Skip to content
The Innovation Process
Get started
View all stages
Get started
Innovation basics
Principles and ethics
Innovation mindsets
Innovation process
1
Recognition
View all stages
1
Recognition
1.1
Initial Impressions
View all stages
A
Learn from evaluations and reports
B
Assess strengths and weaknesses
C
Observe the problem
D
Understand users
E
Identify trends
F
Break the dominant logic
G
Draft a problem statement
1.2
Starting Point Assessment
View all stages
A
Understand key research concepts
B
Establish what is known
C
Identify outstanding questions
D
Answer outstanding questions
1.3
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
View all stages
A
Prioritise information and identify patterns
B
Diagnose root causes
C
Set the problem importance and parameters
1.4
Challenge Brief
View all stages
A
Revise your problem statement
B
Set an impact goal
C
Define design criteria
D
Finalise your Challenge Brief
2
Search
View all stages
2
Search
2.1
Search for Solutions
View all stages
A
Search within crisis-affected communities
B
Search using informal networks
C
Search using formal channels
2.2
Search for Ideas
View all stages
A
Crowd-source individual ideas
B
Organise a challenge competition
C
Crowd-source group contributions
2.3
Search for Collaborators
View all stages
A
Find the most affected people
B
Find the right expertise
C
Find the right partner organisations
3
Adaptation
View all stages
3
Adaptation
3.1
Preparations for Adaptation
View all stages
A
Determine absorptive capacity
B
Start mapping adaptation requirements
3.2
Solution Adapation
View all stages
A
Assess solutions against design criteria
B
Assess solution maturity
C
Assess solution adaptation requirements
C
Evaluate all potential solutions
3.3
Organisational Adaptation
View all stages
A
Review relevant policies
B
Review organisational processes
C
Review roles and power dynamics
3.4
Local Adaptation
View all stages
A
Review the problem context
B
Assess local behaviour change requirements
C
Assess partners’ change requirements
D
Map all ecosystem adaptation requirements
4
Invention
View all stages
4
Invention
4.1
Preparations for Invention
View all stages
A
Consider how to engage target groups
B
Plan the creative process
C
Set the tone and warm-up participants
4.2
Ideation
View all stages
A
Get inspiration for ideas
B
Generate initial ideas
C
Stretch thinking
D
Expand and combine ideas
E
Explore business models
F
Select an idea
4.3
Minimum Viable Solution
View all stages
A
Develop concepts
B
Narrow down concepts
C
Develop and test prototypes
D
Evaluate prototypes
5
Pilot
View all stages
5
Pilot
5.1
Preparations for Pilot
View all stages
A
Develop a Theory of Change
B
Review assumptions
C
Review partnerships
D
Determine ethics and oversight requirements
5.2
Research and Learning
View all stages
A
Determine learning objectives
B
Assess research feasibility
C
Design your research agenda
D
Analyse and interrogate your data
E
Report and share results
5.3
Project Management
View all stages
A
Assess project feasibility
B
Assess operational requirements
C
Utilise agile management methods
D
Establish feedback and review mechanisms
E
Test your business model
F
Codify your solution
5.3
Progress Review
View all stages
A
Carry out a progress review
B
Determine whether to stop or continue
6
Scale
View all stages
6
Scale
6.1
Scale Feasibility Assessment
View all stages
A
Assess the scalability of your solution
B
Assess key considerations for scale
6.2
Scale Vision
View all stages
A
Envision your endgame
B
Set a scale goal
C
Reflect on possible routes to scale
D
Develop scale targets
6.3
Scale Strategy
View all stages
A
Bridge aspirations and reality
B
Develop a theory of scale
C
Track and test assumptions
D
Finalise your scale strategy
E
Stress test your strategy
Back to top
Humanitarian Innovation Guide
Search the site
Join the community
Share
Humanitarian Parameters
Enabling Factors
Ethics Resource
Glossary of Terms
About the Guide
Search the site
Share
The Innovation Process
Stage
Introduction