Best innovators develop a point of view on the future and a roadmap on how to get there

– The authors have collected key insights from the Best Innovator competition, launched in 2003. Six early-stage practices are critical.



– The Best Innovator competition, annual benchmarking against the best in innovation management, focuses on the how-to of innovation and examines what leading companies are doing to achieve better yield with their innovation strategies.



– By studying the competition winners, the researchers found a strong correlation between specific innovation management practices and sustainable, profitable growth.



– Best Innovators establish explicit expectations for making the business case for innovation. They name a specific set of deliverables to which they are committed.



– The article offers specific guidelines for setting the stage for continuous innovation that results in profitable offerings and services.