CONVERSE Innovation Program
Creative solutions often start with the right conversations and our CONVERSE program offers an integrated package of applied creativity and innovation management diagnostics, workshops and facilitation services. Designed around self-selected project teams, CONVERSE involves an initial profiling of all participants to assess their applied creativity profile and innovation leadership orientation. The program typically involves teams of 5 to 7 managers who undertake action learning projects with a combination of classroom workshops and small group coaching by CEMI training staff.
During Phase I the CEMI consulting team facilitates the client organisation through a thought leadership round table to assist with the development of an innovation road map and also undertakes a best practice review of existing innovation management. Once teams are selected two workshops are held that focus on innovation and the role of intrapreneurs and innovation champions, and the essentials for creating a climate for innovation and enterprise within the organisation.
During Phase II a Delphi Panel is established that assists in the review of real life innovation project proposals for the teams of managers who have engaged in the program. Four additional training workshops are held. These cover: i) the role of middle managers as innovators and entrepreneurs; ii) intrapreneuring within the public sector or large organisations drawing on case studies; iii) managing innovation and change; and iv) team based creativity and innovation.
In Phase III the innovation projects are subject to review and team leaders report on their project experience. This includes an assessment of the impediments to innovation within their organisation. Recommendations are made by the CEMI team to the client organisation as to how the innovation architecture of the organisation can be improved for the future.
Innovation Leadership Program
Innovation is essential to the creation of profitable and sustainable business ventures. New products, processes, market or administrative innovations are what generate improved outcomes for customers, employees and shareholders. The CEMI Innovation Leadership Program (ILP) is designed specifically for smaller firms as a means of enhancing their potential to manage innovation project and widen their understanding of how to build a more innovation focused enterprise.
The ILP draws upon research undertaken into the strategic management of innovation within small firms that collected over 500 cases of innovative companies from 11 OECD countries. This work has been published in the book "Strategic Innovation in Small Firms" and provides a firm foundation of empirical data as to the way small firms manage their innovation and commercialisation activities.
The ILP recognises that successful innovation is as much about people as it is about products or processes. It seeks to have participants assess their past track record in innovation and compare this with international best practice. The seven key measures of innovaiton are examined along with the four indicators of how well the firm is undertaking its innovation management using the Innovation Diagnostic Diamond (IDD) framework.
The structure of the ILP invovles an initial diagnostic assessment of your firm's current approaches to innovation and commercialisation. These results are examined at an initial workshop that focuses on the strategic leadership of innovation. All participants who attend the program should then undertake an action learning project that is completed over a period of approximately 3 weeks prior to returning to the second workshop. At this workshop the projects are examined and all participants outline their proposed strategies for enhancing innovation within their firms. It is expected that all participants will develop an innovation and commercialisation strategy from having participated in the ILP.
Innovation Strategy Program
Designed originally for the WA Government's Public Sector Commission, this program is designed to provide particpants with an enhanced appreciation of the nature of innovation management within public sector organisations and to apply these concepts to the creation of a strategy designed to enhance innovation within their own organisation.
The objectives of this one-day workshop are to get participants to understand the nature of innovation and how it is managed within organisations, and to undertake a review of their organisation's climate for innovation and enterprise. The interplay between leadership, strategy, structure, culture and the organisation's market orientation are examined. Participants are expected to generate from the workshop an initial strategy for enhancing innovation and enterprise within their parent organisations.
The program was initially delivered via the AIM-UWA Alliance for the WA Government during the period 2005 to 2009. A wide range of State Government agencies were involved with the program and over 200 managers attended these workshops. Customised or bespoke variants of the course were developed for specific government departments. The program has been well rececieved by such agencies as Main Roads WA, Department of Culture and the Arts, and Office of State Revenue.
Innovation Excellence Program
The CEMI Innovation Excellence Program (IEP) is a management skills development program designed to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurial management capabilities of entrepreneurs who are seeking to commercialise new ventures based on innovative products, services or processes. The IEP comprises seven one-day workshops that cover: i) the strategic management of innovation; ii) intellectual property management; iii) the assessment of market opportunities for new products and services; iv) success strategies for new product development; v) how to manage commercialisation risk; vi) how to prepare an investor ready business case; and vii) developing, stress testing and implementing a business plan.