The Kraken Model of Innovation is not just a concept but a transformative strategy to thrive. This model draws its inspiration from the mythical kraken, representing a multi-faceted, decentralized, tentacle-like approach to innovation.

In the realm of innovation, agility and adaptability are paramount. The Kraken Model of Innovation offers a refreshing paradigm that mirrors the characteristics of its namesake sea monster—vast, adaptable, and powerful. This model promotes a decentralized approach to innovation, where independent yet interconnected teams work across various aspects of a project or organization.

Let’s explore why the Kraken Model could be the future of innovative strategy in business.

The Anatomy of the Kraken Model:

The Kraken Model is built on the foundation of distributed authority and decentralized execution. Just as a kraken extends its tentacles to explore and interact with a wide area, this model allows teams to operate independently, exploring different ideas and strategies. Each ‘tentacle’ is self-sufficient, agile, and capable of making decisions that best suit their immediate goals, which contributes to the overall mission of the organization.

9 Key Benefits of Decentralization:

1. Empower Autonomous Teams: Give individual teams the freedom to explore and innovate, while maintaining alignment with the core organizational mission and goals.

2. Foster Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Encourage teams to share insights and resources across boundaries.

3. Accelerate Experimentation: With multiple teams working independently, the pace of experimentation and iteration multiplies, rapidly evolving our software solutions and services to meet market demands.

4. Increased Innovation: With multiple teams working simultaneously on diverse aspects of a project, the likelihood of innovative ideas and solutions emerging increases significantly.

5. Scalability without Bureaucracy: This model scales effortlessly, as new teams can be created as extensions of existing ones, allowing organizations to expand their reach and impact without a cumbersome buildup of bureaucracy.

6. Enhanced Agility: By allowing teams the autonomy to navigate their path, organizations can move faster than those with centralized, top-down decision-making processes.

7. Scale Flexibly: Adapt the size and focus of teams as projects grow and change, ensuring efficiency and agility.

8. Speed: Independent teams can move fast, test new concepts, and pivot without the encumbrance of traditional hierarchical structures.

9. Creativity: We can harness the Kraken Model to drive unprecedented growth and creativity in our business:

Implementing the Kraken Model:

1. Cultivating the Right Culture:

A culture of trust and accountability is essential. Teams need the autonomy to take risks but also need to align with the overall strategic vision of the organization.

2. Communication is Key:

Regular check-ins and updates between teams ensure that while each operates independently, they remain harmoniously aligned with the organization’s objectives.

3. Empowering Leadership:

Leadership in the Kraken Model acts more as facilitators and less as commanders. Their role is to empower teams, provide resources, and remove obstacles.

The Kraken Model of Innovation challenges traditional business hierarchies and bureaucratic sluggishness, advocating for a structure that is as dynamic and formidable as the mythical creature it is named after.

At ISHIR, we have adopted Kraken Model, in our dynamic work environment where innovation is not just encouraged but embedded into the very fabric of our operations. With the advent of AI and the impacts of it, we have no choice but to make rapid change happen across our organization and in every department. We need to ensure we have a richer breeding ground for unique ideas and experiments.

For organizations willing to embrace this model, the potential for growth and transformation is as vast as the ocean.

ISHIR has a proven process to help with Innovation Acceleration. We can help you do this, and save you time, resources and ultimately launch your product right, the first time.

Questions to Ask:

1. Have you tried decentralized innovation models in your organization?

2. What were your challenges and successes?

3. Are you ready to unleash the kraken in your organization?

Share your thoughts or experiences with decentralized innovation models in the comments below!