In today's competitive landscape, large enterprises face the unique challenge of moving beyond singular innovative projects to creating a systematic and scalable innovation engine. While many organizations are adept at generating new ideas, a significant gap exists in their ability to successfully pilot, fund, and integrate these ventures into the core business. This failure to scale innovation can lead to missed market opportunities, loss of competitive edge, and a decline in employee engagement. Mastering the art of scaling is not just about technology or product development; it's about building a robust, repeatable process that embeds innovation as a core competency.

This intensive training course is designed to provide leaders, managers, and innovators with the strategic frameworks and practical tools needed to overcome these challenges. We will delve into the critical aspects of building a sustainable innovation ecosystem, from fostering a conducive culture and securing executive sponsorship to establishing effective governance and performance metrics. Participants will learn how to turn isolated successes into widespread growth drivers, ensuring that their organization remains relevant, resilient, and ready to meet the demands of a constantly evolving future.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

• Senior Executives and Corporate Strategy Leaders
• Directors of Innovation, R&D, and New Ventures
• Product and Program Managers
• Business Unit Leaders and General Managers
• Corporate Venture Capital and M&A Professionals
• High-Potential Employees leading cross-functional teams
• Strategic Planners and Business Development Managers
• Human Resources and Organizational Development Professionals
• Consultants specializing in corporate transformation
• Anyone responsible for driving growth and change in a large organization

Objectives:

• Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of scaling innovation in large enterprises
• Develop a strategic framework for managing an innovation pipeline across different business units
• Foster a corporate culture that encourages and rewards entrepreneurial behavior
• Establish effective governance models and funding mechanisms for new ventures
• Master the art of transitioning a successful pilot project into a scalable business
• Create a robust internal ecosystem for collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Define and measure key performance indicators (KPIs) for innovation initiatives
• Learn how to leverage external partnerships and alliances to accelerate growth
• Develop a long-term roadmap for sustaining and evolving the organization's innovation capabilities

Course Modules:

Module 1: The Strategic Imperative of Scaling Innovation

• The distinction between "inventing" and "scaling" within an enterprise
• Analyzing the common failure points of corporate innovation
• Aligning innovation strategy with core business objectives
• Understanding the role of leadership in championing scaled innovation
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful scaling efforts

Module 2: Building an Innovation-Ready Culture

• Fostering a culture of psychological safety and experimentation
• Designing reward and recognition systems for intrapreneurship
• Encouraging cross-functional collaboration and breaking down silos
• The role of communication in a transparent innovation culture
• Creating a portfolio of innovation activities to engage all employees

Module 3: Governance and Structure for Innovation

• Establishing an innovation council or steering committee
• Designing an effective innovation hub or lab model
• Creating clear decision-making processes for idea progression
• The role of dedicated innovation teams versus decentralized efforts
• Navigating legal, compliance, and regulatory hurdles

Module 4: Funding and Resource Allocation

• Exploring different funding models for innovation (e.g., internal venture capital, challenge funds)
• The art of the strategic business case for an innovation project
• Budgeting for risk and uncertainty
• Securing buy-in from corporate finance and the board
• Managing the budget transition from pilot to scale

Module 5: The Pilot-to-Scale Transition

• Defining the criteria for a successful pilot project
• Developing a robust plan for technology and process integration
• Addressing the challenges of organizational readiness and change management
• Creating a blueprint for market entry and customer acquisition
• Identifying the right time to transition a venture to a business unit

Module 6: Creating a Scalable Ecosystem

• The importance of innovation platforms and shared services
• Establishing a standardized methodology for new venture development
• Creating a knowledge management system for innovation insights
• Leveraging open innovation and external crowdsourcing
• Building a network of innovation champions and mentors

Module 7: Measuring Innovation Success

• Moving beyond financial metrics to measure early-stage progress
• Defining leading and lagging indicators for innovation
• Calculating the ROI of innovation initiatives
• Creating dashboards and reporting structures for different stakeholders
• Using data to make informed decisions on investment and resource allocation

Module 8: External Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

• Identifying the right partners (e.g., startups, universities, research labs)
• Structuring and managing a co-innovation partnership
• Integrating external technologies and solutions into the enterprise
• The role of mergers and acquisitions in scaling innovation
• Building a repeatable process for partnership identification and due diligence

Module 9: Sustaining Innovation for Long-Term Growth

• Developing a strategic roadmap for a multi-year innovation plan
• The role of leadership rotation in fostering new perspectives
• Embedding innovation capabilities into talent development and succession planning
• Creating a continuous learning loop for the innovation function
• Building a legacy of innovation that becomes part of the corporate DNA

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.