Benchmarking in the automobile industry This case provides an illustration of benchmarking. The particular project it describes led to the emergence of ‘lean thinking’ as an approach which has had major impact in manufacturing, service and the public sector.
tools
Activity – Developing a business case
activity developing the business case
Sustainability-led innovation toolkit
This toolkit contains various tools which can help deal with the challenges of innovation management for sustainability Click on the link for more details on a particular tool Value stream analysis Value analysis Scenarios
Strategy toolkit
This toolkit gives some examples of tools which can help in developing an innovation strategy
Market research toolkit
This toolkit contains a number of tools which can be used to help with aspects of market research.
SPOTS – an audit framework for new product or service development
SPOTS audit. This is a tool to help explore new product or service development.
Using the 4Ps approach to explore innovation space
This is an activity designed to help explore using the 4Ps framework. There is also an interactive quiz based on this approach – click here For more information on the 4Ps tool click here
Competency mapping
Competency mapping is an approach to finding opportunities for innovation by exploring an organization’s distinctive competencies. What does it know about and how could it use this knowledge to advantage?
UK Design Council
The UK Design Council has been actively promoting a design approach to innovation for many years. On its website there is a rich set of case examples, many with video illustration.
Bubble charts
Bubble charts offer a useful tool to help with innovation selection. You can find a description of the tool and an activity based on this here Bubble charts activity

Activities
- Using the 4Ps approach to explore innovation space
- Uses for ….
- Uses for …
- TRIZ
- The Way We Do Things Around Here
- Success and Failure in Innovation
- Strategic planning for implementation
- Strategic advantage through knowledge
- Strategic advantage through innovation
- SPOTS – an audit framework for new product or service development

Cases

Deeper Dives
