ISO 56002 is a standard dedicated to Innovation Management. It has guidelines that aim to contribute to the performance of companies in this regard. This ISO aims to create a systematic and standardized approach to innovation management. In this way, it organizes processes and identifies gaps easily.
But you may be wondering: since innovation is often disruptive and innovative, what does this have to do with a standardized approach like ISO? Will standardization speed up or stifle the innovation process?
Keep reading and find out the answer to these and other questions. We will explain how ISO 56002 maximizes the benefits of Innovation Management without creating bureaucratic procedures that generate bottlenecks and delay creative and inventive processes.
But first, let’s understand more about what innovation is and how it is present in the corporate world.
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What is Innovation Management?
Innovation Management involves planning, organizing, leading, motivating, and controlling resources to develop or improve new products, processes, or business models that add value to customers and the organization.
It covers all the activities necessary to:
- Create products and services to enter new markets (as well as expand operations in those where a company is already present);
- Improve products and services to differentiate themselves from the competition;
- Optimize internal processes to minimize costs and/or reduce failures and waste;
- Ensure that the ideas generated are successfully implemented.
Innovation Management also encompasses the creation of a culture of innovation in the organization, the management of innovation portfolios and projects, the creation of innovation dashboards, and the definition of performance reports.
Read also: How to put Innovation Management into practice
What is the difference between Innovation Management and Idea Management?
Both Innovation Management and Idea Management are fundamental to the innovation process. So, it’s no surprise that many people confuse them. So that you don’t fall into this trap, keep an eye on the main differences between them:
- Idea management is the process of collecting, developing, selecting, and prioritizing the best ideas. This includes a structured process of managing all activities related to these ideas.
- Innovation Management, as you have seen, manages the entire innovation process. Therefore, it includes Idea Management itself, which is why it is common to treat these terms as synonyms.
In other words, Innovation Management is a great concept that involves several actions and strategies, and Idea Management is one of these actions.
What is ISO 56002?
After making these concepts clearer, it’s time to talk about ISO 56002. It arises from the need for companies to have a management system to help face the challenges of innovation.
That’s why ISO has created a series of standards in the ISO 56000 family, all focused on Innovation Management. The Technical Committee: ISO/TC 279 Innovation Management was responsible for this work. It defined a variety of standardized guidelines to optimize innovation management systems. Some are already available; others are still in the process of development and publication.
This creation was based on business experience in 163 countries that contributed to the best innovation practices. As a result, the set of guidelines presents what works in the most diverse scenarios and can be used by companies of all sizes that want to build management systems that support innovation and its benefits.
One of these guidelines is ISO 56002. It was created in 2019 to guide organizations in defining their vision, strategy, policy, and innovation objectives. In this way, it provides structures to ensure the continuous improvement of innovation management systems by determining common language and standards.
Unlike other ISO standards, it has no requirements, but rather guidelines. Therefore, it is not the company that needs to adapt to the standard, often bureaucratizing its processes, but the opposite.
Therefore, this ISO presents a wide range of possibilities, and it is up to the company to choose the right approach and tools for its reality, considering its market, its culture, its objectives, among other factors.
Which companies is ISO 56002 aimed at?
Precisely because it was prepared based on good practices of the most diverse companies, ISO 56002 is intended for use by companies of any sector, size, structure and business model. It is also compatible with all types of innovation (products, processes, services, radical, incremental, etc.) and innovation approaches (open, closed, etc.).
Some of the most common examples of companies that can benefit from this standard are:
- Organizations and other stakeholders who want to have a standardized understanding of what constitutes an innovation management system;
- Companies looking for continued success and the ability to manage innovative activities;
- Customers, stakeholders, employees and other stakeholders who seek confidence and security in an organization’s innovation management capabilities;
- Consultancies and institutions that promote training in innovation management;
- Public institutions that seek greater effectiveness and use of programs to support innovation and the development of society.
What are the benefits of ISO 56002?
