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4 Key steps to shift your company’s innovation from product-centric to customer-centric

Mélanie Beauregard • June 9, 2022

When innovation was first defined, the process was driven primarily by technology, i.e., finding new ways to create better products for customers to purchase. 


Today, innovations are more likely to be inspired by the desires of your customers—not necessarily the needs that products meet but the emotional needs they experience in their everyday lives. 


If you want your company’s innovation efforts to go from good to great, here are four key steps to help you shift from product-centric innovation to customer-centric innovation.

The difference between product-centric and customer-centric

The term product-centric is used to describe a company that prioritizes their product development by looking at the product portfolio - for example adding features to existing products - rather than keeping the consumer needs as an innovation driver. . Instead of involving the customer in the creation process, this approach simply relies on brainstorming within the company.


A customer-centric business places the customer at the center of their operations with a clear understanding of what their customers want or need so they can satisfy their demands. It's not about offering just another SKU, but rather new solutions.


Step #1 Look to the market for insights

With market segmentation, you try to understand who your customers are and how they are different. Understanding the different personas that use your product will help you decide which features to offer and which ones to keep out.


Keep in mind that it's not always about demographics, but about their beliefs, their motivations, their habits.

A Gen Y living in Canada’s more urbanized cities (such as Montreal or Toronto) will have different priorities and aspirations than a Gen Y living in Quebec’s rural hinterland, Yellowknife, or Calgary.


Members of different generations can share similar views and beliefs about the same topic as well (let's say, the environment). You can enhance your understanding of who your customers are by focusing less on demographics and more on what makes them unique. 


Step #2 Include the consumer facing teams into the ideation process

It's good practice to keep in mind that you want every customer contact point with your brand, be it a physical storefront or an online website, or an email address or chat with a live support rep. It all matters if it's making that consumer feel important and special.


Every step of a consumer's experience with a brand can impact how he or she feels about that company. If things don't go well, it could affect that customer's willingness to buy again in the future, or dissuade him or her from buying anything else offered by that brand.


When you're looking for an innovative new idea, reaching out directly to consumers can help you get more ideas, as well as make sure your customers are on board with any new features you're planning to roll out. This might include using social media and marketing channels like email and digital ads, as well as making use of customer service team members as well as the sales team who interact with unhappy customers.


Ask questions like What could you do to improve? or What are we doing right now that makes you like us so much?. Asking direct questions also gives you insight into how you're viewed in relation to your competitors, so for new ideas it's a great idea to ask what customers expect out of other companies and why they don't consider trying yours.


Get as many ideas and feedback as possible before deciding on one. The more feedback, suggestions, and help you have before launching something new, the better.


Remember to share that feedback between company departments to keep the entire company well-connected to consumer insights.


Step #3 Test, test, pivot, test, test

If you want to launch successful products that will bring real results in terms of additional sales , you need to talk directly to customers so that they can tell you what their problems are and how your solution solves them.


Because understanding a customers’ needs and designing your product around them is a very complex task, we suggest using a Value Proposition Canvas.


The Value Proposition Canvas is a powerful tool to ensure a product or service is positioned around what the customer values and needs and it helps the business in the decision making and positioning of the product.


If ever you find out you were wrong, follow the path of least resistance: your consumer! Pivot your solution so that it will answer your consumer needs.


Step #4 Keep yours eyes on the market, not on your internal KPIs

Don't look only at your Top line. Top line is total sales. That doesn’t mean your consumer is happy. You can sell more, but you still have a problem.


We've all heard the old expression: If you only see what's on top of your head, you'll get a big bump on your forehead. You need to look at what’s happening beneath as well. 

  • What are people saying? 
  • How are they saying it? 
  • What’s going on in social media? 
  • Are they complaining about your products or services? 
  • Or are they talking about things you never thought of before, and may be worth listening to?


You need to take into consideration your bottom line as well. If you don't know how many people are buying at full price, you may be in trouble. You can always increase volume by lowering prices or offering deals, but if consumers aren't willing to pay full price for what you offer, there's no reason for them to buy at all.


