In organizations where innovation and research are critical to success, how do you effectively capture and incubate ideas? Do traditional proposal submissions still work best, or have you found more dynamic, democratized approaches that empower employees at all levels to contribute? I'd love to hear about successful frameworks, platforms, or cultural shifts that have helped foster innovation across your organization.

I foster within my team experimentations based on the data we have. It’s important for the team to understand that they can propose ideas and initiatives freely. Some might use traditional methods to convey those initiatives. Some might do it differently, by asking questions during our daily’s or weekly meetings. I provide a safe space where the team can propose and take action upon those initiatives.

I let them know that they can “fail often, fail smart”. That way they understand that in order to do something you’ve never done before, you need to do something you’ve never done before. With 0 nagging nor being reprimanded.

One thing that it is very important, is how you structured your team. If it’s a squad for a business problem or a squad for a business metric with clear and constant communication it allows the whole team to capture and incubate initiatives and ideas.

In my experience, traditional proposal submissions still have their place, but they’re far from the most effective way to foster innovation. The best approach is dynamic and participatory. We leverage collaborative platforms like Teams or Yammer to capture and refine ideas in real-time, breaking down barriers between departments. Hackathons and internal challenges help bring diverse minds together to solve real problems, while communities of practice create a space for organic idea-sharing. Recognizing and rewarding contributions, even those that don’t immediately turn into projects, keeps the momentum going. Ultimately, successful innovation isn’t top-down—it thrives in an agile, open, and iterative culture.