Innovation scouting

What's worth spreading?

Every project office has ideas buzzing around. Some are hidden. Some are emerging. Some could help another team solve a problem they're wrestling with.

Our job is to find them.

About 4 minutes. One office at a time.
Notice something. Surface it. Help it travel.

Step one

Who's scouting, and where?

So we know who to come back to when a signal looks promising.

Your name Hive team only. Never shown to the project office.

We need a name so we know who to follow up with.

Which project office are you scouting? The one you work with most closely.

Please choose a project office.

Step two

Spot the signals

Think about that office. We're not asking what interesting things they're doing.

We're asking: what's happening there that might be worth spreading to another team?

It counts if it's an experiment, a new way of working, a tool, a process, a workaround, a technology — mature or not. The only test is:

Could this be useful somewhere else?

Signal 01

What's worth spreading?

This is an innovation that currently exists that has not been propagated or yet shared elsewhere.

Give it a name However you'd describe it to a colleague.

A short name is all we need to get started.

What's interesting about it? One sentence. 0 / 280

A sentence, so we know what we're looking at.

Why is it worth spreading? Pick any

Where is it up to?

A trial that was stopped is worth as much to us as one that worked.

How close are you to it?

Who's behind it? Optional The person we'd ask about it. Every signal ends in a conversation.

Anywhere obvious it could travel to? Optional Start by thinking of a similar team in another Project Office.

1 signal from the Hive

Got another?

You can add up to three. One strong signal beats three guesses — if nothing else comes to mind, move on with a clear conscience.

Signals received

The Hive has them

Now the flip side.

Step three

Now let's look at the flip side

So far you have shared an innovation worth spreading. Now — what's a genuine need in the same Project Office you are working with?

Not another innovation, but a real problem where you'd love to know whether someone, somewhere else, has already found a better way.

What's a challenge or need you'd love some outside-in thinking to help solve? In your own words. The more specific, the more likely we can find someone who's already been there. 0 / 400

Tell us what you're wrestling with — this is the question most likely to get you something back.

What would "better" look like? Optional A sentence or two on the outcome you'd hope for. 0 / 320

Step four

Pollination spotted

Sometimes a good idea doesn't stay put. It travels. Have you seen an idea or way of working successfully brought from one project office, team or organisation into another?

Let us know either way.

Last thing

Before it goes in

Delivered

You've started a buzz

Thanks for adding your intelligence to the Hive.
Notice something. Surface it. Help it travel.