I know what you’re thinking: Can small changes really make a difference? The short answer: Absolutely. Because, as the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day—and neither will your innovation management system." I’m pretty sure that second part isn’t in the original quote, but you get the idea.
Innovation is tough. Really tough. And even harder to get right.
You don’t just flip a switch and suddenly have a world-class innovation program. It takes time, commitment, and discipline. The good news? If your organization is already doing innovation, you’re in a solid starting position. The key is to move from broad, high-level initiatives to a structured, systems approach.
Not all at once, though. Think small but steady improvements. Try adding one meaningful process today. Test it. Tweak it. Then make it part of your standard way of working—or better yet, your way of innovating.
Why does this matter?
Because our 2025 State of Corporate Innovation Report reveals a glaring problem: 87% of organizations struggle to turn ideas into actual business results. That’s a massive gap. Innovation is supposed to drive outcomes, yet most organizations fail to make that happen. Idea management? No problem. Moving those ideas through to execution? That’s where things break down.
So, what’s going wrong?
Lack of strategy? Lack of resources? Lack of coffee? All of the above?
One thing is clear: organizations are much better at brainstorming than executing. According to our report, developing and validating ideas aren’t the problem—but when it comes to deploying solutions? That’s where innovation efforts hit a wall, making it the most challenging stage in the process.
The issue isn’t creating ideas—it’s realizing them. And no, it’s not because the ideas are bad. In fact, generating quality ideas was cited as one of the least significant obstacles. Even prioritizing and managing large volumes of ideas weren’t major blockers.
Instead, here’s what’s really holding innovation back—and what you can do about it.
Organizations put a lot of effort into fostering engagement:
These are great signs! But when it comes to defining what exactly their innovation system is supposed to achieve, the numbers drop off:
This means a lot of organizations are engaged in innovation—but without clear boundaries, focus areas, or a system for making lasting improvements.
The ISO 56000 Standard for Innovation Management Systems emphasizes that a well-structured innovation management system needs clear scope, intent, and alignment with business goals. Start by:
When your innovation efforts have direction, they become easier to execute, track, and scale.
Most organizations do some level of planning:
But many struggle with flexibility:
Translation? Companies are setting innovation goals, but not revisiting them enough to ensure they stay relevant.
"Innovation isn’t static, and your approach shouldn’t be either."
Innovation isn’t static, and your approach shouldn’t be either. The ISO 56000 framework stresses the importance of adaptability and continuous evaluation.
To stay ahead:
Being adaptable means innovation isn’t just a one-time initiative—it becomes part of how your company operates.
Measuring success is essential. The good news?
The bad news?
That’s a big miss. If you’re not tracking how well your innovation system itself is working, how do you know if you’re improving?
ISO 56000 stresses the importance of regular analysis—not just of innovation projects, but of the entire system that supports them.
"Innovation success isn’t just about outcomes—it’s about repeatability."
Here’s how to make sure you’re tracking the right things:
Innovation success isn’t just about outcomes—it’s about repeatability. Strong evaluation practices ensure you’re learning, improving, and building sustainable innovation capabilities over time.
More comprehensive leadership support and resource allocation remain major challenges, but as the ‘system architect,’ you have the power to strengthen your innovation system with small, intentional changes starting today.
Like Rome, a mature innovation system isn’t built overnight—but by making incremental improvements, you can lay a solid foundation.
And the best part? The more structured and successful your approach becomes, the easier it is to demonstrate real commitment—which, in turn, attracts greater leadership buy-in and resources over time.
It’s a slow build—but one that leads to lasting impact.
Speaking of lasting impact, check out How to Build a Lasting Innovation Management System with ISO 56001 by Colin Nelson, our Chief Consultant, and discover how the leading innovation management framework can help you build the right structure, foster collaboration, and drive adaptability to turn ideas into real results.