When you design a product that successfully meets an actual need, the potential for repeated purchases is obvious. However, in the absence of an existing need, aggressive promotion is necessary to achieve a baseline volume of sales.


Customer-centric innovation is a systematic approach to innovation that enables long-term, profitable growth. While most companies profess to be consumer-centric, academic research has shown that the true nature of this orientation can vary greatly.


For more insights into transitioning your business from a product-centric one to a consumer-centric organization, here are a few interesting articles:


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Innovation MB is an Innovation Management Agency with a passionate team of professionals who will help accelerate your innovation journey to hit the market faster successfully. 


Your Innovation Management Ecosystem is your path to success. Book a discovery call with one of your experts to find out how to take your Innovation Journey to the next level! 


Product innovation Bog

Réduisez le temps de vos réunions de 50 % et obtenir des résultats clairs et concrets

By Melanie Beauregard • November 2, 2024
Réduisez le temps de vos réunions de 50 % et obtenir des résultats clairs et concrets Vos réunions vous volent-elles votre productivité ? Le saviez-vous ? 47 % des employés disent que trop de réunions les empêchent d’être vraiment productifs. Et selon une étude de la Harvard Business Review, 71 % des gestionnaires** estiment que leurs réunions ne servent pas à grand-chose. C’est énorme, non ? Ça nous fait poser la vraie question : vos réunions, est-ce qu’elles font vraiment avancer les choses ou bien elles ralentissent toute l’équipe ? Souvent, le problème n’est pas la réunion en elle-même, mais plutôt le manque de structure. Imaginez des réunions plus courtes, plus efficaces, où chaque minute a une raison d’être. C’est exactement ce qu’un ordre du jour clair peut vous apporter. Un bon plan de réunion peut transformer vos discussions pour qu’elles aboutissent sur des actions concrètes. Dans ce guide, on vous montre pourquoi un bon ordre du jour, c’est l’arme secrète pour des réunions qui carburent ! On partage aussi une méthode qui va rendre vos réunions deux fois plus efficaces, en moitié moins de temps. C’est parti ! Pourquoi un ordre du jour clair est votre arme secrète pour booster la productivité 1. Augmente l’efficacité de 40 % Les réunions avec un ordre du jour bien structuré sont 40 % plus efficaces que celles qui en n’ont pas. Avoir un plan en main, c’est comme avoir un GPS pour vos réunions : ça garde l’équipe concentrée et ça évite de s’éparpiller dans toutes les directions. Quand tout le monde connaît les sujets d’avance, pas besoin de refaire le chemin ou de perdre du temps à tout réexpliquer. 2. Fournit des objectifs clairs et garde l’équipe concentrée Sans un objectif précis, 63 % des employés avouent qu’ils ne savent même pas pourquoi ils sont en réunion. Un ordre du jour, ça règle ça en expliquant clairement le pourquoi de la réunion. Quand on connaît les objectifs, on reste focus et les discussions ont beaucoup plus de chances de mener à des résultats concrets. 3. Diminue de moitié le temps pour prendre des décisions Les réunions sans structure, ça finit souvent avec des décisions prises à la va-vite, sans vraiment réfléchir. Des études montrent que les équipes prennent leurs décisions deux fois plus vite quand elles suivent un ordre du jour clair qui priorise les sujets importants. Avec un ordre de sujets bien organisé, vos équipes sont prêtes à trancher sur des décisions complexes, en confiance. 4. Augmente la responsabilisation : 60 % de tâches en plus réalisées Un bon ordre du jour qui donne des sujets et des temps de parole à chaque personne, ça crée de la responsabilisation. Et quand on sait que notre opinion est attendue, on se prépare mieux ! Une étude d’Asana montre que les équipes réalisent 60 % de tâches en plus quand les responsabilités sont claires. Pas pire, non ? 5. Économise du temps – Réduit la durée des réunions de 30 % D’après une enquête de Doodle, un ordre du jour bien structuré peut réduire le temps des réunions jusqu’à 30 %. Quand on sait ce qu’on a à couvrir, pas de sujet hors-sujet ! Avec un bon plan, on boucle les réunions plus vite, et tout le monde peut retourner à son travail plus rapidement. 6. Augmente l’engagement de 20 % Quand les membres de l’équipe reçoivent l’ordre du jour à l’avance, ils sont 20 % plus engagés, selon Gallup. Connaître les points de discussion d’avance permet à chacun de se préparer et de venir avec des idées et des questions. Résultat ? Un environnement plus collaboratif et stimulant. Le plan de match parfait pour un ordre du jour : Guide pour les directeurs marketing Voici un modèle pour des réunions productives et qui mènent à l’action. Inspiré par le modèle de Gino Wickman dans *Traction*, cet ordre du jour est pensé pour garder les équipes marketing alignées, responsables, et concentrées sur les résultats. 