conducive to taking initiative
- lack of clarity regarding priorities
🎯 How can we overcome them?
- target managers as a priority
- demonstrate the concrete benefits
- highlight successes
- establish recognition mechanisms
How to promote employee engagement?
For Bruno, commitment is triggered when teams are solicited for a real need.
Recommended strategy:
➡ Launch a first challenge around a priority issue
➡ Solicit field ideas
➡ To develop solutions through co-creation
➡ To value the ideas implemented
The driving force behind engagement is management.
Participatory innovation of tomorrow: the expert's vision
Businesses are evolving:
- more blurred boundaries
- hybrid teams (employees, freelancers, partners, clients)
- increased need for meaning and learning
Participatory innovation responds to these transformations by creating inclusive collaborative spaces:
- brainstorming
- hackathon
- calls for ideas
- collective problem-solving
According to Bruno, the challenge of the coming years will be to to make the process faster, more structured, and better demonstratedparticularly on the economic and social impacts.
In short – Key points to remember
- Participatory innovation is a strategic lever to engage employees, solve field problems and enhance performance.
- The role of management is decisive: it has the power to activate or hinder the process.
- La digitizing facilitates animation and monitoring, but remains a way, not a goal.
- An effective approach is based on: a clear vision, targeted challenges, structured facilitation and a culture of recognition.
Conclusion – Move on to the next step
Participatory innovation is a powerful lever for performance and engagement, but its success depends on:
- an structured managementconvinced and trained
- de collaboration rituals clear
- by Digitalization at the service of humanity
- by continuous animation
- by culture of recognition
👉 Next steps :
- Get inspired with 5 collective intelligence formats to engage and connect your teams
- Take it to the next level by accelerating continuous improvement through collective intelligence
FAQ – Participatory innovation expert
A professional who supports organizations in implementing processes that allow employees to propose and develop useful ideas.
Economic performance, commitment, field innovation, rapid problem-solving.
Stimulating, framing, selecting and promoting ideas. He is the first link in the process.
Yes, but as toolnot as an end in itself. The key remains human mobilization.
Launch a challenge focused on a priority business issue.
A WORD ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ophélie André – Communications & Marketing Manager – Beeshake
Passionate about digital communication and marketing, Ophélie has worked in a variety of environments, honing her expertise in content strategy, digital marketing, and collaborative engagement. She enjoys devoting her energy and creativity to projects that bring people together, create meaning, and enhance the strength of the collective.