I was in a team meeting where teams were encouraged to bring up ideas for innovation during the IP sprint.

While one of the Product Owners suggested a list of items team members can pull from the backlog and use as innovation items, my suggestion was defined a strategic focus and let team members come up with their own ideas. More like let’s give our team members the secret ingredient of ‘strategic focus’ and let them cook up their own innovation recipes!

With the advent of AI and the future of work; it’s becoming a necessity for organizations to begin to prioritize innovation. Even Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) recommends a dedicated sprint called IP (Innovation and Planning) for this purpose.

However, with this evolution; comes the need for a hybrid approach.
A dedicated sprint or scheduled event(s) where team members are allowed to work on projects of their choice, aligned with the company’s mission and goals. But also, integrate innovation into their regular workflows as a fundamental part of their everyday work culture.

To Agile Leaders, let’s create space for scheduled innovation event, sprints or day(s) when the clock stops, and the only deadline is the potential of one’s imagination.

An opportunity for teams to showcase their ingenuity. Where the focus is not just on the end product; but about the journey of exploration and the stories of teamwork and perseverance.
A time where teams reaffirm their commitment to innovation, to pushing boundaries, and to continuous learning.

Here’s to the mavericks, the dreamers, the round pegs in the square holes – may your ideas be as bountiful as the coffee on a Monday morning. ☕

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