Founder Natasha Stavros (PhD) developed the WKID (pronounced “wicked”) Innovation framework to describe how to system engineer change to solve wicked problems. Wicked problems involve multiple organizations and often involve disagreement about the causes and best solutions.
What is WKID Innovation?
WKID Innovation is a framework to generalize processes for innovation using leadership techniques and NASA system engineering. WKID Innovation combines three systems frameworks to support innovative products, programs, or processes that change the current system.
WKID Innovation uses best practices from theory of change, design thinking, system engineering, and project management, the scientific method, and the knowledge hierarchy to mitigate risks while changing broken systems.
WKID Innovation transcends any one discipline and covers a breadth of topics, thus the success of WKID Innovation relies on mapping the knowledge hierarchy to the system engineering V-model.
The foundational premise is that human actions are determined by what we know to be true based on observations of our experience in the world. Specifically, informed action (Wisdom) is determined by values and the patterns of what we Know to be true within a given context based on the patterns of Information that we observe from evidence or the Data available.
The first step in applying WKID Innovation is to map the concept of operations, or informed actions (wisdom), of the current state to identify the opportunity for improvement that would change actions. Mapping the concept of operations can be really challenging, but, if you want to change the current business environment, you must understand the current business environment as it relates to policy, economic, sociocultural factors, and technology/tools (PEST).
Thus, to identify and implement change to a system, we must understand the informed actions by people and the processes and the policies that govern them, the economics of trade, the cultural influences, and the technical capabilities.
How does it differ from other change management frameworks?
WKID Innovation is more than change management. Oftentimes, change management assumes a known problem or a known solution and provides frameworks like McKinsey 7-S or ADKAR to support adoption of the change. WKID Innovation does not presuppose a problem or a solution, rather it looks at a complicated problem, owned by many players, to map the system and collaborate through social facilitation towards a change, which can use change management models like 7-S or ADKAR in their rollout for adoption.
How can WKID Solutions help implement WKID Innovation?
WKID Solutions offers an array of services and products to help you implement WKID Innovation. We all see problems that we wish we could solve from obesity, employee burnout, systemic racism, to climate change, WKID Solutions is working to support you in making those necessary changes.
So often, people want to dive into the solution without truly understanding the complexity of the problem and the role that they can play. This is absolutely essential because if you don’t understand your role it is very hard to contribute in a meaningful way. Realistically, no one person can solve any of these problems, but they can be a part of a much bigger solution.
WKID Innovation for Entertainment and a General Audience
A Change Maker's Community
Book and Audiobook: Burning Inside Out
WKID Innovation FREE Tools and Resources
Over the past two years, we have created resources to help you apply this framework:
- An open-access, peer-reviewed manuscript on the theoretical basis of the WKID Innovation framework, which includes a real-world example.
- A Concept Maturity Quiz to help you figure out where in this process you are. Learn more about the basis of the Concept Maturity Quiz in the blog post.
- A 12-min masterclass to engage your mind and make the connections between business, operations, research, and technology development that are necessary to create products of value. You can watch it here: