Toolbox for accelerating innovation

InSIGHT and InSPIRE: Utilizing fresh thinking for business success

Network companies face significant challenges including growth in demand and new connections; heavily loaded systems and operating constraints; major asset replacement programs as end of life is reached; and new requirements to integrate renewable energy, electric vehicles and more interactive end-use customers. Utilising new technologies effectively will be a key success factor as networks move into an era of change. Efficient solutions must align with regulatory frameworks and business imperatives, and be deliverable with acceptable risk. How can this be addressed, assessed and communicated?

Project
KEMA has developed a ‘state of readiness’ survey that provides companies with the capability to calibrate their organizational readiness for responding to the innovation challenges ahead. It enables them to assess their organizational strengths and identify any gaps to be addressed.

Objectives
The InSIGHT tool consists of a one-day ‘state of readiness’ survey that provides companies with the capability to calibrate their organizational readiness for responding to the innovation challenges ahead. InSIGHT does not address specific technologies but rather the organizational and management dimensions of innovation and its successful commercial deployment.

KEMA offers a range of techniques to assist companies in developing strategic roadmaps for smart grids, evaluating options, and assessing business benefits in a structured way. This workshop toolset is described as InSPIRE and it is complementary to the InSIGHT tool.

Benefits
Over the last two years, the InSIGHT survey has been carried out for four UK utilities and three times in the Netherlands and covers gas and power and transmission and distribution. Some of our clients have repeated the InSIGHT survey to track their progress in enhancing their innovation capabilities.

In many cases the one-day survey is combined with an additional day to include an innovation workshop for a wider audience, to undertake InSPIRE or to present the findings in a wider context during a lunchtime seminar or a management seminar.

Client
> Scottish & Southern Energy, UK (and additional clients)

Project coordinator
> KEMA , United Kingdom

Project details
> 2008 - ongoing