Innovation Maturity Certification Scheme

This course is designed for SME business owners wanting to increase their creativity, growth, and resilience. And make more money.

This course is no longer available.

Explore other courses

Course overview

Transform your team into a high-engaged and creative innovation powerhouse

You will become innovation-savvy.


You'll learn about the different stages of the innovation process, what it means to have an innovation culture, and how to create an environment that is conducive to innovation.

This course is designed for SME business owners wanting to get ahead.

01

This course is for: NPD Directors, Senior Strategists, Business Owners, CEOs, and Business Designers

02

This course is best suited to people who want to learn how to innovate and create an innovation-friendly environment in their organisation.

03

This course can help you use innovation to grow your business, become more resilient, and make you more money.

04

It will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to manage and lead innovation within your organisation.

What you’ll get out of this course

You will learn about the different stages of the innovation process.

The innovation process has several stages: ideation, screening, prototyping, commercialisation, and launch. You will learn about each stage and how it affects the success of a new product or service.

You will understand how organisations can create an environment that is conducive to innovation at each stage of the process.

This includes having the right tools, resources and support in place.

You will know what is meant by an 'innovation culture' and how it can be created within an organisation.

An innovation culture can be created within an organisation by encouraging employees to be creative and take risks. Employees should feel comfortable sharing their ideas and suggestions, and be rewarded for their innovation. Learn how to do it.

You will learn how innovation can be effectively managed and led, and how to organise for innovation.

Innovation is key to success in any field. This course will show you how to lead and manage innovation in your organization.

This course is NOT for

01

This course is not for people who want to be spoon-fed or who are happy with the status quo.

02

It's also not for people who don't want to put in any hard work. If you're looking for an easy way out, this course is not for you.

03

This course is not suitable for people who don't like to learn new things, and apply those learnings to their current work environment.

What people are saying

        This is a STELLAR piece of work - far better than anything I've ever received from KPMG, Deloitte, Gartner, PWC or any of the others I've engaged in my corporate past.
Andrew Vorster

Andrew Vorster

Innovation Catalyst | Fractional Futurist | Public Speaker connecting the dots to Ignite Innovation Initiatives 🔥🔥🔥
        A big step forward in enabling the metrics around innovation. An area that has been hugely under explored. Innovation is the lifeblood of organisational growth yet often under done or not done at all.
Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan

MD at MSA Mike Sullivan and Associates
        Bradley is not only an innovation expert with a proven track record of giving his customer a clear ROI, but he cares, about his team, his customers and his partners. If you want to take your innovation to the next level, if you want a partner you can trust, if you want your innovation to make an impact - choose Bradley and his team.
Roy Newey

Roy Newey

Chairman, Non Exec, Director, CEO Growth Partnership, High Performance Coach, Author
        His technical acumen combined with his ability to garner my trust and commitment were commendable. What impressed me the most was his focus on relationships and the mutual respect he was able to develop with me and the rest of his team. It says a lot abut his character, and I learned a lot about leadership though our interaction.
Waldo Waldman

Waldo Waldman

Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Executive Leadership Coach Fighter Pilot, NY Times Bestselling Author, Expert in Resilience, Teamwork & Trust
        Loved the different perspectives and ideas from everybody I wish everyone could attend this! I liked the open, fun activities and the different perspectives from all sizes of organizations and roles
Beth Ballard

Beth Ballard

Customer Care, DPF Company, Manitoba
        Highly recommended for anyone that is either new to innovation management or thinks it can be simply managed by normal management and leadership practices - it does take more than that, as the course demonstrates. the broad nature of the content. You get the impression there's plenty more to come if we ask for it.
Karl Pallister

Karl Pallister

Senior Project Manager, Governance and IP Management, Innovast
        I would recommend [this course] for someone who wants to start developing an innovation strategy in their company. I liked the breakdown of explaining the thoughts behind the innovation processes in bite size chunks
Gary Fisher

Gary Fisher

Global Design Manager (Innovast R&D Division)

Meet your instructor

Bradley Pallister

Bradley Pallister

Innovation Instructor at the UK Research and Development Facility

Bradley Pallister is the Co-Founder and Head of Innovation at Innovolo, an innovation-as-a-service and product development provider based in Cornwall UK.

