Here's a "business card" slide deck I gave a potential employer who was launching a corporate innovation program. The company (not disclosed) was a large media conglomerate. This presentation addresses a potential pitfall of launching a corporate innovation program within their company: technologist-businessperson-balance. I've seen it happen before, and I detail in the presentation how to mitigate this problem.

1. Media Conglomerate Innovation Program Program Recommendation Israel Vicars

2. Contents Concern Opportunity Options Actions Metrics 2

3. Concern Program will generate new ideas from employees Scalable ideas will be the focus of funding, advancement These ideas usually leveraged by an enabling technology More “Need Pull” ideas, Fewer “Technology Push” ideas Fewer employees have technology development backgrounds Both market and technology perspectives necessary for a complete idea Anticipated Concern: Technology consultation and assistance will be in high demand but short supply 3

4. Opportunity Technology Consultation Technology consultation provided during idea development, implementation Connect idea champions with matching consultant Technology Implementation Support Consultants able to create “quick and dirty” prototypes to immediately test ideas Consultants who helped at idea stage could be recruited for launch, implementation stages 4

5. Options Employees Reach out to technology-savvy employees within company Opportunity for participation and reward without an idea Students Chosen based on completed course work or demonstrated experience Students participate as an interns; job opportunity if idea takes off Freelancers (Volunteer) Domain experts or technology generalists NDA required for participation Appeal of casual consultation and opportunity to join company if idea takes off Freelancers (Paid) Reliable “sandbox” team that helps with new ideas on rolling basis Contract employees 5

6. Actions Company Outreach Invite employees without ideas to participate as consultants; emphasize skills in demand University Outreach Contact local universities with technical programs Reach out to relevant student organizations Community Outreach Attend technology and entrepreneur events, Meetupgroups Network on behalf of idea champions within company 6

7. Metrics Diagnosis Ratio of need-driven ideas to technology-driven ideas Number of idea champions whose contacts’ and own’ expertise are one-sided Number of idea champions desiring technical support and perspective Progress Number of matches between idea champions and consultants Number of ideas that are significantly improved after consultation Success Number of idea champions who can cite tangible benefit from consultation by the end of the process Number of teams formed between idea champions and consultants Cost-benefit analysis of consultation costs versus benefit to launched ideas (long term) 7