1. Ouvrez avec un Segue (5 minutes) Commencez la réunion sur une note positive en demandant à chaque membre de partager une petite victoire récente – perso ou pro. Ce genre de rituel, ça augmente le moral et **ça booste la cohésion de l’équipe de 15 %**. Et si on relie ça aux efforts marketing, ça aide tout le monde à garder le focus sur les objectifs communs. 2. Revue du Scorecard (5 minutes) Passez en revue les indicateurs clés comme la génération de leads, le trafic web, ou le retour sur les dépenses publicitaires (ROAS). Les équipes qui font un suivi régulier de leurs données performent **30 % mieux dans l’atteinte de leurs KPI**. La revue du scorecard, ça donne un bon aperçu, et ça met l’accent sur les chiffres. 3. Suivi des OKR (5-10 minutes) Prenez quelques minutes pour revoir les objectifs trimestriels ou les OKR de l’équipe. Ça garde le focus sur les gros objectifs – comme un lancement de produit ou un projet de rebranding. Des recherches montrent que **fixer des OKR peut améliorer les performances de l’équipe de 25 %**. Pas de temps perdu ici, on garde le cap ! 4. Les nouvelles de l’équipe (5 minutes) Prenez un moment pour reconnaître les efforts, accueillir les nouveaux, ou gérer les inquiétudes sur la charge de travail. Un petit boost de reconnaissance, **ça peut améliorer le moral jusqu’à 50 %** selon Gallup. Ces petits moments de reconnaissance, ça contribue aussi à une culture d’équipe plus positive et plus transparente. 5. Revue de la To-Do List (5 minutes) Suivre les actions de la réunion précédente, c’est crucial. Selon une étude de la Harvard Business School, **les équipes sont 33 % plus susceptibles de terminer les tâches** quand elles en font le suivi régulièrement. Cette étape, ça maintient tout le monde responsable et assure la progression. 6. IDS (Identifier, Discuter, Résoudre) – Liste des problèmes (60 minutes) C’est le cœur de la réunion ! C’est là qu’on s’attaque aux problèmes les plus pressants. Le processus IDS, ça permet de clarifier les problèmes, de les discuter et de trouver des solutions concrètes. En gardant les discussions centrées sur les solutions, on augmente l’efficacité de résolution des problèmes de **45 %**. 7. Conclusion et prochaines étapes (5 minutes) Terminez en récapitulant les actions à réaliser et en fixant des dates limites. Les réunions qui se terminent avec des actions spécifiques voient **60 % de tâches de plus accomplies**. Confirmez aussi la date et le sujet de la prochaine réunion pour garder une certaine régularité. --- Quelques conseils pour mettre en place cet ordre du jour 1. Envoyez l’ordre du jour à l’avance : Partagez-le au moins 24 heures avant la réunion. Ça augmente l’engagement et permet à tout le monde de bien se préparer. 2. Respectez les temps impartis: Assignez un gardien du temps pour garder le rythme. Ça montre que vous respectez le temps de chacun. 3. Encouragez la responsabilisation: Attribuez des rôles pour chaque point de l’ordre du jour, et faites le suivi à la prochaine réunion. 4. Favorisez l’engagement: Posez des questions, invitez les gens à participer, et assurez-vous que c’est interactif. 5. Ajustez l’ordre du jour selon les besoins: Après quelques réunions, révisez ce qui fonctionne bien et ajustez en conséquence. Redéfinissez vos réunions avec un ordre du jour clair Imaginez des réunions qui boostent votre équipe au lieu de les drainer, où chacun sait exactement son rôle et les objectifs. Un ordre du jour structuré ne rend pas juste les réunions plus productives, ça redéfinit la culture des réunions, en établissant une norme de clarté, de focus et de responsabilisation. **Des études montrent que les ordres du jour clairs peuvent réduire la durée des réunions de 30 %, doubler l’efficacité des décisions et augmenter l’engagement de 20 %**. Prêt à donner un nouveau souffle à vos réunions ? Mettez en place un ordre du jour clair et voyez la différence dans la productivité de votre équipe. C’est le moment de dire adieu aux réunions improductives et de dire bonjour à des rencontres percutantes et orientées vers l’action ! --- Besoin d'un coup de main pour optimiser vos réunions ? Contactez-nous ! Vous voulez transformer vos réunions, gagner du temps et booster la productivité ? Contactez-nous aujourd'hui! Ensemble, on va mettre en place une stratégie de réunions qui maximise votre temps et vous aide à atteindre de vrais résultats.  Melanie@InnovationMB.ca  pour bâtir une culture de réunions efficaces et motivantes, qui permettent à votre équipe de performer à son plein potentiel !