He also works as an innovation instructor at the UK Research and Development Facility, where he conceptualised and created the Innovation Value Pyramid, and the Innovation Maturity Model.

Bradley is a man of many talents - not only does he have a keen eye for spotting innovative potential in products and businesses, but he also has a wonderful way with words that makes him an entertaining speaker and writer.

Rohit Agarwal

Rohit Agarwal

Founder of First Loop and Innovation Facilitator

Rohit is the Founder of First Loop, an online workshop facilitation agency based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Curiosity, experimentation, and sharing with the world is what drive Rohit every day. With a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Innovation Management and Product Development, Rohit's vision is to democratize innovation in organisations and help prepare against uncertainty by training every employee in innovation methods, tools, and techniques.

Course syllabus

10 live sessions • 17 lessons • 8 projects

Week 1

Nov 7—Nov 13

    Nov

    7

    IMaCS Onboarding

    Mon 11/79:00 AM—9:45 AM (UTC)

    Nov

    10

    Session 1: Introduction to Innovation

    Thu 11/108:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    Introduction to Innovation

    An entrepreneurial spirit is at the heart of innovation. An innovator sees things differently, has the courage to go against the grain, and is passionate about bringing their vision to life. But innovation is more than just a few entrepreneurial individuals – it’s a culture. It’s a way of thinking and doing things that permeates an organisation from top to bottom. And it’s this culture that allows organisations to generate new ideas continuously, experiment with them and ultimately bring them to market. So what exactly is innovation? And what are the different types of innovation? Let’s take a closer look.

    4 items

Week 2

Nov 14—Nov 20

    Nov

    14

    Session 2: The Different Types of Innovation

    Mon 11/148:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    Nov

    17

    Session 3: The Drivers of Innovation

    Thu 11/178:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    The Different Types of Innovation

    Innovation comes in many forms, and there's no one-size-fits-all innovation strategy. To succeed, businesses need to identify the type of innovation that best suits their needs and context. In this learning unit, we'll explore the different types of innovation and how to apply them in the real world. We'll also look at how to develop an innovation strategy and build a culture of innovation in your organisation. By the end of this unit, you'll have a better understanding of the different types of innovation and how to apply them in your specific work context.

    • 📄

      Different Types of Innovation: Resources

    • 📄

      Process Innovation

    • ✍️

      Government incentives for innovation

      Submit by Nov 16

    The Drivers of Innovation

    Disruption. It's a word that strikes fear into the heart of any organisation. But it doesn't have to be that way. Innovation can be a powerful tool for organisations that want to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive advantage. In this unit, we'll explore the common drivers of innovation and how they can be applied to real-world examples. We'll also look at how innovation programmes can help organisations to become more innovative. By the end of this unit, you should have a good understanding of what it takes to drive innovation in your organisation. So let's get started!

    • ✍️

      Innovation Incentives within Your Organisation

      Submit by Nov 17

Week 3

Nov 21—Nov 27

    Nov

    21

    Session 4: The Common Barriers of Innovation

    Mon 11/218:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    The Common Barriers of Innovation

    Innovation can be difficult to consistently encourage and maintain in any organisation. It often requires individuals to think outside the box to develop new solutions to problems, which can be easier said than done. Many common barriers to innovation can make it difficult for organisations to foster a culture of innovation. Some of these barriers include bias, problems with information processing, and problems with the organisation's culture. However, there are ways to overcome these barriers and create an environment conducive to innovation. By remaining open-minded and encouraging employees to share their ideas, organisations can create an environment where innovation can thrive.

    • ✍️

      Innovation Barriers in Your Organisation

      Submit by Nov 24

    The Stages of The Innovation Process

    Innovation is often seen as a linear process, with each stage building on the last. However, in reality, innovation is often much more cyclical, with new ideas triggering fresh thinking at every stage. This unit will explore the different stages of the innovation process and how they can be applied in real-world contexts. We will also discuss how organisations can create an environment that is conducive to innovation at each stage of the process. By the end of this unit, students will have a better understanding of how innovation works and how it can be harnessed to drive organisational success.

