New Product Development

Organisational Assessment
(EFQM)

ePathways to Excellence (SME's/SBU's)

Invest N.I. Competitiveness Assessment

Developing Customer Focus

Innovation

Business Excellence Through Action (BETA)

Benchmarking

 
     

INNOVATION

"The challenge for the private sector will be to fill the gap. Enterprise must be fostered, and
our skills base improved. Unless innovation does not move up the agenda of every company in the province, choppy waters lie ahead."

Business Viewpoint: Innovation vital for our economy
Monday 6th September 2004
Belfast Telegraph - Business Telegraph

CforC has established a number of key partnerships with global organisations to bring the latest business skills and understanding in Innovation to Northern Ireland.

The approach follows the proven Assess, Improve, Consolidate approach with International comparisons and Benchmarks.

Innov8n Juggler is an approach to improve your capability to innovate, thereby creating additional value for your company. It is based upon the most widely used Business Planning and Improvement tool throughout Europe, the EFQM Excellence Model© Framework for Innovation™.

It is a simple, questionnaire based, self-assessment. You answer 36 straightforward questions and you will be provided with a comprehensive report that will give you a benchmark confirm your strengths and give you 9 real and tangible ideas for improving your innovative capability.

La Salle Matrix Thinking©

Unique, business focused, idea generation method that works for even those who do not consider themselves creative.

  • Learn the skills required to search for opportunities
  • Quickly identify the low risk ideas
  • Guided & focused creativity – more powerful & effective
  • Identify a new business opportunity in less than 12 seconds!

Matrix Thinking enables anyone to consistently and rapidly generate new product ideas & improvements, service & process innovations.

Magnificent 7 Creative Thinking

Proven and simple, yet powerful, ways of new thinking that can be applied in the workplace immediately.

  • Everyone can be creative, unlock people’s potential.
  • Fun, interactive approach.
  • Focuses on the 7 most used & effective thinking tools.
  • Suitable for public and private sector.

Zing

Technology that magnifies the power of people working together. A dynamic team working system, it replaces the flip chart, pens and post its with an electronic system comprising of individual key pads to capture 'ideas' and project them onto a wall screen for easy group involvement of identifying themes, sorting and voting.

  • Allows real time interaction with up to 100 people
  • Face-to-Face or via Internet
  • Fun and easy to use
  • Get everybody involved
  • Supports objective decision-making
  • Increases output of group work
  • Builds teams faster, saves time
  • Encourages new ideas & creativity
  • Generates MORE ideas, faster

Funding

The Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) has two programmes for delivering people development in Six Sigma and Innovation & Creativity. These development opportunities may be eligible for bursary support from the Department for Employment and Learning under the Management and Leadership Development Programme. Further details are available here.

Innovation | Innov8n Juggler | La Salle Matrix Thinking | Magnificent 7 Creative Thinking | Zing