IMPLEMENTING AN AGILE INNOVATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Using the Agile Innovation Master Plan Framework Paperback – March 14, 2020

Innovation is often difficult to achieve, manage or implement for many reasons. We lack a shared definition of innovation. We lack a common vernacular. We lack a viable innovation management framework. We use different tools and processes. We lack a means to measure viability of ideas and prototypes. We lack a way to measure the return on innovation. There are countless reasons that innovation is difficult. But it doesn't have to be.This guide to Implementing an Agile Innovation Management System (IMS) builds upon Langdon Morris's "Agile Innovation Master Plan Framework" by providing a field guide for taking the Framework to implementation and operationalization in any organization. Tom provides detailed guidance and lessons learned implementing the framework at ICS as a system. He also expands the innovation body of knowledge by describing new ways to automatically and objectively pivot the innovation portfolio, evaluating prototypes in an unbiased way, and selecting projects for funding by competing them against one another. In addition, Tom provides clear instruction on how to measure ROI - return on innovation – so that organizations have confidence that they are efficiently allocating resources and capital in order to mitigate the risk of waste due to non-intelligent failure.While this book serves as a "quick-start" guide to implementing the Agile Innovation Master Plan Framework, it also takes the reader further by explaining not only how to implement the Framework's 5 Key Tracks, but also considers how make tradeoffs throughout the process. Tom provides detailed guidance that will enable you to align your Agile IMS with your organization's strategy, goals and objectives.Because of Tom's service on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the ISO 56000 Innovation Management System standard, the book's content is already compatible and aligned with the ISO 56002 guidance published in February 2020 as well as the new ISO 56000 standard.Tom provides many tips, tricks and lessons learned from building ICS's Innovation Management System such as iterative implementation to build value quickly, the importance of getting culture right, simulation and prototyping, metric selection, knowledge management and the innovation portfolio. He also presents several considerations for implementing that system in software -- a system that we use at ICS today to manage projects in our ICS Labs division.This book is an excellent tool to connect the dots from Vision to Value as you embark on your Innovation Management journey. It is clear and concise and an easy read for such a heady subject. It provides numerous examples, visual aids and lessons learned in a manner that makes it easy to understand the subject matter.

Noted innovation expert Tom Brazil has written a very fine guidebook describing how his company, ICS Inc., has successfully implemented a comprehensive innovation system, the tools they used, and the results they have achieved so far. Tom is quite candid and accessible in his writing style, and provides excellent advice and countless specific tips on what has worked well for ICS. This book is a valuable contribution to every innovation library, and if you’re interested in the guts of innovation management, then you ought to get it and read it.

The ideas in this book are applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, industry or nature of business. It is also relevant to certification and regulatory bodies as it enables them to assess an organization’s ability to meet its legal or regulatory requirements.The ideas in this book are based on ISO’s High-Level Structure (HLS), and nicely aligns with many other internationally recognized management system standards, such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).As such, Brazil's book is designed to be integrated into an organization’s existing management processes. Agile Innovation is useful for business continuity and risk professionals, supply chain directors, audit managers and associates, developers of corporate social responsibility reports, regulatory bodies and anyone else involved or interested in business continuity.What I like about this book is how it builds upon Langdon Morris's powerful Innovation Management Masterplan books and nicely provides a bridge to the future, without overwhelming the reader with needless verbiage and technical mumbo-jumbo. Written by an Innovation Master that I have come to know as part of the US TAG's Innovation Management System development, Brazil has compiled a timeless piece that will be remembered as effective, economical and long-lasting: in other words -- a must read for innovation leaders and practioners alike.