What do you do if your creative and innovative projects lack strategic thinking?

Cuando veo que a mis proyectos de tecnología en @Humanversum Academy les falta un pensamiento estratégico, empiezo por evaluar dónde están las fallas. Me tomo un momento para mirar todo desde arriba, como si estuviera sobre una bicicleta viendo el camino por delante. Me pregunto si los objetivos realmente se alinean con nuestras metas a largo plazo o si solo estamos innovando por innovar. Identificar dónde no estamos conectando nuestras ideas creativas con las necesidades reales del mercado es crucial. Así, cada pieza del proyecto realmente ayuda a construir el futuro que queremos. Eso para mí es clave: que cada innovación tenga un propósito claro."

GO BACK TO YOUR AUDIENCE ! When you're stuck in your innovation process, it's essential to revisit the reasons why you started innovating in the first place. This means going back to your audience, understanding their needs, and ensuring that your innovation aligns with their expectations. So: - Reconnect with your audience: engage with your customers, gather feedback, and understand their needs. - Reevaluate your innovation strategy: review and assess your innovation strategy. - Encourage collaboration: get diverse perspectives and ideas from a variety of stakeholders, esp sr management to get back on strategy. - Embrace external support: Seek support from customers, partners, mentors, experts.

Revisit or create the "why" and start asking questions. By taking the time to slow down and have important conversations, things become clearer or you can seek out the clarity that is missing. Setting a foundation based on strategy is the only way to create efficiency. Once the common goal is set, strategy can blossom.

Many frameworks can be used to assess gaps. The most obvious is to elaborate on a gap analysis, which, in simple words, is to understand what steps (action plan) to perform to move the project from its current state to its desired state. In order to elaborate an action plan, you first have to identify what KPIs you want to measure. Once you have that, what initiatives or tasks would move the needle of those KPIs until you reach the desired state? Ideally, everything is bound to a time constraint (monthly/quarterly). In this way, you identify the gaps, how to measure them, and what the actions are to fill those gaps and move your projects to a desired state.

It's a serious problem! If your creative and innovative projects are missing strategic thinking, it's important to reassess from the beginning. Here's what you can do in simple steps: ? Start by revisiting your project goals and objectives. ? Evaluate whether your creative ideas align with these goals effectively. ? Identify any gaps or areas where strategic planning is lacking. ? Engage in brainstorming sessions to integrate strategic thinking into your project. ? Consider seeking input or advice from experienced mentors or colleagues. ? Adjust your approach as needed to ensure that strategic thinking guides your creative endeavors from the outset.

Los objetivos son la pieza clave para alcanzar cualquier meta. Sin objetivos claros, medibles y alcanzables, es difícil mantener un rumbo definido y fácilmente nos podemos perder en ideas sin propósito. El método SMART es una gran herramienta, pero no es una regla inquebrantable, especialmente en el ámbito de los proyectos tecnológicos como los que desarrollamos en Humanversum Academy. Aquí, es fundamental estar atentos a los constantes cambios del mercado para poder ajustar nuestra estrategia sin necesidad de modificar nuestros objetivos finales o la meta general. Esta flexibilidad nos permite adaptarnos y seguir avanzando de manera efectiva.

Addressing the lack of strategic thinking in projects can be efficiently tackled using mind maps and the principles of radiant thinking. 1. Begin by creating a mind map with the central theme being the overarching goal or purpose of your projects. 2. From the central theme, branch out into key areas that are crucial for strategic thinking such as- Understanding Market Trends Competitor Analysis Innovation and Creativity Risk Management Resource Allocation Goal Setting and KPIs Team Skills and Capabilities For each key area, create sub-branches to assess the current state of affairs. Ask questions like: What is currently being done in this area? Where are the successes? Where do gaps and challenges lie?

Brainstorm Strategically: While brainstorming encourages free-flowing ideas, incorporate strategic elements. Use frameworks like SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to assess your ideas and identify potential roadblocks or areas for improvement.

Define specific goals and objectives for your projects. Ensure that your creative ideas align with these objectives to ensure strategic alignment.

Entender el contexto en el que existe tu proyecto es crucial para el pensamiento estratégico. En este aspecto, uso mucho ChatGPT-4 con voz; hablo con un asistente al que le doy todos los detalles del mercado, competidores, ventajas, desventajas e ideas que quiero ejecutar. Obtengo un feedback muy útil de la IA, que generalmente analiza muy bien la información. Claro, la decisión final siempre la tomo yo, pero contar con un asistente para el análisis de situaciones es invaluable. Muchas veces, me ofrece perspectivas que no había considerado. Esto no solo enriquece el proyecto, sino que también nos posiciona de manera única para destacar en un mercado competitivo.

Incorporate diverse viewpoints by considering cultural, social, and ethical dimensions. Recognize global perspectives and potential impacts on different communities. Evaluate sustainability implications and long-term consequences. #Diversity #Inclusion #Sustainability #GlobalImpact

Understanding the changing context is vital for the success of creative and innovative projects lacking strategic thinking. In today's dynamic landscape, rapid shifts in markets and technology necessitate a strategic approach. Without this mindset, projects risk losing relevance. Analyzing the broader context—economic, social, technological, and cultural—helps identify opportunities and anticipate obstacles. This approach ensures creative outputs are aligned with market demands and future trends, enhancing impact and sustainability.

Idea Selection with Criteria: Don't just go with the most exciting idea. Establish criteria based on your goals and target audience to evaluate potential solutions. This ensures you select the most strategic and impactful concept to move forward with.