    • ✍️

      Create your step-by-step action plan for changing/optimising your innovation process

      Submit by Nov 24

Week 4

Nov 28—Dec 4

    Nov

    28

    Session 5: The Stages of The Innovation Process

    Mon 11/288:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    Nov

    29

    Optional: Toolbox Tuesday: Customer Journey Mapping

    Tue 11/298:00 AM—8:30 AM (UTC)
    Optional

    Dec

    1

    Session 6: Creating an Innovative Culture

    Thu 12/18:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    Creating an Innovative Culture

    Any company that wants to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace must have an innovative culture. Leaders must embed this culture in the organisation’s values, mission and goals. It must be championed by senior leaders and embraced by all employees. An innovation culture is founded on three key pillars: people, process and technology. Organisations must attract and retain the best talent to create an innovative culture. They must put in place processes that encourage creativity and risk-taking. And they must invest in the latest technologies. Of course, an innovation culture is not something that you can create overnight. It takes time, effort and commitment. But it is worth it because an innovation culture is a key to unlocking your organisation’s full potential. This unit will help you take steps to do so.

    • ✍️

      Create Your Innovation Journal

      Submit by Dec 8
    • ✍️

      Optional: Understanding Team Emotions to Stimulate Innovation

      Submit by Dec 8

    Leading and Managing Innovation

    Leaders and managers have a lot in common. Both groups are responsible for achieving results and need to be good at problem-solving. However, there are also some significant differences between leaders and managers. For example, leaders are responsible for setting the direction for their team, while managers are responsible for executing the plan. In addition, leaders must be good at inspiring people, while managers must be good at getting things done. And while leaders often have a vision for what they want to achieve, managers need to be more focused on the here and now. After completing this learning unit, students will be able to understand the different roles that leaders and managers play in innovation. They will also identify the various challenges that must be considered when managing and leading innovation. And finally, they will be able to explain how you can effectively fulfil the other roles.

Week 5

Dec 5—Dec 11

    Dec

    5

    Session 7: Leading and Managing Innovation

    Mon 12/58:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

    Organising for Innovation

    There's no denying that organisation is vital when it comes to innovation. Without a clear framework, it can be all too easy for ideas to get lost in the shuffle. But the organisation isn't just about putting a system in place and hoping for the best - it's also about ensuring that all the different pieces work together seamlessly. In this unit, we'll look at some organisational structures and frameworks you can use to support innovation. We'll also identify some challenges to be considered when organising innovation and explain how you can effectively implement the different structures. By the end of this unit, you should have a good understanding of how organisation can help to support innovation.

    • ✍️

      Innovation-embedded Mission Statement

      Submit by Dec 8

Week 6

Dec 12

    Dec

    12

    Session 8: Organising for Innovation

    Mon 12/128:00 AM—9:00 AM (UTC)

Bonus

    Bonus Materials

    • 📄

      Recommended Reading List

    • 📄

      Mastering Innovation's Toughest Trade-Offs (MIT Sloan Management Review Vol 63 No 4)

    • 📄

      Incremental vs Radical Innovation

    • 📄

      Open vs Closed Innovation

    • 📄

      Where to Focus Your Innovation Investment

    • 📄

      The Five Principles of Innovation (Innovolo Blog)

    • 📄

      10 Inherent Characteristics of a Culture of Innovation You Can Copy In Your Business (Innovolo blog)

    • 📄

      The 4 Levels of Innovation Culture Maturity (Innovolo blog)

    • 📄

      PESTLE Prompt Help Sheet Canvas

    • 📄

      SWOT Help Sheet

    • 📄

      RICE Idea Prioritisation Worksheet Template

    • 📄

      Protect the Core Checklist (Roy Newey)

So why might you want to be more innovative?

Some reasons include:

  • You're not generating enough new ideas
  • You're not implementing enough new ideas
  • Your ideas are not original or creative enough
  • Your innovation process is not effective or efficient enough


We'll be addressing all these points in this course.

Course schedule

4-6 hours per week

  • 7 November 2022

    09:00am - 09:45am GMT

    IMaCS Onboarding

  • Mondays & Thursdays

    08:00am - 09:00am GMT

    • Presentation with Bradley
    • Breakout groups to discuss topics
    • Time to work on strategy doc
    • Q&A and group discussion
  • Weekly pre-work

    1-2 hours per week

    • You'll start the course with a innovation strategy template and fill in pieces as we go
    • Each session will have pre-reads

Frequently Asked Questions