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The key to successful innovation is to fail fast at the front-end,
where the impact on the business can be managed.
The Pentathlon Framework can be used to describe a structured process
that removes the risk of failure as ideas progress through the 'Innovation Funnel'.

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An innovation strategy guides and influences ideas
selection and implementation, identifying the business priorities
and ensuring senior management buy-in at an early stage.
The strategy may recommend acquisition, a new supply chain or new skills.

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Ideas generation is a response
to problems and challenges.

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A process is required for the selection and prioritisation
of ideas when incomplete information is available

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Strong project management skills are needed
to move ideas from conception, through implementation
to market in an environment of high uncertainty.

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An enterprise culture is one that can manage the
tension between taking risks and minimising
failure as products and services near market.