Innovation Labs are the means by which ideas generated in member discussions around possibilities are transformed into potential solutions. Co-creation results in design innovations that reflect the insights of peer members, Fellows, and Experience Leaders that result in ‘demonstration solutions’. These demonstrations help member leaders to illustrate how the new imperatives change the collaborative nature of the design itself and the process by which it is created. These solution demonstrations address common issues across industries and organizational boundaries – always reaching out to the end-customer (from and outside-in perspective).

Example Innovation Lab Issues:

Strategic leadership, financial/operational management driven by:

• Clarity of purpose/transition, execution pland
• Stakeholder and organizational alignment to investment priorities
• Cross-organizational capability development, accountability and measurement

Customer-oriented solutions for all  ”key moments of truth” where the experience differentiates and creates advantage for organizations, such as:

• Demand creation leaving behind marketing and sales pitches around product push
• Relationship development versus product/services sales-based interactions
• Customer co-creation for product/service and channel innovation
• Service/support seamless channel integration and value

Product-Process-Practice Innovation

• Inside-out to Outside-in design
• Iterative design, testing (with all constituents) to refine and make work end-to-end product, process, practice
• Integration of channels, organizational entities, delivery capabilities

Learning and Development

• Embedded customer experience, delivery process and learning models
• Performance support for partners, employees
• Experiential, contextual learning and development models
• Organizational barriers to change/adoption

Labs use field-tested methodology through an iterative methodology, where practical solutions are designed and plans devised to optimize performance, adoption, and acceptance. The group’s collective intelligence expands the generation of ideas and innovation. The collective experience of members augmented by Fellows and Experience Leaders are combined to develop demonstration solutions that members can use to advocate change in both design and methods of developing/delivering innovative solutions.

One Innovation  Lab focuses on Virtual Work. In this Lab, members and experience leaders co-create practical solutions and a road-map of when alternative virtual platforms and processes are adopted and effective.