You're debating the innovation level for a new product launch. How do you reach a consensus with your team?

It's essential to have clarity about what you want to develop, for whom, and how. However, the primary focus in product development should be answering the "why." Why is this product important? Why would someone need it? Why would they choose it over competitors? By combining these answers with a deep understanding of physiology and the active ingredients needed to deliver benefits, you'll be on the right path to creating the best product on the market. Additionally, it's crucial to focus on the sensory experience and the rapid perception of benefits (both by the user and those around them). These factors are key to ensuring adherence to the treatment.

New product development (NPD) innovation involves bringing new products or services to market, encompassing creation, design, and launch. It can take various forms: 1) Incremental Innovation: Small, continuous improvements to existing products, enhancing features, quality, or user experience. 2) Radical Innovation: New products that create or significantly change markets. 3) Breakthrough Innovation: Major technological advancements offering significant improvements. 4) Sustaining Innovation: Enhancing existing products to meet current market needs. 5) Disruptive Innovation: Innovations that start in niche markets but eventually displace established products by offering more affordable or accessible alternatives.

Anything on top of what a Customer will pay for is a waste. Although it’s great to have no mind traps, boundaries for ideation to be fully creative and ingenious, we need a comprehensive understanding of what’s already out there, what is the use case or need for the new product, what is trending and its future case, does this idea need to be buildable for future needs, price points etc. We need enough data to answer “why” a customer will buy this and that will help determine the scope and level of ideation.

Determining the appropriate level of innovation for a new product launch requires a delicate equilibrium. Prior to engaging in in-depth discussions, it is imperative to conduct thorough market research to identify unmet customer needs and assess the competitive landscape. By fostering a data-driven approach, the team can collectively evaluate potential innovation levels and their corresponding feasibility. It is crucial to align innovation with market demands, ensuring that the product not only stands out but also delivers tangible value to the target audience.

How do you reach a consensus with your team on anything? That depends on how well you can convince the team that your solution (the proposed level of innovation in this case) is the most optimal. Now how are you going to do that? Rely on data. Bring data to the table from market research, competition, and internal research to show how the chosen level of innovation is right for your targeted audience and your organization. Look at other successful innovation projects executed within the company - what were their best practices? What were some lessons learned? Can you use them to back up your proposal? Rest your proposal on data & business insights, market needs, evaluation of existing solutions, and industry best practices.

I'll start by getting everyone’s input, ensuring all perspectives are heard. We’ll weigh the pros and cons of pushing the envelope versus sticking with proven ideas, focusing on the goals of the product. I’ll guide the team towards a middle ground that balances creativity with practicality. Once we agree, we’ll set clear milestones to keep the timeline on track.

Setting clear objectives for a new product is crucial for guiding the development process and ensuring alignment across the team. Define what success looks like, whether it's market differentiation, user satisfaction, revenue growth, or technological advancement. These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). By establishing these goals, you provide a clear direction for the team, prioritize resources effectively, and create a benchmark to evaluate progress. This clarity helps in decision-making, particularly when balancing innovation with feasibility, and ensures that the entire team is working towards a common vision.

In my experience, I strive to identify each team member's profile to bring out the best in everyone. I've had multiple successes with this approach by identifying profiles such as the innovator, the critic, and the enabler. This understanding allows contributions to be more effective, and it helps the team feel valued and engaged in the process.

As the CEO and technical head, I will set clear objectives for our new product by taking the following steps: - Define the Product's Purpose: In syc with the market - Align with Company Vision - Identify gaps that our product can fill. - Study existing solutions to see what they offer. - Determine Innovation Level: whether groundbreaking or incremental improvements - Allocate necessary budget and personnel for the project. - Establish Milestones - Identify potential challenges and develop strategies to mitigate them. - Clearly document and share the objectives with the entire team to ensure everyone is aligned. - Implement Feedback Loops: Regular review progress, and adjust objectives as needed or changed in the market. Hope this helps!

Qualquer novo produto deve ser algo que seja diferenciado e disruptivo, precisa chamar a aten??o e o interesse dos possíveis consumidores , n?o esquecendo do valor justo nas condi??es que se n?o todos , mas a maioria das faixas etárias possam adquirir , pois todos queremos solu??es rápidas e inovadoras e um pre?o justo .

