Innovation is no longer the sole focus of the Research & Development department. Indeed, to emerge on increasingly competitive markets, to gain in agility, but also to meet the need of Millennials to find meaning in their work, innovation has become participatory. Because everyone can innovate. Indeed, to embark on a process ofcollaborative innovationIn fact, embarking on an innovation process means starting from the principle that any employee can think of a better way of doing things. And that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the innovation process. In this context, a collaborative innovationplatform can help you give your employees a space to express themselves.

But before you launch yourcollaborative innovation platform, make sure you are (at least) ready! To check this, we have prepared a 9-step checklist.

Your checklist before launching acollaborative innovation

• Vous avez imaginé un processus d’innovation. Ce processus doit décrire toutes les étapes de l’innovation participative, depuis la proposition d’une idée jusqu’à sa mise en place. N’hésitez pas d’ailleurs à définir plusieurs processus, par exemple pour les idées faciles à mettre en place et pour les idées plus structurantes. [LIRE AUSSI : Le processus d’innovation participative en infographie]
• You have determined criteria for evaluating innovations.
• You have identified a selection committee. People with a variety of backgrounds who will evaluate the new ideas proposed.
• Vous avez formalisé des règles et défini des grandes thématiques d’innovation. Il est essentiel que vos collaborateurs sachent ce que vous attendez d’eux. C’est pourquoi il est essentiel de rédiger des guidelines pour leur donner un cadre au sein duquel ils oseront proposer de nouvelles idées. Par ailleurs, n’hésitez pas à indiquer les grands thèmes sur lesquels vous aimeriez être plus innovants. Vous pourrez ainsi monitorer l’innovation participative en fonction de ces thèmes. Et si vous souhaitez que vos collaborateurs proposent des initiatives sur « n’importe quel sujet », dites-le aussi 😉
• You have established measurement indicators to assess the effectiveness of yourcollaborative innovationprocess.
• You have prepared for whatcomes after. After idea management, how do you support the implementation of projects? This can be done, for example, by providing deployment kits for easy-to-implement ideas. It is also important to plan how you intend to give visibility to emerging ideas.
• Vous avez convaincu un ou plusieurs sponsor(s). Votre comité de direction doit soutenir la démarche d’innovation pour faire infuser la culture de l’intelligence collective dans votre organisation, notamment auprès des managers. [LIRE AUSSI : Guide de survie pour les innovateurs qui agissent dans les entreprises hiérarchiques]
• You have identified ambassadors. Enthusiastic people who will support and animatecollaborative innovation. Do not hesitate to make them a community that you will animate over time.
• You have planned a communication campaign. When you launch a platform atcollaborative innovation, you should start by announcing that this tool exists. Take advantage of this to remind people of the rules you have previously formalised, as well as the themes on which you expect proposals. You can also use this opportunity to promote your ambassadors!

Would you like to start this type of innovation process, but you haven't ticked all the boxes? Don' t hesitate to ask for support! You will then be able to launch yourself knowing what you expect from yourcollaborative innovation platform!