Have organizations become more collaborative over 25 years? What has enabled that?

I have have been looking back at innovation and how it has changed over the last twenty-five years. In a series of three posts, I have asked Google’s Gemini to answer five questions to track and trace the progress innovation has made and where it seems to be heading.

This is the second post looking more at collaboration and idealization and how and what has helped it evolve in this period. Hopefully, this change has enabled better value creation and learning how to innovate. (First post here)

So this post, in a series of three, looks at the answers given by Google’s Gemini on how collaboration and ideation evolved the organization’s ability to adapt and what helped.

My first question here to Gemini was: “Collaboration, Ideation, Implementation and Value Creation have also changed since 2019- how and what has driven this?“

The reply: “Here are some of the ways in which collaboration, ideation, implementation, and value creation have changed since 2019:

Collaboration

• From siloed to interconnected: Collaboration is no longer confined to departments or companies. Instead, it is happening across the entire innovation ecosystem, including startups, research institutions, and even customers. This interconnectedness is driving innovation by bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise.
• From linear to iterative: Collaboration is no longer a one-way street. Ideas and feedback are flowing back and forth throughout the innovation process. This iterative approach is driving innovation by ensuring that solutions are aligned with user needs and market realities.
• From hierarchical to horizontal: Collaboration is now less hierarchical and more egalitarian. Leaders are not the only ones who have ideas. Everyone in the innovation process can contribute, regardless of their position or role. This inclusivity is driving innovation by tapping into the collective creativity of the entire organization.

Ideation

• From closed to open: The way ideas are generated is changing. Organizations are no longer relying solely on internal sources of innovation. Instead, they are tapping into the global pool of talent and ideas, using tools like crowdsourcing and hackathons. This openness is driving innovation by bringing in fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking.
• From linear to agile: Idea generation is now a continuous process, not a one-time event. Organizations are using agile methodologies to rapidly test and iterate on ideas, keeping up with the pace of change and market demands. This agility is driving innovation by enabling organizations to adapt to new opportunities and challenges quickly.
• From siloed to cross-functional: Ideas are now generated across different functional areas of the organization. This cross-functional collaboration is driving innovation by bringing together different perspectives and expertise to tackle complex problems.

Implementation

• From top-down to bottom-up: The way new ideas are implemented is changing. Organizations are giving more autonomy to teams to implement their own ideas. This bottom-up approach is driving innovation by empowering teams to experiment and take risks.
• From siloed to integrated: Implementation is now more integrated across different functions and teams. This integration is driving innovation by ensuring that new ideas are seamlessly integrated into the organization’s overall operations.
• From linear to iterative: Implementation is now an iterative process, not a one-time event. Organizations are using rapid prototyping and continuous testing to refine and improve new products and services as they are being implemented. This iterative approach is driving innovation by ensuring that new solutions are meeting user needs and market requirements.

Value Creation

• From product-centric to value-centric: The focus of innovation is shifting from creating products to creating value. Organizations are now creating value for customers, partners, and society as a whole. This focus on value is driving innovation by ensuring that new solutions address real-world problems and have a positive impact.
• From short-term to long-term: The time horizon for innovation is expanding. Organizations are investing in long-term innovation initiatives, recognizing that the most transformative ideas take time to develop and mature. This long-term perspective is driving innovation by enabling organizations to develop breakthrough solutions.
• From linear to ecosystem-based: The value created by innovation is now distributed across the entire ecosystem. Organizations are collaborating with partners and stakeholders to share the benefits of innovation, creating a more equitable and sustainable approach. This ecosystem-based approach is driving innovation by enabling organizations and stakeholders to work together towards shared goals.

These changes in collaboration, ideation, implementation, and value creation are fueling a new era of innovation. Organizations that can adapt to these changes and become more open, agile, and collaborative will be well-positioned to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

My second question relating to collaborating over these last 25 years was “How are Organizations adapting differently to these changes so as to become more open, agile, and collaborative? Has the methodology changed? Have the tools differed or is it the acceleration of technology connecting it all up?

Organizations are adapting to the changing landscape of innovation by adopting new methodologies, tools, and technologies. These changes are enabling them to become more open, agile, and collaborative, which is essential for success in today’s fast-paced and interconnected world.

Methodologies

• Agile methodologies: Organizations are increasingly adopting agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban, to manage their innovation processes. These methodologies emphasize iterative development, continuous testing, and customer feedback, allowing organizations to adapt to changing requirements and market conditions quickly.
• Design thinking: Design thinking is another methodology that is gaining traction in innovation. This human-centred approach emphasizes understanding user needs and behaviours, rapid prototyping, and iterative refinement. It helps organizations create products and services that truly resonate with their customers.
• Lean startup: Lean startup is a methodology that helps organizations validate their ideas early and often. By focusing on rapid experimentation and learning, lean startup enables organizations to identify and eliminate waste, reduce risk, and increase the likelihood of success.

Tools

• Cloud-based collaboration tools: Cloud-based collaboration tools, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Asana, are enabling organizations to collaborate more effectively across geographical boundaries and time zones. These tools provide a centralized platform for sharing documents, files, and ideas, as well as real-time communication and discussion.
• Prototyping tools: Prototyping tools, such as Sketch, Figma, and Balsamiq, are making it easier for organizations to create and iterate on prototypes of their products and services. These tools enable teams to visualize and test their ideas early in the development process, identify potential problems, and make improvements before investing significant resources in development.
• Data analytics tools: Data analytics tools are providing organizations with insights into customer behaviour, market trends, and competitor activities. These insights are helping organizations make informed decisions about their innovation strategies, such as which ideas to pursue and how to allocate resources.

Technologies

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): AI and ML are being used to automate tasks, identify patterns, and make predictions in the innovation process. For example, AI can be used to analyze customer data to identify potential new products or services, and ML can be used to optimize product development processes.
• Blockchain: Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that is being used to create secure and transparent ecosystems for innovation. For example, blockchain can be used to track the development of open-source software, manage intellectual property, and share data securely across different organizations.
• Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT is connecting devices and systems in real time, creating a wealth of data that can be used to inform innovation. For example, IoT data can be used to track customer behaviour, optimize supply chains, and develop new products and services.

Summing up this question

“By adopting these new methodologies, tools, and technologies, organizations have been taking steps to become more open, agile, and collaborative. These changes are helping them to innovate faster, create better products and services, and build stronger relationships with their customers and partners”

Over three posts I wanted to look back at innovation and how it has evolved from 1999 to 2024, a period of twenty-five years.

I asked Google Gemini five questions. In my first post, I asked what the main aspects of innovation thinking and design changed from 1999 to 2019. This post looked at how collaboration and ideation evolved, the organization’s ability to adapt, and what helped.

The third post, coming next, looked at the emergence of ecosystems and platforms and began to gaze more into the future of innovation and from this I began to speculate how it will radically change with the fast rise of AI creating disruption and different opportunities. Are we really ready in our structure, system architecture or mindset to be so open, collaborative and willing to co-create? I personally don’t think so.