What are some creative ways to collect feedback from your innovation stakeholders?

To collect feedback from innovation stakeholders using digital tools, one must first identify the appropriate platforms and methods tailored to their audience. Utilizing online surveys, feedback forms, or dedicated collaboration platforms can facilitate streamlined communication. Additionally, leveraging analytics tools enables the assessment of feedback trends and sentiments, guiding informed decision-making. Regular communication and active engagement with stakeholders via email updates or virtual meetings further enhance collaboration and ensure continuous improvement. By integrating these digital tools effectively, organizations can foster a transparent and inclusive feedback culture conducive to innovation.

Whether gathering input (for something not yet created) or feedback (for something in the works) low-burden, asynchronous, and anonymous strategies that enable contribution and connection of ideas can lower barriers to participation (like power imbalance), engage more voices and perspectives, and spark innovation when those perspectives are linked in new ways without judgement. My favorite is the pollination board. Whether physical or digital, simply create a blank canvas and a carefully crafted prompt. Invite new contributions (eg post a new sticky noted idea), integration (eg respond to others’ sticky noted ideas), and linking of contributions (eg lines, arrows, lassos). Images and icons welcome,too. I’m a pollinator…be(e) one too!

I agree especially since most people have immediate access to online tools and social media. Anonymous feedback online also gives individuals the freedom to respond truthfully without the consequence of backlash.

Your suggestion regarding the use of digital tools for collecting feedback is very effective. By using online surveys, polls, quizzes, and games, you can make the process of gathering feedback more convenient, interactive, and engaging for stakeholders. The use of digital tools can also provide real-time data, which can be more useful in analyzing and making decisions based on the feedback. Furthermore, your recommendation to use social media, blogs, podcasts, or videos to share innovation stories and invite feedback is also an excellent idea. These platforms offer a creative and interactive way to communicate with stakeholders and can help to engage a wider and more diverse audience.

Your explanation of co-creation is very well articulated and provides a clear understanding of co-creation sessions. The explanation you provided on how co-creation sessions can be beneficial is accurate and informative. By inviting stakeholders to participate in the design, development, or evaluation of the innovation, co-creation sessions can help in building a sense of trust and ownership. Additionally, the use of brainstorming, prototyping, testing, or storytelling techniques to engage stakeholders in the co-creation process can foster a creative and collaborative environment that leads to generating new ideas, validating assumptions, and refining the innovation. Overall, your feedback on co-creation sessions is insightful.

Here are some additional ideas to enhance the interviews Scenario-based questions: Scenario-based questions can be used to gather feedback on hypothetical situations or potential changes to the program or intervention. This approach can help to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. Ensure diversity: Ensure that the stakeholders invited to the interviews or focus groups represent a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. This can help to provide a well-rounded view of the program or intervention and ensure that the feedback is representative of the broader stakeholder group.

If the focus groups will be with marginalized populations or trauma survivors, be conscious of the importance of trauma-informed planning and facilitation. Seek out support from facilitators experienced with trauma-informed facilitation, or from the communities you are seeking feedback from.

Here are two ideas: Provide a variety of art materials: Consider providing a range of art materials for stakeholders to use, such as pencils, paint, markers, or clay. This will allow stakeholders to choose the medium that best suits their creative expression, and can encourage a wider range of participation. Facilitate group reflection: After stakeholders have completed their art-based feedback, facilitate a group reflection session to discuss the artwork and the feedback it represents. This can help to stimulate dialogue and deeper understanding of the stakeholders' perspectives, feelings, and values.

Here are two ideas Design a leaderboard: A leaderboard can be used to show stakeholders how they compare to others in terms of feedback provided. This can motivate stakeholders to provide more feedback and also create a sense of friendly competition among stakeholders. Create challenges: Create challenges that are relevant to the program or intervention and require stakeholders to provide feedback. For example, you could challenge stakeholders to provide feedback on specific aspects of the program or intervention within a certain time frame. This can encourage stakeholders to engage with the feedback process and provide more meaningful and timely feedback

Consider confidentiality, timeliness, acknowledging feedback, and follow-up when collecting feedback from stakeholders. These considerations create a positive feedback process that engages stakeholders and provides valuable insights for improved program outcomes.

Thanks for all the insightful suggestions and contributions. I am wondering whether the approaches suggested have taken into consideration the type of innovation that one would wish to engage stakeholders about and collect feedback? Some innovations align well with virtual platforms for engaging the innovation users and collecting feedback while others may require in-person engagements! As such deciding which approach to use to collect feedback about an innovation may mostly depend on the type of the innovation as well as the ethical procedures negotiated around stakeholder engagement!