It is the goal of every business to be seen as innovative. That should not come as a surprise considering that innovation conjures images of exciting, dynamic companies that achieve growth and success, as well as being able to keep employees and customers happy.
But as the old adage goes, achieving innovation is easier said than done. This is especially true for organizations that are being held back by legacy systems, thinking, and processes even if there are newer and better options that are available. This is where digital transformation programs would normally come in so businesses can better facilitate their transition into becoming the innovative organizations they want to be.
However, some businesses are finding themselves having difficulties in going through the digital transformation itself. Why is it so? In many cases, this can be attributed to their approach to digital transformation itself. In particular, it is their way of deploying technology. Oftentimes, companies acquire a solution and build a capability around it. But once that has been achieved, the value it delivers rarely matches their expectations. This is a gap that many companies struggle to bridge as they don’t know what to do next.
This lack of visibility hinders companies from realizing actual value. In order for an organization to escape this debacle, the key is to get back to the basics of innovation and learning the three basic and important steps that make innovation possible in the first place.
1. Taking a top-down approach
As noted earlier, many organizations currently deploy a solution and then look for a problem that fits. That is not how it is supposed to be. Rather, they should first identify a problem or opportunity and then create the appropriate solution for that problem, whether by procuring one, building on something they already have, or developing something new.
2. Taking an end-to-end approach
This means looking at issues holistically rather than tackling them individually. This creates a better and more comprehensive understanding of the problems and be able to come up with solutions that are all-encompassing, which means they can link to each other for greater efficiency and greater value that can be gained.
3. Choosing low- and no-code solutions
Traditionally, technology deployment requires significant technical knowledge. However, this puts management that have little to no knowledge of these technicals at a disadvantage, leading to management and IT often at loggerheads. If such tension is to be eased, if not eliminated, then solutions should be deployed that can be appreciated even by non-IT personnel in the business, something that low- and no-code tools can accomplish.
These tools can also help break barriers between IT and business, allowing for a more fruitful and positive collaboration towards meeting business objectives
Ensuring success
Going through the steps towards innovation can be difficult for some businesses Which is why it is critical that there needs to be strong leadership at the helm that is committed to steer the business towards becoming an innovative organization. More importantly, the business should make an effort towards building teams that are committed to not only follow the leadership’s innovation initiatives but are driven as well towards those same innovation goals.
By following the steps and having the critical elements in place will organizations be able to start realizing greater value in being an innovative business alongside other admired and emulated innovative businesses across industries and the globe.
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