Chances are your organisation has undertaken some form of corporate innovation theatre without knowing it. Falling into the trap of what Steve Blank calls ‘innovation theatre’ and applying band-aid solutions usually leads to frustration and waste. 

Here are some of the most common forms of corporate innovation theatre that your company is probably singing and dancing about.

‍

1. Idea Contests

Running idea contests can be a positive signal that your organisation is ‘doing’ innovation. However, momentum is likely to fall flat without backing up the top ideas with funding, expertise and time. Another ‘theatre’ clue is when the idea contest lacks a well-defined and relevant challenge or problem statement.

TIP: Provide strategic guidelines so employees will know what type of innovation to generate (incremental, adjacent or disruptive) and which ideas to cull.

‍

2. Outsourcing innovation

There is a difference between integrating innovative ideas and borrowing innovation stories. Over the past few years, overpriced trips to Silicon Valley have become the latest C-suite corporate innovation fad. Leaders have been sold on the idea that their organisation needs an injection of startup culture. However, changing ‘costumes’ from suits to hoodies and playing table tennis instead of golf is innovation theatre at its best. Some companies have even established innovation outposts, which is a major investment. More here from Steve Blank on how to avoid innovation theatre when establishing an innovation outpost.

TIP: Innovation should not be reserved for senior manager and the C-suite. Spending money internally first on corporate innovation training and running low-cost experiments is likely to provide a better return on investment. Organisations are more likely to learn about their customers while motivating employees.

‍