Why we need a more holistic approach to innovation

That’s a significant gap, and it reveals a common problem in organisational attitudes to innovation — they know it’s something they should be prioritising, but they do not see enough value from their efforts.

The question then is not “should we be innovating?” but rather “how should we be innovating?” How can organisations channel that enthusiasm for innovation in a way that delivers tangible, sustainable results over time?

The answer is to take another look at what innovation really means. True innovation extends far beyond merely implementing the latest technology or pursuing short-term projects. It demands a fundamental shift in mindset, a move towards developing a true “culture of innovation” within organisations.

Relying solely on project-based innovation often leads to fragmented initiatives that fail to deliver lasting value. While these projects might yield temporary gains or address specific challenges, they often fail to permeate the entire organisation.

This approach often results in a “flavour of the month” mentality, where enthusiasm for innovation wanes once the project concludes, leaving behind a trail of unfinished initiatives and missed opportunities.

Cultivating a culture of innovation requires a more holistic approach, one that embeds innovation into the very DNA of an organisation. This involves fostering an environment where collaboration, open communication, and a willingness to embrace risk and learn from failure are encouraged.

It requires empowering employees at all levels to contribute their ideas and expertise, creating a sense of shared ownership over the innovation process.

At Ibtechar, we’ve witnessed firsthand the limitations of project-based innovation. While we’ve achieved significant success collaborating with organisations on specific projects, we recognise that true, sustainable impact requires a more profound cultural shift.
In response, we’ve developed a holistic innovation framework designed to help organisations move beyond quick wins and embed innovation into their core operations.

Our framework, informed by our years of experience and expertise in the innovation space, provides a roadmap for organisations to create a thriving innovation ecosystem.

It emphasises the importance of not just generating innovative ideas but also building the capacity to implement them effectively and sustainably — laying the foundations for innovation to thrive and flourish.

Designed to be adaptable to any organisation — whatever level of maturity, size, structure or sector, the framework identifies four key stages within the innovation journey.

Our upcoming whitepaper discusses the framework in detail — offering greater insight into how organisations can put this thinking into practice and realise the benefits of a true culture of innovation.

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