Case Studies

Ideas Accelerator and its directors have worked on innovation projects across a wide range of industries. We respect our client’s privacy and confidentiality and have gained their permission to feature some of their innovation projects below:

> Measuring Innovation Performance

The Ideas Accelerator – Innovation Monitor® survey was used to gain insight into the culture and climate of innovation at North Shore City Council. The survey was conducted in 2007 and again in 2009 and was used to identify areas where innovation performance, attitudes and behaviours could be improved. Staff were surveyed across eleven key areas and all results were benchmarked against a OECD measure of best practice innovation performance.Conducting the Innovation Monitor® survey allowed NSCC to identify key drivers and build a plan for improving performance in order to develop a more positive culture and climate of innovation.

What our clients say…

“The Innovation Monitor® has provided North Shore City Council with an insightful analysis of innovation, including key drivers for organisational improvement. This has definitely helped us to become a more innovative organisation”.<
Geoff Mason – General Manager Infrastructure Services, North Shore City Council

> Innovation in Project Management


SKM and sub-consultants Opus had commenced a Wastewater Network Strategic Improvement Project to develop the Concept Design for a new pumping station to service a major growth area in the north of North Shore City. Ideas Accelerator were engaged to help them manage stakeholders through the process of concept design and concept development.

Ideas Accelerator was also engaged to develop a waste water project management resources kit and process, which integrated innovation tools and techniques into the existing project management system. The use of this project management resource kit resulted in a saving of approximately $12M by eliminating the need for a pumping station and opting for a bypass and gravity sewer option. This also reduced the consenting and construction programme by approximately 1 year.

> Innovation Strategy Working Session

Ideas Accelerator was asked to develop a working session that would focus the Retail Leadership Team on differentiating the Contact Energy brand. Market research was used to gain customer insight into 3 areas of opportunity and a working session developed to engage the RLT in the process of identifying and developing key projects. As a result 3 projects were identified for further development and implementation.

What our clients say…

“Personally I found the Innovation Strategy day very useful and high motivating – it was great to see what was achieved, again thanks Louise and all the best”.
Peter Benstead – National Distribution and Channel Manager, Contact Energy

> Innovation and Collaboration Workshops

As part of a wider innovation programme – four innovation training modules were created by Ideas Accelerator to support the development of a culture and climate of innovative thinking, working and doing. The modules were designed to engage staff at all levels from CEO’s and senior leaders though to parks, infrastructure and administration staff.

This innovation training focused on helping staff to think differently and be open to new concepts and new ways of working together. It provided them with the confidence to apply practical innovation tools and techniques to everyday projects and problems.

What our clients say…

“The innovation training that Louise has provided has been an essential part of the innovation programme at North Shore City Council. The courses were of great interest and value to all areas of council and also to a number of key professional service providers to council.”
Dave Woods – Waste Water Networks Manager, North Shore City Council

> Innovation Systems Design

Ideas Accelerator was employed to design and map an innovation system that would assist the New Zealand Defense Force and Armed Services in sharing knowledge internally as well as transferring knowledge externally for commercial gain by NZ organisations.

This project commenced with a national IP audit and systems assessment conducted throughout the country across army, navy, air force and joint forces bases. Once a sample of this IP was collected an innovation/knowledge management system was designed for the capture, categorization, storage and distribution of this information to NZ Business for ‘national good’ purposes.

> Innovation Management Programme Design

In 2008 Ideas Accelerator was asked to assist the Research and Venturing (R&V) team at Telecom NZ Limited in the design and development of an innovation management system, develop an innovation community of practice, an innovation centre of excellence and a lab and incubation space for the development and launch of new products and services.

> Operational Performance Improvement

Ideas Accelerator and a team from Bearing Point were invited to design, develop and launch an innovation management system to improve operational performance across a number of Fonterra Co-operative Group factory sites.

The project included the implementation of innovation management software and the development of innovation training workshops, for idea coaches, idea submitters and the senior leadership team.

This project was unique in that two systems were designed, one computer based and one manual system for operations staff – the manual system allowed for ideas to be discussed in teams and developed by team members at the start of every shift. This helped to ensure that a wider range of participants were involved in the programme and that valuable ideas were being developed and implemented regularly.

> Innovation Competition & Awards

In 2003 Ideas Accelerator launched New Zealand’s first public ideas competition and awards – the CUBE. The CUBE is an ideas and commercialisation programme that searched for entrepreneurial new business ideas for Auckland, New Zealand’s Creative and Arts sector in 2003. It was a unique innovation programme as it was open to the general public to enter. All people entering retained complete ownership of their ideas.

Ideas Accelerator Limited provided the innovation and commercialisation methodology on which the programme was based. 451 ideas for new businesses were received and four new businesses were officially declared winners of the programme in June 2004 by the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark at an award ceremony in Auckland. Each of the four winning new businesses received 12 months of mentoring and coaching, and a cash prize of $NZ 50,000 each.

The programme was sponsored by; Creative Solutions Toi Whenua and an arts and business partnership between The Arts Regional Trust ART, Auckland City, Manukau City, North Shore City, Waitakere City and the Community Employment Group, with support from Creative New Zealand through the Regional Strengths strategy.

> Innovation and New Ventures Programme – i2B Performer

i2B Performer is an internet system that measures, tracks and managers innovation projects; new products, new services, performance improvements and new ventures. It was developed at Carter Holt Harvey (CHH) in the year 2000 and used by over 20 separate CHH businesses across New Zealand and Australia. It was also picked up by the Warehouse Group and is used to manage all performance improvement projects.

The i2B Performer system:

These projects combined are estimated to have accomplished a targeted savings of over $500 million dollars over six years

What our clients say…

“i2B Performer is a key driver in the expansion of our stage & gate process across the company. We’re seeing real gains in the businesses that are using it to bring visibility and efficiency in their new product & service development.”
Lindsay Davidson, Executive Leader – NPSD