Solution
To address these challenges, we designed a collaboration framework focusing on four main aspects of the innovation process and specialized tools to overcome barriers in each aspect. We are currently developing a system that integrates all these tools to enhance interdepartmental collaboration, thereby accelerating the overall process.
Process
Literature Review
Our initial step involved a comprehensive literature review. We analyzed 32 research papers to gain a deeper understanding of innovation processes. This review helped us identify key challenges organizations face when implementing these processes in real-world situations.
As a result, we have outlined our primary focus for the subsequent research phase, which will center on addressing these key questions:
What hampers turning research ideas into impactful products?
How to balance human-centered design with humanities, creativity, technology, and business needs?
Can diverse teams (researchers, designers, engineers) overcome communication gaps to achieve more?
Could power imbalances & conflicting goals be overcome to foster successful collaborative innovation?
Semi-structured Interview
After getting insights from literature review and came up with research questions. We created a set of common questions and customized a few questions for each specific role to gain insights. We conducted one-hour, semi-structured remote interviews with 8 industry professionals and 2 academic researchers.
Partcipants Demographic
- Age: 32 - 52 years old.
- Experience: Consulting with start-ups; Collaborating with internal incubation teams within enterprises; Making strategic decisions regarding incubation initiatives.
- Roles: UX Researcher and Designer; Project Manager; Innovation Hub Professionals; Startup Founders; Service Designer.
Thematic Analysis
We systematically analyzed data by identifying key points, coding them in a spreadsheet, grouping similar points on FigJam, and deriving insights.
The “Not Invented Here” Syndrome: Companies stuck in their ways (traditional structures) and often reject good ideas because they weren't invented internally.
"Each project requires us to quickly adapt our management structure and framework, often improvising and adjusting as we go along, which is time consuming."
- P7 Service Designer
Barriers to advocating for User Centric Design: Managers doesn't value user research; limited time and investment; internal biases; prioritize business goals over users experience in the short term.
“I want our folks to be a part of the hypotheses. I would involve all stakeholders in the whole research process and try to teach and coach them through the process.”
- P4 Product Manager
Existing Gaps in Leveraging Diverse Teams: While collaboration is a core strength across teams, including UXR, instances of solo efforts with limited communication have occasionally occurred.
"...we really need to break down the walls between designing, engineering and marketing..."
- P3 Research Engineer
Design Concepts
Cute Framework
We designed the CUTE framework with concentration on four distinct stages – Collaboration, User Centralization, Transparency, and Experimentation – each with its own goals to achieve.
01 Collaboration
Collaboration: How could we foster team collaboration?
Goal: Our aim is to foster a culture of teamwork and shared ideas.
Challenge: The challenge lies in effectively managing diverse perspectives and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas.
02 User Centralization
How could we centralize User Involvement?
Goal: Our aim is to foster a culture of teamwork and shared ideas.
Challenge: The challenge lies in effectively managing diverse perspectives and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas.
03 Transparency
How can we make the Decision-Making process more Transparent?
Goal: We aim to democratize decision-making by fostering informed participation from all stakeholders. Additionally, we aim to build trust, involve more stakeholders, and make working together easier.
Challenge: The challenge lies in ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of the trade-offs between user needs and technical limitations, as well as the key metrics used to assess the viability of an idea.
04 Experiementation
Experimentation: How could we centralize Experimentation?
Goal: We aim to gather actionable insights through testing to drive business value and maximize return of investment (ROI).
Challenge: The challenge lies in choosing the right testing methods to refine your solution and maximize ROI.
