Front-End Formation:
Most companies have concentrated their innovation management efforts on the development pipeline or funnel, instituting stage-gate processes, screening criteria and portfolio management. Few, however, have initiated practical and systematic approaches to keeping the pipelines fed. Front-end efforts remain episodic and periodic rather than systematic and sustained. Even companies that have systematized the development process have often left their early opportunity identification processes to chance, creativity or the passion of the particular leader at that time. Yet, as most know, the greatest opportunities for improvements reside in the earlier phases of the innovation process.

Increasingly our clients engage us in the design, initiation and integration of repeatable processes for the front-ends of their overall innovation systems. Our front-end formation assignments enable leadership to regularly clarify where innovations are needed, and why. The innovation targets are typically derived from making explicit connections between hypotheses and insights regarding end-users and forward looking efforts.

Initiating and integrating a repeatable process does not require building a new organization or staff group. Many companies use our services to formalize, coordinate and improve—without stifling serendipity—what is already beginning to emerge in separate parts of their organizations, but in an ad hoc manner. As a result, we most often bring together leaders from the technology, new business development, strategy, and intellectual property functions in forming these front-ends.

“I believe this discovery work planted far more seeds and was more strategic in creating a long-term vision for our organization.” -Senior Researcher, Hewlett-Packard Company “Lanny contributed a streamlined front-end to our scenario brainstorming process as well as the moderation we needed for twenty people to participate in that brainstorming process.” -Business Strategist, Advanced Micro Devices “Vincent & Associates helped us formulate a new company strategy; and brought a coordinated growth and strategy development process to the company.” -Senior Vice President, Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Company