The Innovation Implementationcafé Is a Short Blended Learning Experience Oriented Around

The Innovation ImplementationCafé is a short blended learning experience oriented around the concepts and skills found in the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementationtopic.The Innovation Implementation topic will help managers:

Create a compelling vision statement to guide and focus an innovation initiative
Develop an informal support network and consider the interests of theirstakeholders
Develop a formal proposal to persuade key decision makers to allocate resources for theirinnovative idea
Communicate effectively with the people who will help shape, approve, fund, execute, and be affected by theirinnovation idea
Make a compelling case for lining up the people who can best help implement theirinnovation
Mitigate internal resistance and sustain momentum throughout the implementation of theirinnovation initiative

Thelearning experience has three components:

60 to 90 minutes 60 minutes Ongoing

Part 1:Pre-work (self-paced, individual)

Before the live Café session, participants are expected to complete the following assignments:

Review the following online lessons from the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementation topic:

–The Implementation Challenge

–Articulate Your Idea

–Build Support

–Build Your Business Case

–Engage Your Stakeholders

–Secure the Right Team

–Address Obstacles

Complete the online comprehension testfrom the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementation topic
Completethe tool “Worksheet for Crafting a Vision Statement” from the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementationtopic. If participants do not have an innovation idea in mind, they should think of a past innovation from their organization or one they have encountered elsewhere

Part 2:Café session (live, group)

The Cafésessionrepresents the core element of the learning experience. The session provides an opportunity for managers to:

Exchange ideas and questions with others
Discuss the context of how concepts and skills apply in the workplace
Practice and begin application of those concepts and skills
Build momentum and support for applying the concepts and skills in the workplace

The Cafésession focuses specifically on the following concepts andtasks from the Innovation Implementation topic:

Create a vision statement
Sell your idea
Tailor your approach
Overcome resistance

Facilitating the Café session as outlined should take approximately 60 minutes. If the facilitator prefers a shorter session or wishes to spend more time on a specific concept or activity, he or she may want to cover only those concepts and activities that are most relevant to the group.

SECTION / ACTIVITY / TIME
Introduction /

Show icebreaker question while participants are arriving to the session:
Think of an innovative idea that you or your organization has tried to implement recently. What was the idea? What was challenging about implementing it?
Introduce facilitators.
Review tips for using technology during the session.
Debrief icebreaker question.
Set context: All kinds of innovations—whether product, service, process,or business model, whether big or small—start as an idea that is successfully nurtured, developed, and ultimately implemented to create value for individuals and organizations. Yet innovations of all sizes and types often face implementation challenges. Today, we will explore how to implement innovation successfully so thatyour new ideas can be brought to life.
Review session objectives.

/ 9 minutes
Skill focus: Craft a vision statement /

Facilitate practice activity:Improve a vision statement. Participants:

–Critique a flawed vision statement
–Make suggestions for how to improve it

Debrief tool:“Worksheet for Crafting a Vision Statement” from the online Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementation topic. Participants:

–Discuss what was most challenging about creating theirvision statement
–Determine how to address those challenges
–Share what they plan to do next to move their ideas forward / 15 minutes
Skill focus: “Sell” your idea /

Facilitate practice activity: Complete a “What would you do?” scenario about a managerwho is preparing to give apresentation to senior leaders.Participants:

–Explore how to use AIDA to prepare for presentations

Facilitatepractice activity: Complete a “What would you do?” scenario about amanager who delivers anoverlydetailed elevator pitch but fails to provide enough information about potentialcustomers. Participants:

–Explore why the pitch was unsuccessful
–Discuss howthe manager could adjust her approach

Facilitate reflection activity:Selling an idea. Participants:

–Consider the ideas they developed a vision statement for and reflect on how they can sell their ideas
–Discuss approaches for selling their ideas / 19 minutes
Skill focus: Overcome resistance /

Facilitate practiceactivity:Complete a “What would you do?” scenario about identifying and addressing causes of resistance.
Facilitate reflection activity: Addressing resistance to your idea. Participants:

–Consider their vision statements and reflect on potential obstacles
–Explore who might resist the idea
–Share ideas for overcoming these obstacles / 14 minutes
Applying what you’ve learned /

Review session objectives and skill areas discussed.
Review directions for completing the On-the-Job section of the online Harvard ManageMentor topic, including the action plan.
Close the session.

/ 3minutes

Part 3:Application (self-paced, individual)

After the live Café session, participants are expected to complete the following assignments:

Complete the online On-the-Job section in the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementation topic. The section provides learners with an opportunity to choose a skill to focus on and create an action plan for applying and developing the skill. Note: If yourorganization does not include the On-the-Job section in your configuration of HarvardManageMentor, ask participants to think of two things they can do over the next90 days to further apply and develop their skills in this area.
Execute their action plan over a specified timeframe (e.g., 60 or 90 days).
After the specified timeframe (e.g., 60 or 90 days), access the online On-the-Job section in the Harvard ManageMentor Innovation Implementationtopic to update the action plan and reflect on the experience.

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