How can you structure partner innovation and co-creation for repeatable success?

2 Identify your partners

The next step is to identify who you want to partner with and why. Depending on your goals, you may want to collaborate with different types of partners, such as customers, suppliers, competitors, research institutions, or industry associations. You need to assess the potential value and fit of each partner, considering their capabilities, resources, culture, and vision. You also need to establish trust and transparency, and define the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

3 Design your process

Once you have your partners on board, you need to design how you will work together. This involves defining the stages, activities, methods, and tools of your partner innovation and co-creation process. You may want to use frameworks such as design thinking, lean startup, or agile to guide your process. You also need to plan how you will manage the communication, coordination, and feedback among partners, and how you will handle the risks, issues, and changes that may arise.

4 Implement your solution

The next step is to implement your partner innovation and co-creation solution. This involves testing, validating, and refining your solution based on the feedback and data you collect from your target market and stakeholders. You need to ensure that your solution meets the needs and expectations of your customers and partners, and that it delivers the intended value and benefits. You also need to document and share your learnings and best practices with your partners.

5 Evaluate your results

After you have implemented your solution, you need to evaluate the results and impact of your partner innovation and co-creation project. This involves measuring and analyzing the outcomes and benefits of your project against the goals and metrics you defined at the beginning. You need to report and communicate your results to your partners and stakeholders, and celebrate your achievements. You also need to identify the gaps and areas for improvement, and plan how to address them.

6 Sustain your relationship

The final step is to sustain your relationship with your partners after your project is completed. This involves maintaining regular contact, sharing feedback, and acknowledging contributions. You also need to explore the opportunities and possibilities for future collaboration, and how you can leverage your relationship for mutual growth and innovation. By sustaining your relationship, you can build long-term trust, loyalty, and value with your partners.