Skip to content
HI
Guide
The Humanitarian
Innovation Guide
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
View all stages
—
Reviewing reports
B
Assess strengths and weaknesses
View all stages
—
SWOT Analysis
—
Process Mapping
C
Observe the problem
View all stages
—
Direct observation
D
Understand users
View all stages
—
Target Group
—
Personas
—
Jobs to be Done (Value Proposition Canvas)
E
Identify trends
View all stages
—
PESTLE Analysis
—
Scenario Planning
F
Break the dominant logic
View all stages
—
Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas
G
Draft a problem statement
View all stages
—
Problem Statement
1.2
Starting Point Assessment
View all stages
A
Understand key research concepts
B
Establish what is known
View all stages
—
Unknown Knowns
C
Identify outstanding questions
View all stages
—
Known Unknowns
D
Answer outstanding questions
View all stages
—
Desk review
—
Interviews
—
Focus Group Discussions
—
Observation tour
1.3
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
View all stages
A
Prioritise information and identify patterns
View all stages
—
Headlines
—
Custering and Affinity Mapping
B
Diagnose root causes
View all stages
—
5 Whys
—
Causes Diagram
C
Set the problem importance and parameters
View all stages
—
Urgent Vs Important
—
Breadth and Depth of Impact
—
What’s At Stake
—
Humanitarian Parameters Box
1.4
Challenge Brief
View all stages
A
Revise your problem statement
B
Set an impact goal
View all stages
—
Objective Formula
C
Define design criteria
View all stages
—
Design Criteria
D
Finalise your Challenge Brief
View all stages
—
Challenge Brief
2
Search
View all stages
2
Search
2.1
Search for Solutions
View all stages
A
Search within crisis-affected communities
View all stages
—
Appreciative Inquiry
—
Positive Deviance
B
Search using informal networks
View all stages
—
Conferences and events
—
Coordination mechanisms
C
Search using formal channels
2.2
Search for Ideas
View all stages
A
Crowd-source individual ideas
B
Organise a challenge competition
View all stages
—
#2602 (no title)
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
View all stages
—
Absorptive capacity audit
B
Start mapping adaptation requirements
View all stages
—
Adaptation Requirements Table
3.2
Solution Adapation
View all stages
A
Assess solutions against design criteria
View all stages
—
Design Criteria Checklist
B
Assess solution maturity
View all stages
—
Technology Readiness Level
C
Assess solution adaptation requirements
View all stages
—
Active Ingredients Assessment
C
Evaluate all potential solutions
View all stages
—
Decision Matrix
3.3
Organisational Adaptation
View all stages
A
Review relevant policies
B
Review organisational processes
C
Review roles and power dynamics
View all stages
—
Stakeholder Analysis
—
Power/Interest Grid
—
Force Field Analysis
3.4
Local Adaptation
View all stages
A
Review the problem context
B
Assess local behaviour change requirements
View all stages
—
EAST Framework
—
Storyboarding
C
Assess partners’ change requirements
D
Map all ecosystem adaptation requirements
View all stages
—
Value Network Analysis
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
View all stages
—
Brainstorm Rules
—
Object Brainstorming
—
Wallet Project
4.2
Ideation
View all stages
A
Get inspiration for ideas
View all stages
—
Analogous Inspiration
—
Lotus Blossom
B
Generate initial ideas
View all stages
—
6:8:5
—
How Might We?
C
Stretch thinking
View all stages
—
Mission Impossible
—
Flip It
—
How Would?
