To become innovative, businesses must leverage their existing knowledge and capabilities, self-examine to find out what’s missing, patch the holes, and then work efficiently and diligently using project management methods that are simple, flexible and effective.
Click on the section headers below to learn how Novana can help.
Click on the section headers below to learn how Novana can help.
What is Innovation?
We define innovation as "bringing a new product or service to market, getting and keeping customers, and realizing new, sustainable revenue."
For enterprises to innovate, they must understand and manage the complete product life-cycle, from conception, through ideation and validation, to execution. Most innovation efforts will involve new product or feature development, which in turn require research, development, user testing, and operational, sales and marketing support. It can become a complicated process in which multiple things can go wrong.
For enterprises to innovate, they must understand and manage the complete product life-cycle, from conception, through ideation and validation, to execution. Most innovation efforts will involve new product or feature development, which in turn require research, development, user testing, and operational, sales and marketing support. It can become a complicated process in which multiple things can go wrong.
The myth of creativity
When innovation teams fail, it is usually not due to a lack of creativity or problem-solving skills. Failure is more often due to any number of minor pitfalls such as miscommunication, misunderstandings, inadequate planning, poor market timing, lack of customer understanding, or poor quality control.
We believe that the pitfalls that foil most innovative efforts can be avoided through effective teamsmanship. The complex processes involved in product innovation can be managed effectively by a team that is well-built and fully enabled.
We believe that the pitfalls that foil most innovative efforts can be avoided through effective teamsmanship. The complex processes involved in product innovation can be managed effectively by a team that is well-built and fully enabled.
The right team
Most businesses already have most of what they need to innovate. Ideas. Industry knowledge. Understanding of the customer. But what’s missing?
To succeed, the team assigned the task of innovation must be built (and run) the right way.
To succeed, the team assigned the task of innovation must be built (and run) the right way.
- Team members' capabilities and personalities should complement each other and be well-balanced enough to solve a wide variety of problems.
- Team members must have peer-to-peer relationships -- no bosses!
- The team should have a clearly defined structure and operating procedures, and should consistently follow those procedures.
- All team members must have a common vision that is clearly understood, and should be motivated (and ideally incentivized) toward a common goal.
- The team must have the appropriate resources -- like access to research and data analytics, customers data, and specialized resources.
Learn while doing
We feel the best way we can help our clients is by working on a project together. Through the complete product management life-cycle, we will demonstrate and explain the practical application of best project management practices, communication and knowledge-building technical infrastructure, emerging technologies and modern methodologies.
Just enough process & technology
Both process and technology are scary when done poorly. But their goals are similar: to enable teams to work as effectively as they can. Sounds simple, right? Well, it should be!
We keep our process and technology to a minimum. The goal is for both to be transparent, so that teams can communicate, build knowledge and work toward the common goal.
We use a simple set of tools that provide structure and documentation for task management, knowledge base and meeting management. We provide the tools, set them up, and teach your team during the process of a project -- the best way to learn!
We keep our process and technology to a minimum. The goal is for both to be transparent, so that teams can communicate, build knowledge and work toward the common goal.
We use a simple set of tools that provide structure and documentation for task management, knowledge base and meeting management. We provide the tools, set them up, and teach your team during the process of a project -- the best way to learn!
Identifying the gaps
Our clients provide most of the capabilities necessary to building, launching and supporting new products and services. We help our clients identify missing skills or resources needed for a team to complete a project. Then we figure out how to bridge those gaps.
However, as passionate technologists, we do bring a bit of know-how to any team we join. Here are a couple of areas we feel we can add extra value.
However, as passionate technologists, we do bring a bit of know-how to any team we join. Here are a couple of areas we feel we can add extra value.
Emerging technologies
Creative use of new technologies has the potential to upset any industry. It’s not always easy to keep up on the latest concepts and uses for machine learning (AI), mobile connectivity, augmented reality and VR, Internet of Things, wearables, distributed registry (blockchain), drones, smart home, autonomous vehicles and more. Being able to apply these technologies to solve customer problems and meet industry needs requires at least some understanding of how they work and what their current and near-future capabilities are. We're not saying we know everything...but we make special efforts to stay abreast of what's relevant.
Modern processes and methods
It’s not just technology that is changing. Business practices and revenue models are being revolutionized by concepts such as lean product management, agile project management, crowd sourcing, crowd funding, cryptocurrency and initial token offerings. Let us help you discover when and how you can apply these technologies to meet your business needs.