Ben Bensaou’s 2021 book “Built to Innovate” categorizes itself under Innovation Leadership and aims to offer a comprehensive framework for creating a culture of continuous innovation in organizations. Bensaou leverages a wide range of case studies, practical examples, and actionable strategies to illustrate how businesses can embed innovation into their very fabric, making it a systematic and ongoing part of their operations.

Major Point: Bensaou introduces the concept of the “innovation engine,” which comprises three key processes—ideation, prototyping, and scaling.

Actionable Advice:
– Ideation: Encourage regular brainstorming sessions where all members, regardless of rank, contribute ideas. Use techniques like mind mapping and “crazy eights” to spur creativity.
– Prototyping: Implement rapid prototyping sessions where ideas are quickly turned into tangible models using inexpensive materials.
– Scaling: Develop a system for assessing which prototypes have the most potential and dedicate resources to scale them. Assign a dedicated “innovation champion” to each promising prototype to oversee its development.

Concrete Example:
– Nissan’s Cross-Functional Teams: Nissan, struggling with transferring innovative ideas into marketable products, created cross-functional teams (CFTs) combining members from different departments. These CFTs worked iteratively to prototype and scale successful innovations, such as the development of their electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.

Major Point: For innovation to be sustainable, it needs to be embedded in the company’s culture.

Actionable Advice:
– Leadership Involvement: Leaders should consistently communicate the importance of innovation and model innovative behavior.
– Recognition and Reward: Create formal systems to reward innovative efforts, whether they succeed or fail, to encourage risk-taking.
– Training and Education: Invest in ongoing education programs to train employees in creative thinking and problem-solving techniques.

Concrete Example:
– Salesforce’s 1-1-1 Model: Salesforce implemented a 1-1-1 model where they dedicated 1% of their equity, product, and employees’ time to charitable causes. This initiative helped build a culture of giving and social innovation within the company.

Major Point: Organizations need structural mechanisms that allow innovations to flourish.

Actionable Advice:
– Dedicated Teams: Establish dedicated innovation teams that have the autonomy to explore and develop new ideas.
– Innovation Hubs: Create physical or virtual “innovation hubs” where employees can collaborate and experiment in a low-risk environment.
– Time Allocation: Allocate specific times during the workweek solely for innovative activities or projects.

Concrete Example:
– 3M’s 15% Rule: 3M encourages employees to spend 15% of their work time on projects of their own choosing, which has led to successful products like Post-It Notes.

Major Point: Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering and maintaining a culture of innovation.

Actionable Advice:
– Supportive Leadership: Leaders should act as enablers and provide resources, act as mentors, and remove obstacles that inhibit innovation.
– Transparent Decision-Making: Maintain a clear and transparent decision-making process regarding which ideas move forward, to ensure fairness and motivation.
– Empathy and Listening: Leaders should actively listen to their teams and show empathy, encouraging a continuous flow of ideas.

Concrete Example:
– IBM’s “ThinkPlace”: This initiative encourages IBM employees worldwide to submit ideas for new products and services. Leadership actively participates and reviews submissions, showing genuine interest and support for innovation.

Major Point: Developing an innovative mindset among employees is crucial for sustainable innovation.

Actionable Advice:
– Encourage Curiosity: Foster a culture where asking questions and challenging the status quo is encouraged.
– Develop Risk Tolerance: Provide training to help employees become more comfortable with taking calculated risks.
– Continuous Learning: Promote a culture of continuous learning and development.

Concrete Example:
– Google’s “20% Project”: Google allows employees to spend 20% of their working hours on projects that interest them personally, which has led to innovations like Gmail and Google News.

Major Point: Establishing robust systems and processes is essential for managing and scaling innovation.

Actionable Advice:
– Innovation Pipeline: Develop an innovation pipeline process that takes ideas from conception through prototyping to scaling.
– Feedback Loops: Establish regular feedback loops with all stakeholders to refine and improve innovations.
– Performance Metrics: Create specific metrics to measure innovation performance, such as the number of new ideas generated, prototypes developed, and products successfully launched.

Concrete Example:
– Johnson & Johnson’s Development Method: Johnson & Johnson have an innovation framework that moves through distinct phases—ideation, incubation, acceleration, and scaling—ensuring a systematic approach to innovation.

Major Point: Identifying and overcoming resistance to change is imperative for innovation.

Actionable Advice:
– Communicate Benefits: Clearly communicate the benefits of innovation to all stakeholders to align them with the organization’s innovation goals.
– Involve Employees: Involve employees in the innovation process so that they feel a sense of ownership.
– Address Fears: Address specific fears and concerns openly, providing support and reassurance.

Concrete Example:
– Procter & Gamble’s Connect+Develop: P&G faced resistance when implementing their open innovation program. They overcame it by clearly communicating the benefits and involving employees in the process, leading to partnerships that brought innovations like Swiffer and Crest Whitestrips to market.

Major Point: Utilize technology to drive and manage the innovation process.

Actionable Advice:
– Adopt Digital Tools: Implement digital tools for idea management, collaboration, and prototyping.
– Leverage Data Analytics: Use data analytics to identify trends and insights that can inform innovative ideas.
– Invest in Automation: Invest in automation technologies to free up time for creative and strategic activities.

Concrete Example:
– Airbus’s Digital Manufacturing: Airbus adopted digital twin technology to create virtual replicas of its manufacturing processes, enabling more efficient and innovative production methods.

Major Point: Innovating in the face of complex problems requires a dedicated and strategic approach.

Actionable Advice:
– Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encourage cross-functional teams to provide diverse perspectives on complex problems.
– Systematic Problem-Solving: Use systematic problem-solving methodologies like Design Thinking, TRIZ, and Lean Startup.
– Iterative Development: Adopt an iterative development process that allows for frequent testing and refinement of solutions.

Concrete Example:
– Tesla’s Gigafactory: Faced with the complex problem of scaling battery production, Tesla’s Gigafactory uses an iterative and systematic approach to continuously improve production processes and increase efficiency.

Major Point: Sustainable innovation requires proper measurement and continuous improvement.

Actionable Advice:
– Define KPIs: Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for innovation, such as the number of new products launched and the revenue generated from new products.
– Regular Review: Conduct regular reviews of the innovation process and make necessary adjustments.
– Benchmarking: Benchmark innovation performance against industry leaders to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Concrete Example:
– Apple’s Innovation Metrics: Apple measures innovation not just by the number of new products launched but also by customer satisfaction and product performance, ensuring a holistic view of their innovation success.

Ben Bensaou’s “Built to Innovate” provides an extensive roadmap for embedding innovation into the core of an organization. By adopting a structured approach involving leadership commitment, enabling structures, fostering the right mindset, and utilizing technology, organizations can build a sustainable innovation engine. The actionable advice and concrete examples provided throughout the book make it a practical guide for leaders aiming to drive continuous innovation in their organizations.