Strategic thinking is essential for taking intelligent action. Respecting legal and ethical issues, in short, it means planning to do more with less. Find the path to high performance. We can develop the ability to think strategically by practicing some actions. For example: - Control your time better, dedicate yourself to what is really important. - Always question yourself, be humble, ask questions, understand well before deciding. - Think before you act, be thoughtful. - Analyze possible situations and alternatives, be empathetic. - Learn to deal with numbers, measure the resources involved. - Anticipate, read the scenario and predict trends.

Incorporating diverse perspectives via collaboration fosters strategic thinking. Engage team members, stakeholders, or mentors to challenge assumptions and introduce fresh ideas. Encourage constructive criticism and value diverse viewpoints. This inclusive approach cultivates a richer, more innovative strategy for creative projects. #Collaboration #Diversity #Innovation #StrategicThinking #Teamwork #ConstructiveCriticism

Most creatives benefit from involving strategic counterparts in order to bring their projects to fruition. We all know someone that’s super creative but lacks strategic skills. This isn’t a bad thing, just something to recognize if this is you. Running your ideas by someone who is strategically inclined has a host of benefits. That’s the power of collaboration. Seeing your vision through a more critical eye will often times bless you with a brand new perspective & game plan.

Develop a Project Roadmap: Create a roadmap that outlines the steps required to bring your project to life. This roadmap should include timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and budget considerations. This strategic planning ensures your project progresses efficiently and achieves its objectives.

Create a roadmap that outlines how you will achieve your objectives. Include key milestones, timelines, and resources required for successful execution. Anticipate potential risks that could impact your projects and develop contingency plans to mitigate them. This proactive approach is essential for strategic thinking.

Definitivamente, un pensamiento estratégico efectivo surge de la unión de muchas ideas, opiniones y críticas. Nuestra labor es extraer lo mejor de toda esa diversidad. Siempre es valioso tener múltiples puntos de vista, especialmente los que son contrarios a los nuestros, porque nos desafían a plantear nuevas hipótesis. Este es uno de los grandes problemas que nos han dejado los algoritmos: nos muestran solo lo que queremos ver, reafirmando nuestras creencias, estemos equivocados o no. Por eso, en Humanversum Academy, fomentamos un ambiente donde se valora la crítica constructiva y los diferentes enfoques, porque solo así podemos desarrollar proyectos realmente innovadores y estratégicamente sólidos

Implementing feedback is crucial for refining strategies. Solicit input from users or audiences to uncover blind spots and areas for improvement. Adaptation or pivoting may be necessary, but such changes can greatly enhance project alignment and success. Additionally, consider incorporating new perspectives to enrich understanding and generate innovative solutions. Embracing diverse viewpoints fosters creativity and resilience, ultimately strengthening project outcomes. #Feedback #Innovation #Adaptation #Diversity #Strategy

Feedback é quase uma arte: ao descobrir que o nosso projeto n?o é t?o à prova de falhas quanto pensávamos precisamos de constantes feedbacks para conseguirmos ter a chance de torná-lo melhor enquanto praticamos a habilidade de nos posicionar como pessoas que sempre souberam a dire??o certa! é raro, mas acontece sempre! Hehehehe

Regularly review progress against your strategic plan and seek feedback from stakeholders. Use this input to refine your approach and make necessary adjustments.

Regular Reviews: Consistently review project progress to ensure alignment with goals. Adapt to Market Changes: Adjust strategies based on market shifts or audience needs. Maintain Strategic Edge: Continuously monitor and refine approaches for success. Real-World Example: Apple's iterative design process ensures products align with strategic goals. Strategic Alignment: Ensure every creative decision contributes to the overall strategic vision. Feedback Loop: Incorporate feedback to enhance strategic elements in innovative projects. Long-Term Vision: Keep long-term objectives in mind to guide creative endeavors effectively.

Regular review is crucial for strategic thinking, ensuring alignment with objectives and adapting to market changes. Consistently assess progress to maintain a strategic edge and meet goals. #StrategicThinking #ContinuousImprovement #Adaptability #MarketAnalysis #GoalAlignment #Innovation #CreativeProjects #Adjustment #ProgressMonitoring #ObjectiveAlignment #MarketTrends #StrategyEvaluation

Stay informed about the latest trends, market dynamics, and best practices in your industry. This knowledge will help you make informed strategic decisions.

As revis?es regulares promovem a transparência e a comunica??o eficaz entre todas as partes interessadas no projeto. Isso ajuda a evitar mal-entendidos e a manter todos os envolvidos informados sobre o progresso e os desafios enfrentados.

I believe that prioritizing value for the client or users is important, because it allows us to understand their needs and desires, designing solutions that truly solve problems and generate a positive and sustainable impact. By integrating this perspective into initiatives, you will not only be adding value for clients or users, but you will also be strengthening the strategic focus of the project. It is always important to keep the end user at the center of decisions and actions, as this will help guide efforts towards meaningful results and build strong long-term relationships.

When creative projects lack strategic thinking, consider assessing gaps, setting clear objectives, analyzing the context, involving diverse perspectives, and implementing feedback loops. Additionally, incorporating regular reviews aids in adjusting strategies. Personal experiences can enrich these processes. #Strategy #Innovation #Creativity #Collaboration #Feedback #Adaptability #ContinuousImprovement

Unfortunately, the latest generations suffer from a lack of stimulation to achieve strategies, although today's games use strategies, most of them are with AI, however, if you compare them with games with friends on the street you will see the difference. Playing with friends helps a lot in using new strategies in a group and individually, working as a team face to face, not with a screen, accepting defeats and celebrating triumphs by getting to know the people with whom you share this game. If we know your coworkers as people, we can understand their abilities and weaknesses, forming an excellent work team.