How to Reduce Meeting Time by 50% and Achieve Clear, Actionable Outcomes

By Melanie Beauregard • November 2, 2024
Are Your Meetings Draining Productivity?  Did you know that 47% of employees say that too many meetings are the biggest productivity killer? According to a Harvard Business Review survey, 71% of senior managers feel their meetings are a waste of time . This statistic raises a big question: are your meetings truly serving their purpose, or are they derailing your team’s focus? Often, the problem isn't the meeting itself but the lack of structure . Imagine having shorter, more effective meetings where every minute has a purpose. That’s what a clear agenda can do. A well-structured meeting agenda ensures your meetings aren’t just productive but impactful, turning every discussion into actionable results. In this guide, we’ll dive into the power of a clear agenda and reveal a proven framework to make your meetings twice as impactful in half the time. Let’s get started! Why a Clear Meeting Agenda is Your Secret Productivity Weapon 1. Increases Efficiency by 40% Meetings with structured agendas are proven to be 40% more efficient than those without. An agenda provides a roadmap, helping team members stay focused on relevant topics and avoid the all-too-common rabbit trails. When everyone knows the topics in advance, there’s less need to backtrack or rehash information. 2. Provides Clear Objectives and Boosts Team Focus Without a clear purpose, 63% of employees admit to being unsure why they’re even in a meeting. An agenda solves this by outlining specific objectives, ensuring that every participant understands the “why” behind the gathering. Knowing the objectives sharpens focus, making it more likely that discussions will lead to meaningful, goal-aligned outcomes. 3. Cuts Decision-Making Time in Half Unstructured meetings often mean rushed, last-minute decisions. Studies show that teams make decisions twice as fast when using an agenda that prioritizes key topics. By creating a clear order for topics, you enable participants to tackle complex decisions confidently and with sufficient context. 4. Improves Accountability: 60% More Task Completion Agendas that assign discussion points and time slots to specific individuals create accountability, a powerful motivator. A study by Asana found that teams complete 60% more tasks when responsibilities are clearly defined. Assigning roles for each agenda item also keeps participants engaged, knowing their input is expected. 5. Saves Time – Reduces Meeting Length by 30% A recent survey by Doodle shows that structured agendas can reduce meeting times by up to 30%. Agendas eliminate unnecessary topics, helping teams cover what’s needed without overshooting the schedule. With a clear roadmap, you avoid tangents and wrap up faster, giving everyone more time to focus on actual work. 6. Boosts Engagement by 20% When team members receive the agenda beforehand, they’re 20% more likely to engage actively, as reported by Gallup. Knowing the discussion points ahead of time allows participants to prepare, bringing their insights and questions. This preparation results in a more dynamic, collaborative environment. The Ultimate Meeting Agenda Framework for Marketing Directors Let’s dive into a framework that guarantees productive, action-oriented meetings. Using a model like the one in Gino Wickman’s Traction, this agenda is designed to keep marketing teams aligned, accountable, and focused on results. 1. Start with a Segue (5 Minutes) Kick off the meeting with a positive tone by having each member share a recent win—whether personal or professional. This practice has been shown to boost morale and increase team cohesion by 15%. Tying wins back to marketing efforts helps align everyone around shared goals. 2. Scorecard Review (5 Minutes) Review key metrics that reflect the health of ongoing campaigns, like lead generation, website traffic, or return on ad spend (ROAS). Studies suggest that teams who regularly review performance data see a 30% improvement in achieving their KPIs. The scorecard offers a quick overview, setting a data-driven tone. 3. Rock/OKR Check-In (5-10 Minutes) Spend a few minutes reviewing the team’s top quarterly priorities or Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). This ensures focus remains on the big goals—like product launches or rebranding projects. Research shows that setting OKRs can increase a team’s performance by up to 25%. 