CASE STUDY 1
Synchronized Innovation Management
Background
A Fortune 100 Consumer Goods company was struggling to accelerate the speed and reach of its global innovation portfolio. Teams were scattered across several [many?] global and regional organizations [units?]. No one in a leadership position maintained a line of sight on all projects, their timing or the resources needed to bring the entire portfolio to market. Company-wide, managers and teams were frustrated by unclear decision-making and an ongoing sense of swirl, due to continual changes in project plans.
Critical Need
Integrate Innovation Management teams to deliver fully synchronized plans — global and regional — that are faster and more agile, and better meet local business needs.
Solutions
Gathered regional leaders to discuss innovation priorities and plans
Evolved organizational structure and roles to synchronize global and regional teams. The group created a big picture view of strategies, plans and inputs for innovation growth
Guided leaders in adjusting portfolio to reflect the most strategic choices
Established common and clear metrics that better aligned functional and business rewards
Results
Increased dialog among business leaders led to better portfolio choices; clearer decision making
Global and regional businesses each addressed most relevant innovation issues
Increased Speed to Market by >30%
Built trust across the organization, resulting in >50% reduction in change management on projects (more design done right the first time)
Increased in-market financial success by >100% versus past performance
CASE STUDY 2
Synchronized Innovation Portfolio; Strong Portfolio Leadership
Background
A Fortune 100 Consumer Goods company was challenged to create a portfolio that was strategic and balanced. Most decisions were “urgent” responses to short-term business needs. Leaders paid little attention to balancing short- and long-term needs. The organization had no way to ensure that portfolio projects supported the business strategy; no one monitored project statuses or presented this information to key leaders.
Critical Need
Synchronize, pace and balance the portfolio of projects to ensure it can meet both short- and long-term needs.
Solutions
Established innovation leaders in each product category who facilitated business leaders in declaring the priority of projects and project sequences.
Guided leaders to create an innovation portfolio, strategically paced to address customer needs and competitive challenges
Established a change management practice that delivered agility, but with discipline.
Results
Business implemented a clearer, more strategic balance of global and regionally relevant innovation
Portfolio productivity (value created versus financial investment) increased by >50% due to more strategic selection of projects, and clear focus of organization against targets