Resources
What is an Innovate-A-thon?
An Innovate-A-thon is a series of complementary team activities for creating something new and better ... an innovation! (The "something" could be a product, service, process ...)
Innovate-A-thon participants collaborate to reach a goal in a predetermined period of time. An independent, neutral facilitator/mentor keeps the team focused, productive, and the process on-track and on-time.
Participants receive a solid fundamental review of core creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial-thinking principles.
The Innovate-A-thon principles have been refined through successful application in a variety of companies, business development support groups, nonprofit associations, colleges and universities, and other organizations
An Innovate-A-thon program can be custom-structured to fit the needs of a particular group, organization, or company, as well as at a variety of instructional and participation levels. Typically, an Innovate-A-thon consists of 5 to 15 participants, a neutral mentor that leads the progress of the event, 10 to 20 hours over 2 to 4 sessions.
Innovate-A-thon Stages
There are four InnovateAthon stages (along with a before-starting prequel and an after-finish sequel) ...
Prequel: 0] Introductions ... team formation, review InnovateAthon concepts and goals
1] Identify ... what issues, problems, opportunities will be addressed? What is the current status? What is the primary focus for this Innovate-A-thon?
2] Ideate ... generate lots of ideas triggered by the issue in focus.
3] Improve ... which ideas have good potential? How can these ideas be improved and refined?
4] Implement ... which concept has the best potential to effectively address the issue in focus? How can this concept best be implemented? What impact does it have?
Sequel: 5] Iterate ... inspect, investigate, increase!