Kickstarting Innovation with Monday Night’s Framework
Introduction
Peter Kiley is a man with a mission. As the Director of Innovation at Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, he is making it his business to create a framework that supports innovation in the brewing industry. Monday Night is a craft beer brewery that aims to build community around great beer, but they’re also committed to exploring new frontiers in the brewing world. In this podcast episode, we hear from Peter about his approach to innovation and the framework he’s building to support it.
Innovation: More Than Just A Buzzword
Innovation is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean? According to Peter, innovation is about “doing things differently” in a meaningful way. It’s not just about creating new products or services for the sake of novelty; it’s about solving real problems and making a positive impact on the world.
At Monday Night, innovation is at the core of their mission. They believe that by pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities, they can create a better future for themselves and their customers. But innovation is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, experimentation, and a willingness to take risks.
The Innovation Framework
To support innovation within their organization, Monday Night is building a framework that provides structure and guidance for their teams. This framework consists of several key components:
1. Clear Goals and Objectives
Innovation can’t happen in a vacuum. For it to be effective, it needs to be aligned with clear goals and objectives. At Monday Night, the innovation team works closely with the leadership team to ensure that their efforts are always focused on the right things.
2. A Collaborative Environment
Innovation requires collaboration. No one person has all the answers, and no one person can drive innovation alone. At Monday Night, they’ve created an environment that encourages collaboration across all departments, from brewing to marketing to sales.
3. A Culture of Experimentation
Innovation is all about experimentation. Not every idea is going to work, but that’s okay. At Monday Night, they embrace failure as a necessary part of the innovation process, and they encourage their employees to take risks and try new things.
4. Access to Resources
Innovation requires resources, whether that’s time, funding, or expertise. At Monday Night, they make sure that their teams have access to the resources they need to bring their ideas to life.
The Role of Customer Feedback
Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s essential to get feedback from customers to ensure that your ideas are viable and that they’re meeting a real need. At Monday Night, they involve their customers in the innovation process from the very beginning. By soliciting feedback and involving them in the decision-making process, they can create products and experiences that truly resonate with their audience.
Conclusion
Innovation is essential for any organization that wants to stay relevant and make an impact on the world. By building a framework that supports innovation, Monday Night is setting themselves up for success. They’re not just creating great beer; they’re creating a culture of experimentation, collaboration, and customer-centricity that will drive them forward into the future.