D
Expand and combine ideas
View all stages
—
Yes, And
—
Idea Remix
—
SCAMPER
E
Explore business models
View all stages
—
Business Model Navigator
—
Social Business Model Canvas
F
Select an idea
View all stages
—
Bundle Ideas
—
Narrow the Set
4.3
Minimum Viable Solution
View all stages
A
Develop concepts
View all stages
—
Draw It
—
Design the Box
—
Simulation
—
Service Design Concept
—
Creating Concepts
B
Narrow down concepts
View all stages
—
Pre-Mortem
—
COCD Box
C
Develop and test prototypes
View all stages
—
2×2 Priority Matrix
—
Conversation Starters
—
Lean Experiment
—
Prototype and Test Preparation
—
Wizard of Oz
D
Evaluate prototypes
5
Pilot
View all stages
5
Pilot
5.1
Preparations for Pilot
View all stages
A
Develop a Theory of Change
View all stages
—
Theory of Change
B
Review assumptions
View all stages
—
Assumptions Log
C
Review partnerships
View all stages
—
Partnerships Review
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
View all stages
—
Feasibility Blueprint
—
Reference Class Forecasting
B
Assess operational requirements
View all stages
—
Operational Checklist
C
Utilise agile management methods
View all stages
—
Kanban
D
Establish feedback and review mechanisms
View all stages
—
Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms
—
Periodic Review
E
Test your business model
View all stages
—
Business Model Review
F
Codify your solution
View all stages
—
3C Checklist
5.3
Progress Review
View all stages
A
Carry out a progress review
View all stages
—
After-Action 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
View all stages
—
Scalability Checklist
B
Assess key considerations for scale
View all stages
—
Scaling Assessment Map
6.2
Scale Vision
View all stages
A
Envision your endgame
B
Set a scale goal
C
Reflect on possible routes to scale
View all stages
—
Scale Panorama
D
Develop scale targets
View all stages
—
Scaling Aspiration Map
6.3
Scale Strategy
View all stages
A
Bridge aspirations and reality
View all stages
—
Scale Bridge
B
Develop a theory of scale
View all stages
—
Theory of Scale
C
Track and test assumptions
View all stages
—
Innovation Assumptions Testing Card
D
Finalise your scale strategy
E
Stress test your strategy
View all stages
—
Progress to Scale Framework
Back to top
Search the site
Stages of Innovation
Recognition
Search
Adaptation
Invention
Pilot
Scale
Topics
4 Ps
Adaptation
Adaptive management
Adoption
Agile
Analysis
Challenges
Codification
Concept Development
Decision points
Design thinking
Diffusion
Direct observation
End game
End users
Feedback mechanisms
Geographies
Human
Humanitarian environment
Humanitarian programming
Ideation
Innovation
Innovation journey
Innovation pilots
Innovation team
Invention
Partnerships review
Pilot
Pilot stage
Problem Definition
Problem Statement
Process innovation
Process Mapping
Project Management
Prototyping
Rapid learning
Recognition
Replication
Research
Research questions
Risk management
Scalability
Scale
Scale Goal
Search
Stakeholder Analysis
Sustainability
Target group
Theory of Change
User
Content Types
Case Studies
Methods
Search for
Find Toolkits
Glossary of Terms
About the Guide
Contribute
Become a contributor
Login
English
العربية
Français
Español
Glossary of Terms
About the Guide
Contribute
Become a contributor
Login
English
العربية
Français
Español
HI
Guide
The Innovation Process
Search the site
Stages of Innovation
Recognition
Search
Adaptation
Invention
Pilot
Scale
Topics
4 Ps
Adaptation
Adaptive management
Adoption
Agile
Analysis
Challenges
Codification
Concept Development
Decision points
Design thinking
Diffusion
Direct observation
End game
End users
Feedback mechanisms
Geographies
Human
Humanitarian environment
Humanitarian programming
Ideation
Innovation
Innovation journey
Innovation pilots
Innovation team
Invention
Partnerships review
Pilot
Pilot stage
Problem Definition
Problem Statement
Process innovation
Process Mapping
Project Management
Prototyping
Rapid learning
Recognition
Replication
Research
Research questions
Risk management
Scalability
Scale
Scale Goal
Search
Stakeholder Analysis
Sustainability
Target group
Theory of Change
User
Content Types
Case Studies
Methods
Search for
Find Toolkits
Activity
Project Design and Implementation