Although it is not mandatory, ISO 56002 certification has enormous weight and importance in the market, especially in the international market. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is recognized worldwide as the main reference for business management systems.
As a result, many companies see ISO certification as an important recognition and even consider it as a requirement for business contracts. In other words: following this standard can represent real revenue gains, as it attracts more customers.
In addition, the ISO 56002 audit process helps identify potential areas for improvement, enabling the organization to advance its innovation projects. The best part, this occurs in a simple, cheap and fast way. In this way, it changes the way companies think and prepare for the market changes that are happening faster and faster.
Therefore, ISO 56002 certification gives companies the ability to better prepare for future management, with innovation management systems better suited for rapid and deep global transformation.
In addition, ISO 56002 has several advantages, such as:
- Position the company as a market leader by demonstrating a management system focused on innovation;
- Provide greater ability to deal with uncertainty;
- Reduce costs and waste, increasing profitability;
- Generate greater satisfaction of consumers, suppliers, investors and other parties associated with the business;
- Facilitate the attraction and retention of employees, giving them space to be creative and contribute their ideas;
- Ensure a good reputation of the company, enabling business with larger organizations;
- Create more ways to increase revenue and business growth;
- Gain reliability in the market and improve the company’s image in its field of activity;
- Better alignment with market regulatory standards;
- Bring greater capacity to attract partners, employees and financing.
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The eight pillars of ISO 56002
Another differential of ISO 56002 concerns the principles on which the standard is based. They drive the business towards sustainability and can respond to the constant changes that occur in the market. In addition, these principles support all the activities that the company will undertake.
The eight pillars of ISO 56002 are:
- Value Creation;
- Visionary leaders;
- Strategic Direction;
- Culture;
- Exploration of insights;
- Uncertainty management;
- Adaptability;
- Systems approach (or process management).
These pillars were defined because they are aligned with the flexible nature of this standard. In this way, they can be applied in the most diverse realities, whether in small companies with few employees or to the most profitable multinational corporations. They help build guidelines that drive innovation in all situations.
What is the ISO 56002 implementation process like?
During the implementation of ISO 56002, the company determines where it intends to go and what efforts it is willing to make to achieve its goals. Therefore, initially, it is necessary to establish the goals, objectives, strategies, performance indicators, and resources that will be used for innovation management.
This considers not only the financial resources, but also the workforce, the knowledge required, the infrastructure, and even the time that will be allocated to innovation projects.
The process for implementing ISO 56002 includes five main steps:
- evaluation;
- innovation committee;
- implementation methodology;
- internal audit;
- certification audit.
The first step in the implementation of the standard is to carry out an evaluation and diagnosis of the company. At this point, it is necessary to determine the company’s level concerning the pillars of the standard; that is, how many and which innovation processes your company has already implemented and applies.
Next, it’s time to define the company’s innovation committee. At this stage, the members who will be responsible for ensuring the functioning of the innovation system are established.
Then the implementation takes place. It is the phase in which the development of the system’s strategic plan takes place, as well as the definition of the execution time and the tools to be used. The ISO 56002 standard contains a total of ten chapters, and companies need to present evidence for each of them, implementing innovative tools and methodologies that best meet their needs.
Next, an internal audit should be carried out to identify possible non-conformities or points for improvement. Finally, when the system is fully ready, the certification audit is carried out by a certifying company that evaluates all normative items and, thus, attests to whether the company complies with ISO 56002 or not. If positive and approved, the company will receive a certificate of compliance.
Does ISO 56002 certification have an expiration date?
Yes: every 12 months, companies must carry out a recertification audit. In it, a certifying company reanalyzes all regulatory aspects to identify gaps, non-conformities, and potential opportunities for improvement once again. As before, if all goes well, the company will renew its certificate.
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Conclusion
Now you know that ISO 56002 is gaining popularity in the corporate world, helping companies plan and implement their innovation processes quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. And how about having a solution that provides the tools and methods to help your company with innovation challenges in all spheres of your company?
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