Picture: In today's business world, innovation is crucial for the long-term success of a company. But how can one ensure that innovation is effectively and sustainably fostered?
Diversity in a successful innovation team is a critical factor. This doesn't just mean diversity in terms of gender, age, and cultural background but also diversity in knowledge and experience. Team members should come from different industries and disciplines to provide a broad perspective on problems and solutions. Only a wide range of knowledge and a broad perspective create the foundation for creative ideas and innovative approaches.
The team is homogeneous in terms of our backgrounds, academically, and, well, yes, white men in their thirties from Zurich (laughs) with white sneakers (laughs) and hoodies.
Interview with a startup
Multidisciplinary collaboration
Multidisciplinarity within an innovation team means that experts from various fields collaborate to solve complex problems. This collaboration allows for combining different viewpoints and approaches to develop innovative solutions. When engineers, designers, marketing experts, and financial analysts work together on a project, a blend of expertise emerges, opening up new avenues for problem-solving.
The secret to successful innovation lies in divergent thinking – the ability to deviate from established paths and explore new ways to expand the boundaries of what is possible.
Skin in the game and incentive-based success
Skin in the Game is a concept where team members are personally invested in the success of their project and become entrepreneurs. This can be in the form of time, money, or effort. When team members have "skin in the game," they are more motivated and committed to ensuring the project's success. Incentive-based success goes a step further by offering financial rewards for the team's success. This can come in the form of bonuses, profit sharing, or other rewards. When team members know that their personal success is linked to the project's success, they are more willing to give their best.
Decision-making within a framework
A successful innovation team needs the freedom to develop and test creative ideas without having to go up and down the hierarchy each time, thus wasting valuable time. However, this doesn't mean there are no boundaries. A well-defined framework or guideline is crucial to ensure the team stays on track and achieves the company's goals. Within this framework, team members should have the freedom to make decisions and take risks. This freedom fosters creativity and innovation.
Conclusion - Innovation team
An innovation team characterized by diversity, multidisciplinarity, a broad knowledge base, skin in the game, incentive-based success, and decision-making within a framework can be crucial in helping a company remain competitive and achieve long-term success. The combination of these elements creates an environment where creative ideas can flourish, and innovative solutions can be developed. Companies that invest in building such teams are setting the stage for a promising future.