Innovation Workshop Activities

You can help a large group of people identify obstacles and opportunities for spreading ideas or innovations at many levels. Panarchy enables people to visualize how systems are embedded in systems and helps them understand how these interdependencies influence the spread of change. Participants become more alert to small changes that can help spread ideas up to other system levels; they learn how shifts at larger or lower system levels may release resources to assist them at another level. With better appreciation of the Ecocycle dynamics at play, the group creates “opportunity windows” for innovations to spread among levels and across boundaries.

This exercise supports a user-centred approach to product and service innovation. Teams create an imaginary user (a persona), map out an average day in his or her life, and identify the challenges that he or she experiences. Teams then use this to brainstorm new products or services that could help with those challenges. Finally, sketches or prototypes of the best ideas are quickly developed presented back to for feedback.

In the Design Sprint process, the interview is a crucial step to test your prototype.

This method provides a deliberate and scientific approach to conduct effective interviews. A consistent process and unbiased mindset yield realistic feedback. Effective scoring gives clarity to the results and primes you to make strategic decisions.

The Diffusion Curve is a reflection and discussion activity based on the theory of the diffusion of innovations. Using the basic principles of the diffusion curve, the activity aims to have participants reflect on the question: in which areas of my life am I: an innovator, early adopter, early majority, late majority, or laggard? It can also be extended to have participants apply the same lens to the organizations or companies they work for.

This is a fantastic depiction of modern product and service development, and it allows a team and a leader to communicate effectively in which phase of the innovation journey are they. It helps the team to focus and to checklist the events, tools, and profiles that can generate the most growth on each phase.

One idea enters the circle. The group builds it together, one sentence at a time. Every statement begins with "Yes, and..."

3D Modelling is a physical process. Participants create a sculpture that represents their current situation and the emerging possibilities of their work and life.

The process prompts questions from four vantage points, allowing for 360-degree seeing and sensing of an emerging future. The power of the practice lies in participants relying on their hands, rather than on habitual ways of thinking, to discover new insights.

Learning Journeys invite participants to step out of their daily routine and to experience places, people, and organizations that are relevant to issues they are working on.