Holistic innovation management: How culture and mindset drive success according to ISO 56001
Innovation is no longer just a „nice-to-have“; it has become a strategic necessity to remain competitive in the long term. However, simply following technological trends or developing innovative products is not enough. The key to sustainable innovation success lies in a holistic approach that builds on these two crucial factors: a vibrant innovation culture and an agile innovation mindset. Together with a structured innovation management system (IMS) based on ISO 56001, these elements form the foundation of a future-oriented organization.
What is holistic innovation management according to ISO 56001?
ISO 56001 provides companies with a framework for systematically and structurally organizing innovation processes. This international standard goes beyond simple process descriptions and integrates the entire organization into the innovation process. Key elements include:
- Leadership and engagement of management: The role of leadership in defining innovation strategies.
- Strategic alignment and goals: How innovation integrates into corporate strategy.
- Resources and capabilities: Providing resources and fostering innovation skills within the company.
- Processes for developing and implementing innovations: Clear structures and processes for the innovation cycle, from idea generation to implementation.
- Risk management: Identifying and proactively managing innovation risks.
- Monitoring, analysis, and improvement: Continuous evaluation and improvement of the IMS.
Despite the comprehensive nature of this approach, it often remains ineffective without the right corporate culture and mindset. Innovation culture and mindset are critical drivers of holistic innovation management.
Innovation culture: The backbone of innovation management
A strong innovation culture is more than just a corporate value—it is the engine that drives innovation management. It influences how open a company is to new ideas, how risks and failures are perceived, and how flexibly it adapts to new challenges. A culture that supports innovation doesn’t arise by chance but must be intentionally fostered and ideally measured.
Leadership and engagement of the leadership team
Interaction with culture and mindset: Leaders play a crucial role in establishing an innovation-friendly culture. Leaders with an innovation mindset act as role models, encouraging their teams to take risks and fostering creative thinking. Without such leadership support, an IMS risks being perceived as merely a formal framework lacking the necessary dynamism. Building trust and psychological safety is essential for the success of innovation initiatives.
OMIND’s approach uses AI-supported platforms to send targeted, low-threshold interventions combined with workshops to make mindset shifts measurable and visible over time.
IMS support:
- Embedding innovation culture into the company’s DNA.
- Fostering an innovation mindset to build trust and psychological safety for new ideas.
Strategic alignment and goals
Interaction with culture and mindset: The focus is on embedding innovation into long-term corporate goals to enable continuous value creation. Companies with strong innovation cultures integrate innovation activities into their strategies, fostering alignment across all organizational levels.
IMS support:
- Innovation culture ensures better integration of activities into corporate strategy.
- Innovation mindset drives flexibility and adaptability for continuous strategic development.
Resources and capabilities
Interaction with culture and mindset: Companies with an innovation-friendly culture prioritize developing and utilizing skills. Employees with an innovation mindset actively seek opportunities to learn and grow. This might involve participating in cross-departmental innovation challenges and building a „solution ecosystem“ for future tasks.
IMS support:
- Continuous learning and development within an innovation-friendly culture.
- Employees with an innovation mindset optimally utilize resources to enhance skills.
Processes for developing and implementing innovations
Interaction with culture and mindset: Innovation processes outlined in the IMS, such as stage-gate processes or design thinking, provide structure. A strong innovation culture ensures these processes are actively embraced rather than merely followed.
IMS support:
- Strengthening innovation culture through structured processes.
- Encouraging employees with an innovation mindset to improve and iterate.
Risk management
Interaction with culture and mindset: Innovation always involves risks. A strong innovation mindset enables employees to anticipate risks and create solutions proactively. A culture of innovation perceives risk management not as a hindrance but as an opportunity to enhance creative solutions.
IMS Support:
- A failure tolerant culture fosters proactive risk management.
- Employees with an innovation mindset balance risks and develop creative approaches.
- A changed view of mistakes and, above all, how to deal with them is an essential aspect of Omind’s intervention logic in the dimension of fault tolerance. Changes must be actively tackled and trained over time. This requires impulses that repeatedly bring the issues to the surface and encourage people to address certain questions. This pause is the first step on a journey of change. These individualised impulses are sent out at regular intervals by the OMIND platform, creating a ‘wakefulness’ and sensitivity throughout the organisation that ultimately has a culture-changing effect.
Monitoring, analysis, and improvement
Interaction with culture and mindset: A learning-focused culture and an innovation mindset are vital for continuously improving innovation processes.
IMS support:
- Fostering innovation culture for reflection and optimization of processes.
- Leveraging innovation mindset to drive improvements.
Conclusion
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It is the result of a synergy between structure, culture, and mindset. While ISO 56001 provides a clear framework for innovation management, its true potential is realized through a strong innovation culture and an agile innovation mindset.
OMIND supports this process by providing measurable and continuous impulses for innovation. This approach helps companies actively develop their innovation culture and mindset for sustainable success.
Holism – the key to successful innovation
Dennis Boecker – Innovations Management Consulting