6 Steps for innovation

Abstract

The purpose of this book is to collect, present and disseminate the counselling toolbox from the SNOwMan project to external stakeholders. The book demonstrates the journey of the SNOwMan project and the process towards our final product – the 6-step process to help the intermediaries in their collaboration with owner-managers. To give the reader an overall perspective of the project, the book first takes you through the preliminary methodological discussions. The methodology was necessary, as it constituted an internal reference and steering instrument for partnership. Then follows the presentation of the questionnaire and interviews used for gathering challenges related to the current counselling practices in the four partner countries. The SNOwMan project used an online survey to assemble experiences and best practices for the intermediaries to counsel their member companies. To qualify the survey, interviews were conducted. They delivered information on the intermediary experiences and needs of the companies for non-technological innovation. The methodology was employed for pinpointing challenges of a collaboration between the intermediaries and owner managers of SMEs. The 6-step process towards supporting non-technological innovation has been evaluated recurrently. The book discusses the evaluation process and outputs. Based on the results of the carried out surveys and interviews, the SNOwMan project has developed the first prototype of the 6-step process in a co-creation workshop promoting the participation of both owner-managers and intermediaries.