4. Employee Headlines (5 Minutes) Take time to recognize contributions, celebrate new hires, or address capacity concerns. Recognition can boost employee morale by up to 50%, according to a study by Gallup. This brief update also fosters transparency and reinforces a positive team culture. 5. Review To-Do List (5 Minutes) Following up on previous action items is crucial. A Harvard Business School study found that teams are 33% more likely to complete tasks when they review them regularly. This step keeps everyone accountable and ensures progress on key marketing initiatives. 6. IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) – Issues List (60 Minutes) Now, it’s time to tackle the most pressing issues. The IDS process is a powerful way to identify problems, discuss them, and create actionable solutions. This approach can increase problem-solving efficiency by 45% by keeping discussions focused on solutions rather than just venting frustrations. 7. Conclude and Confirm Next Steps (5 Minutes) End the meeting by summarizing action items and setting deadlines. Studies show that meeting closure with specific action points can boost task completion by 60%. Also, confirm the date and focus for the next meeting to establish consistency. Practical Tips for Implementing This Agenda Distribute the Agenda in Advance: Share it at least 24 hours before the meeting. This boosts engagement and ensures everyone has time to prepare relevant updates or insights. Stick to Time Limits: Assign a timekeeper to maintain pace. Enforcing time limits respects everyone’s schedule and reinforces discipline. Encourage Accountability: Designate leads for each agenda item and follow up on action items in subsequent meetings to reinforce responsibility. Prioritize Engagement: Use questions and invite input to maintain a collaborative atmosphere. Meetings should be interactive, not monologues. Regularly Optimize the Agenda: After a few meetings, review what’s working and adjust the agenda as needed. Flexibility ensures the structure remains effective as team needs evolve. Conclusion: Reinvent Your Meetings with a Clear Agenda Imagine a workday where meetings energize your team rather than drain them, where every participant knows their role and the goals for each discussion. A structured agenda doesn’t just help keep meetings productive—it redefines the meeting culture, setting a precedent for clarity, focus, and accountability. Research shows that clear agendas can reduce meeting length by 30%, double decision-making efficiency, and increase engagement by 20%. Are you ready to make your meetings matter? Implementing a clear agenda framework can transform your team’s productivity, giving you back valuable time and driving better results. It’s time to say goodbye to unproductive meetings and hello to impactful, results-driven sessions that get things done. FAQs 1 . How do I start using a structured agenda if my team is resistant? Start small by introducing the agenda for one or two key meetings and highlighting the time and productivity benefits. Share the positive impact on team morale and efficiency. 2 . Can a clear agenda improve my team’s focus? Yes, agendas set clear objectives, reducing distractions. They keep discussions on track and make it easier for participants to stay focused on the goals. 3. How do I choose which items go on the meeting agenda? Include only high-priority topics that align with the meeting’s main goal. Save smaller items for one-on-one or smaller group discussions. 4. Is there a recommended length for meetings? The ideal length varies, but structured agendas can often cut meeting time by up to 30%. Aim for 45-60 minutes for in-depth team meetings. 5. What tools can I use to make agenda creation easier? Tools like Asana, Notion, or Google Calendar allow you to create, share, and organize agendas. Many of these tools offer customizable templates to get you started.
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