Innovation is a major driver of competitiveness, differentiation and growth for companies. Innovation doesn’t just happen: it has to be organized. To structure and optimize innovation processes, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a series of standards, including the new ISO 56001. Focus on the need for this standard and its usefulness in supporting organizations in their innovation processes.
Innovation: driving growth and transformation
Innovation is on everyone’s lips, and for good reason: it’s the fuel that propels companies to success. New products, reinvented services, optimized processes… innovating means shaking up the rules to go further, faster. Without innovation, we stagnate and fall behind. To grow, gain efficiency and stay ahead of customer expectations, innovation is no longer an option, it’s an imperative.
Innovation has thus become an essential strategic lever for staying ahead in an ever-changing environment. Whatever form it takes, innovation is the engine that drives growth, optimizes efficiency, and anticipates the expectations of increasingly demanding customers.
From strategic imperative to structuring standard
From 2019, the ISO 56000 series of standards offer companies a structured framework for developing and improving their innovation practices. ISO 56000 introduces the essential concepts and terminology of innovation management, creating a common language and facilitating shared understanding within organizations.
ISO 56002 provides guidelines for setting up, maintaining and optimizing an innovation management system. This standard acts as a practical guide, enabling companies to draw on proven solutions while retaining the flexibility to adapt these processes to their own context.
Both ISO 56000 and ISO 56002 pave the way for more rigorous and strategic innovation management, facilitating its integration into the organization’s overall strategy.
ISO 56001: certifiable innovation, a major challenge
Towards certification of excellence in innovation management
ISO 56002 has provided a clear structure for managing innovation, offering companies a frame of reference for improving their processes. However, as a non-certifiable standard, it is limited to providing guidelines without the possibility of official validation.
It is precisely to fill this gap that the ISO 56001 project was launched in 2021. This certification standard aims to establish the requirements of an innovation management system (IMS) and represents a significant step forward in making innovation management auditable and certifiable.
Inspired by ISO 9001 (dedicated to quality management systems), but applied to innovation, ISO 56001 enables organizations to structure their innovative approach by setting precise criteria that guarantee a coherent innovation process aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives. This standard enables companies to obtain formal recognition of their mastery of innovation best practices, attesting to their commitment to rigorous and effective innovation management.
Why is ISO 56001 so important?
Specifically, it defines a framework enabling companies to structure their innovative processes and integrate them into their day-to-day activities. By harmonizing innovation practices, this standard not only improves the quality and success of innovative projects but also enhances the competitiveness of organizations by facilitating the rapid time-to-market of new products and services. In addition, it contributes to better risk management by identifying, assessing and mitigating the risks associated with innovation, thereby reducing failures and increasing the chances of success.
Key elements of ISO 56001
ISO 56001 is structured around several key elements that cover all aspects of innovation management. Here are the main elements that make up this standard:
- A thorough understanding of the organizational context to align innovation with stakeholder expectations.
- Clear governance supported by strong management commitment.
- Integrated strategic planning, defining ambitious and achievable innovation objectives.
- Reinforced support, guaranteeing resources, skills and a culture conducive to innovation.
- Methodical implementation of innovation operations, with optimized processes and coordinated teams.
- Rigorous performance evaluation, to measure progress and adjust strategies.
- A constant focus on continuous improvement, ensuring sustainable results and a learning dynamic.
Each of these elements is essential to structuring an innovation approach in line with international best practice.
How can ISO 56001 transform innovation practices?
ISO 56001 helps to transform innovation practices within organizations by building on several key pillars:
Promoting an innovation culture
By encouraging all members of the organization to actively contribute to innovative initiatives. By creating an environment where new ideas are valued, and experimentation is encouraged.
Integrate and align innovation with strategy
Ensuring that innovation processes are integrated into the company’s day-to-day activities. Aligning innovation objectives with overall strategy, so that initiatives support growth and development objectives.
Optimize resource management
Clearly define roles and responsibilities for more efficient resource allocation. Maximizing the use of human, financial and technological resources to enhance the impact of innovation initiatives.
Encouraging continuous improvement
The standard emphasizes continuous improvement by encouraging companies to regularly evaluate their innovation processes. It encourages the implementation of improvements based on feedback and measured performance.
Promoting collaboration and partnerships
ISO 56001 supports collaboration between different stakeholders, both internal and external. It encourages companies to establish partnerships with other organizations, research institutions and suppliers to strengthen their capacity for innovation.
Implementation and key steps
Implementing ISO 56001 requires an ambitious and structured approach to transforming your innovation practices into strategic assets. Here are the essential steps for integrating this standard and gaining formal recognition for your innovation management system.
Step 1: Launch the initial assessment
Start with an in-depth analysis of the current state of your innovation practices. This step involves mapping your processes, identifying strengths to capitalize on, and pinpointing weaknesses to correct. This assessment is essential to build a solid foundation before deploying the standard. It gives you a clear vision of the areas for improvement needed to achieve ISO 56001 standards.
Step 2: Obtain management commitment
Management commitment is essential to the successful implementation of ISO 56001. Involve top management from the outset, so that they actively support the process and act as relays for its dissemination throughout the organization.
At the same time, develop an innovation policy aligned with the company’s strategic objectives, so that every innovation initiative contributes to the company’s ambitions for growth and performance.
Step 3: Training and raising team awareness
ISO 56001 requires everyone in the organization to understand its importance and their role in the innovation process. Make sure that your teams receive training tailored to the requirements of the standard, so that they master the new practices to be adopted.
At the same time, make all staff aware of the importance of innovation as a competitive lever. Show them that every contribution counts towards the success of this approach.
Step 4: Develop and document processes
Process design and documentation are key steps in making innovation practices clear and repeatable. Create processes tailored to the size, nature and objectives of your organization, ensuring that they fully meet the requirements of ISO 56001.
Document every step, from idea-gathering methods to project tracking tools, to ensure consistency and ease of implementation on a day-to-day basis.
Step 5: Implementation and follow-up
Once the processes are in place, put them into action. Rigorously monitor their effectiveness by tracking the progress of projects, the achievement of innovation objectives, and the overall impact of each initiative.
Use relevant performance indicators to assess process efficiency. This data will provide you with valuable information for adjusting and refining innovation practices on an ongoing basis.
Step 6: Audit and go for certification
Carry out regular internal audits to assess the conformity of your practices with ISO 56001 requirements and identify potential areas for improvement before the final audit.
Prepare for the certification audit with an accredited body, which will confirm your compliance with international innovation standards. This official recognition will reinforce your company’s credibility in the field of innovation, by demonstrating its commitment to rigorous and effective management of its innovative projects.
With ISO 56001, you can structure and validate your innovation practices, strengthening your market position and attracting new growth opportunities.
In summary, ISO 56001 offers a structured framework and concrete tools to help organizations drive innovation effectively, boost performance and maintain competitiveness on the global stage. Adopting ISO 56001 is more an opportunity to transform your organization’s innovation culture and practices than a question of compliance. This standard was published in September 2024.