Guiding Principles are a set of directives that help guide you to set up and organize your ITONICS system so that you get the most out of it. These directives are the result of best practices and a deep understanding of innovation management. The ITONICS guiding principles have been developed and refined over more than a decade, together with our clients.
- Focus on value - Does a use case I want to translate in my system bring value?
- You are extremely excited to start with our ITONICS system - we get it. But starting without proper consideration and planning often leads to a flood of information for new users and leads to confusion and frustrations. We recommend that you start with one focus topic. Consider selecting a topic that would, in the short-mid-term, generate the most value. Remember that you can add additional topics later.
- Start where you are - What am I currently doing, and how can I implement this in the system?
- The most effective way to start is to consider your existing processes and select topics that are already top of mind within your organization or team. Focussing your efforts on mapping this existing topic into your system, saves time and gets you started quickly.
- Evolve iteratively based on constructive and appropriate feedback - Am I considering the opinions of my users in the context of my use cases?
- The best way to mold your ITONICS system for maximum results is to ask for feedback from your users. It will be impossible at the beginning to fully understand how your users need to use the system. However, getting continuous feedback will help create the optimal system experience quicker. Suggestion: Once you have collected and analyzed feedback, you can adjust your system in a focused way, after which you should only have to iterate minor necessary changes.
- Collaborate and promote visibility - How can we collaborate, and who can we collaborate with to increase visibility and maximize outcomes?
- Collaborating and working together towards the same goals will yield the best result. It is also the most fun and engaging way to work, so we recommend you find your partner in crime! Working in isolation is not recommended. So consider who else within your organization or team has a similar drive to propel progress on the ITONICS system.
- Think and work holistically - Is what I’m currently working on too granular, or should I take a step back and refine it at a later date?
- Getting lost in details can be very tempting. Keep in mind that to get started, your users may not need all the granular details. Specifically for management, too many granular details may distract from the more important insights.
- We recommend that you keep an overview of the bigger picture: What are we looking to achieve?
- Ask yourself whether your actions work towards that goal. This will help avoid getting lost in too many details and keep you on track for success.
- Keep it lean, simple and practical - Is my system simple yet effective, practical yet straightforward?
- Similar to directives 1,2 and 5, this directive should help you to stay focused on important tasks. We recommend finding the most direct way to achieve your objective on the system. Make it simple and practical by sticking to your focus area.
- Remember that you can always add complexity later, should you feel it necessary to achieve your goals.
- Land & Expand - Have I covered the basics and ensured scalability?
- We recommend a 'walk before you can run' approach. Start slow, simple, and focused. Gradually grow your usage and use cases on the system. Remember that establishing a proper foundation will serve you well when you do eventually grow and expand!
- We recommend a 'walk before you can run' approach. Start slow, simple, and focused. Gradually grow your usage and use cases on the system. Remember that establishing a proper foundation will serve you well when you do eventually grow and expand!
Learn more about the ITONICS Application Directives in this article.