Encourage Diverse Perspectives by allowing team members from different functions (design, engineering, marketing) to share their views on the appropriate level of innovation. Diverse perspectives can provide a more holistic view of the potential impact. Ground the debate in data, such as user insights, market analysis, and technical feasibility studies. Data-driven discussions help in making objective decisions.

Conducting brainstorming sessions where each team member contributes can lead to more innovative outcomes. Also, using structured feedback methods ensures all voices are heard and valued, which strengthens team alignment and decision-making. Incorporating a SWOT analysis during these sessions can help evaluate potential challenges and strengths, guiding the team towards a well-rounded decision.

At this point, I’d like to share an important lesson I learned early in my career. One of my first managers taught me a simple yet powerful phrase: "You can and should say everything, as long as it's done with respect." When encouraging dialogue, it's crucial that all team members feel comfortable sharing their opinions while respecting others' viewpoints. This includes being well-prepared for discussions and staying attentive to what has been said by colleagues. Promoting an open and respectful dialogue ensures that all voices are heard and contributes to a truly collaborative decision-making process.

One of the most overlooked aspects in decision-making is fostering genuine dialogue within the team. Perspective is a key element in life—the ability to put yourself in others’ shoes and see things from a different viewpoint can make all the difference. Encouraging diverse voices not only enriches discussions but often leads to smarter, more impactful decisions.

Team members who have been part of the dialogue and decision-making process are more likely to take responsibility for the product’s outcome, because they were part of shaping the innovation strategy. Encouraging open and respectful dialogue is a key component of successful innovation. It fosters a collaborative environment where all ideas are considered, ensures diverse perspectives are heard, and leads to more informed, strategic decisions. By promoting active listening, constructive feedback, and creative problem-solving, teams can navigate the complexities of product innovation more effectively, resulting in better products that meet market needs.

Discuss the risks associated with different levels of innovation, such as development complexity, cost, and market acceptance. Evaluate whether the potential rewards justify these risks. Balance Innovation with Feasibility&Consider the team’s capacity and resources. Aim for a level of innovation that is ambitious but achievable within the constraints of time, budget, and technical capabilities.

Evaluating risks is crucial for product success. As mentioned in the discussion on gathering insights (Item 1), different team profiles contribute uniquely: the innovative profile identifies potential issues, the critical profile analyzes them but may lack solutions, and the enabler, or "idea enhancer," refines ideas and provides solutions. By integrating these profiles, we achieve a more thorough risk assessment, ensuring all perspectives are considered and the team is well-prepared for challenges.

One of the biggest mistakes is ignoring the real risks of innovation in the pursuit of being cutting-edge. It's not just about the product; it’s about aligning innovation with market readiness and your team's capabilities. A thorough evaluation of these factors often reveals hidden challenges that can save time, money, and ultimately, your business reputation.

Building consensus is extremely challenging and, at the same time, one of the tasks that brings me the most satisfaction. It's crucial to ensure that all team members are aligned and committed to the final decision. Even if there isn't 100% agreement, we must ensure that everyone is aware of and committed to the solution and/or approach developed by the team. Promoting an open dialogue where all opinions are heard and considered leads to more robust solutions and a more engaged and motivated team.

Identify Common Ground & Focus on areas where the team agrees and build from there. If opinions differ, look for compromises that incorporate elements of both perspectives. Use a decision-making framework (e.g., voting, prioritization matrix) to facilitate a structured consensus process. This helps in making the final decision more transparent and acceptable to all.

Reaching a consensus is crucial for ensuring that everyone is aligned on the strategy moving forward. In my experience, after thoroughly debating all aspects—whether it’s the market fit, technological advancements, customer value, or associated risks—it’s essential to shift the focus toward a shared understanding of the decision.

The customer should really dictate the level of innovation required, not the team. Voice of Customer (VOC) activities should provide the requirements. Validation throughout product development should ensure that you are developing the proper MVP. Consensus for the team should be around the belief that VOC and customer validation is the right path. If your team members don't agree, it's time to find new team members.

Once we’ve discussed all insights and objectives, I encourage my team to consolidate the key takeaways and weigh them against our broader goals. We need to ensure that each team member not only agrees with the decision but also fully understands the reasons behind it and their role in executing it. This transparent and inclusive approach strengthens team commitment and creates a sense of ownership over the outcome. When the direction is clear and unified, it amplifies our chances of success, as we’re not only launching an innovative product but also a motivated, cohesive team ready to bring it to market.