In today’s disruptive age, established corporations with traditional business models are under attack, facing rapid displacement from counterparts that have integrated technology into their ways of work. Scaling businesses is no longer largely about expanding reach; but much about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and embracing creative problem-solving methodologies.
Last year, in partnership with KPMG and Daily Monitor, we released the TOP100 Mid-sized Companies Survey Report 2023. The report indicated that in the past three years, the adoption of new technology or innovation had increased, with 65% of businesses in Uganda adopting new technology, innovative solutions, equipment, or significantly new business processes.
While this might be a positive indicator toward sustaining superior performance and a competitive advantage in today’s corporate landscape, the success for businesses to fully adopt corporate innovation remains elusive for most companies.
At the core of its business model, Innovation Village, through Future Lab Studio supports corporate enterprises in identifying and building an innovative mindset to successfully navigate their innovation journey based on their needs and objectives. This entails providing a holistic approach to corporate innovation and design thinking within organizations to address the diverse challenges and opportunities within their business landscape.
Through our corporate innovation arm, we run program and initiatives like the ‘Titan Program’ to challenge them to identify and create a coherent innovative strategy and collaborative culture that recognizes talent, shared value, encourages idea sharing, and promotes creativity. These initiatives are focused on sparking innovation, providing interactive and practical solutions, with the end goal to boost performance and scale their businesses.
Furthermore, we equip these organizations with hands-on experience using the tools and techniques of design thinking and corporate innovation. These tools and strategies include aspects of creative design thinking, prototyping, and an innovative mindset to foster a conducive environment for creativity, experimentation, and adaptability which are novel aspects that necessitate the acquisition of innovative approaches within the organization.
These strategic approaches are intended towards enhancing products, optimizing systems, and expanding into new markets. These enterprises not only meet immediate needs but also establish a foundation for sustained growth thus fostering resilience and adaptability, equipping businesses with the tools and guidance necessary to thrive in their respective industries at various stages of development, driving efficiency, enhancing productivity, and ultimately contributing to the overall growth and success of the organization.
Through the program, organizations will be able to make innovations that lie at the intersection of technology and their markets. Design methods like user research, problem framing, and systems thinking, applied to organizational learning, financial processes, and customer systems, position corporates to identify new opportunities for market innovation.
Equipped with the ability to solve real-life business problems by leveraging design principles to map out ideas, organizations that employ design thinking will be able to break the mold, adapt fast to change, and move boldly forward into the future of innovation,” she concludes.
In conclusion, scaling a business is not merely about expanding operations but about fostering a mindset of continual evolution. Corporate innovation and design thinking offer a roadmap for organizations to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape. By embracing these methodologies, companies can scale effectively and cultivate a culture of creativity, resilience, and customer-centricity that will drive success in the long run.
