North Star

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North Star

The North Star describes the organization’s overarching goal and purpose. It points to a desirable future, giving the innovation agenda both a destination (where and why) and a direction (how).

Near Star

The Near Star is the overarching goal and purpose the innovation project. It is aspirational, yet within reach. It should align with the organization’s North Star, and motivate all systems actors to work towards the same aim.

PROBLEM

The problem reflects the gap between the current situation and a desirable future. When working in systems, there is no single problem or ‘right’ problem. Rather, there is an ‘ecology of problems’ – a set of interrelated problems that cut across societal and organizational systems.

AWARENESS

Building awareness helps innovators see the structures and forces that shape the problem and reveals enablers for, and barriers to change. Systems awareness is needed to generate creative and viable ideas.

IDEAS

Ideas are the creative, exciting opportunities that can address problems. The aim is to generate numerous ideas, and then select those that are most viable and impactful.

ACTIONS

Actions can include new products and services, but also changes to the organizations vision, mission, identity and language. The aim is not to take a single action, but to embark on an series of connected actions that can nudge the system and foster learning.