How to select participants for an Innovation Workshop

Large FMCG client entering B2B space addressing institutional customers.

Challenge: How to get orders of a minimum of Rs. 25 crore value in year one.

Key qualities that we must consider?while selecting participants for brainstorming:

1. Knowledgeable about pursuing & getting big project orders? This could be based on experience, track record, etc.

2. Need not be an expert in C & A but must understand buying/decision-making process for big project business. Too much knowledge about C&A may become a liability.?

3. Strong points of view. A strong view of what is in, what is out, trends etc. Open mind and possibility thinking.

4. Full of new ideas. Full of interesting tips, and suggestions on various aspects of the? sales and marketing process, based on experience, exposure,?etc. Asked to give different uses for a newspaper, this person might come out with 15 to 20 different uses (most people?may be able to think of just 5 or 6)

5. Unafraid to share views. Quite frank and not worried about being right all the time.?

6. Talented maverick/disruptors, sometimes considered somewhat crazy. Talented people, question established traditions, break rules,?are willing to experiment, try, etc. “We are like this” is not acceptable. Often get into trouble.

7. Passionate about sales, big wins, big projects, etc? Knowledgeable about engineering projects, how projects are?planned, designed, pitching for business in India & AbroadMay be the first to know about anything new.?

8. Variety of interests/hobbies - cutting across various subjects. Well-furnished minds, interesting people. Good conversationalists - lots of interests, stories, anecdotes. Well-traveled.?

9. A mixture of young Turks, and mature wise people. We need diversity in the kinds of people, attitudes & interests. More diverse, more interesting the view, and ideas.?

10. Possibility thinkers, optimists. Positive energy is the hallmark of these people. They see something good in everything, everyone.?

11. Solution people, not problem-focused. They spend more time looking for more solutions than lamenting about the problem. Treat every problem as a? temporary speed breaker.

12. Willing to disagree with the popular view. They are not afraid to be different. Capable of not toeing the?line because of strong conviction.

13. Guts to challenge the status quo. Will be unwilling to accept something just because “it has always been like that”. They will be vocal in challenging the status quo. Make bosses and people around them uncomfortable.?

14. Not afraid of failure?

Willing to try anything new. Generally experiment with new? ways of solving problems.

15. Good sense of humour, spread cheer. Not sad people who spread gloom. You can spot them by the laughter around them. Share jokes, and funny incidents often.?

16. Articulate, Communicate well. Not-tongue-tied. Express themselves quite well. Easy with words, stories, jokes, pictures etc.

17. Good mixture of men & women? Just to ensure that we get a variety of views, suggestions & ideas?

18. Cutting across all functions, all hierarchies. Not just cross-functional. Ideas do not know functions or?hierarchy.

19. Well networked/resourceful. They know what to do, where to go, and whom to talk to.?

20. Active in Social media - FB, Google+, Twitter, Linkedin?etc?. Make lots of new friends through these networks.

21. Could be from any function, not just C&A. They could be from any of the group companies. Associates.? Consultants. Collaborators. Principals. Vendors.

22. Internal group. Cross-functional. Thinkers & Doers. Optimistic about the future.?Solutions people. Broad interests, not just hardworking.?

Broad workshop design (Group size not to exceed 25)?

1.?Day one - Divergence/Idea Generation?

2.? Day two - Convergence - Idea Selection Prioritisation/ planning

Day 1?

Morning?

1?External Group

2Internal group?

Afternoon?

First level Selection?

Defining Benefit, potential & concerns?

Decision-maker + Leadership (max 3 to 5) looks through?ideas, chooses high impact options for further development.?

Day 2?

Morning?

Decision Maker briefs about the top 5 themes chosen for?further development. Announces appropriate teams relevant to the task.

Defines what he wants the group to present?

Groups start working together?

Afternoon?

Group work continues?

Presentations?

What next? Defining action steps - what, who, and when.