Chris provides guidance and support across the innovation process, helping organisations raise their innovation quotient. He uses a five-stage process:

• Defining the Problem

• Generating Solutions

• Assessing Options

• Planning the Project

• Implementation and Change Management

Creativity thrives when it is directed at solving a particular problem. The first step in innovation is to understand the problem clearly, providing a clear focus to the rest of the process. This phase is supported by proven techniques for getting to the heart of an issue.

Once the problem is well understood, the creative process of gathering potential solutions can begin. Whether gathering ideas from a specific group or embracing the open innovation mantra of looking across organisations, industries, cultures and communities for inspiration, well-tested creativity methodologies and tools offer a structured approach to idea generation.

When you have harvested the crop of ideas, you need to understand where to focus your energy to provide the best solution. The concept of multi-criteria decision analysis offers a framework to sift and compare the range of potential opportunities and arrive at the right course of action for your problem.

After you've agreed on the right solution, you're ready to plan the project to make that solution a reality. A toolkit combining Mission Command, Simulations, Scenario Planning and Risk Frameworks with standard project management methodologies will allow you to develop and test your plan to provide a clear roadmap to success.

With all the preparation done, running the project should be the easy bit. Using proven Risk Perception and Communication tools, supported by the Advanced Implementation methodology, will ensure your project is delivered to stakeholders who understand and support your innovation.