Stone Mantel has been conducting forward-looking Collaboratives for 15 years. Here are the key questions we get asked:
Why is it collaborative?
Innovative thinking doesn't happen in a vacuum; it happens by bringing diverse thinking styles and challenges together and looking at them through a wide set of lenses. Most companies get stumped on the hard problems, and because they don’t take the time to solve them, they never get to truly innovative solutions.
We create time and space to get to the root of hairy problems, find the right answers, and shift the paradigm.
Who should be involved?
The people who thrive on this journey are passionate about innovation, enjoy exploratory processes, and are strategic thinkers who work well in teams.
Typically, participants are at a director level and up, but where they come from in the organization varies. It tends to be everybody, from research to marketing, depending on the organizational structure and priorities.
How much time does it take?
Each company joins for a year-long Collaborative journey starting in September and ending in May.
We convene for live (virtual optional) quarterly meetings to collaborate, learn, review, and commission research around emerging questions.
Generally organizations have one or two consistent members that attend all four meetings. Some teams rotate between different team members throughout the year-long journey based on what works best for their company.
What is the output of the Collaboratives?
Some companies participate in the collaborative for just one year, but many have participated year after year, building their experience strategy expertise across functions and new projects each year. We’ve seen those companies grow through experience leadership and an impactful customer-led mindset that ripples throughout the organization. You also get:
Access to all foundational insights for this year and previous years.
Quantitatively tested concepts for a shared scenario.
Findings describing where the consumer is headed and what your organization must do.
Results of qual and quants studies conducted with consumers.
Experience visuals for internal communications.
Insights into how other organizations are solving similar challenges.
Experience strategy certification.
How do companies innovate as a result of the Collaboratives?
Companies focus on a key problem they are trying to improve in the near term or out-of-the-box innovation that puts them ahead of the curve.
Past examples include:
One of the largest retailers in the US developed their omnichannel approach
A manufacturer of RFID devices developed their smart, in-home experience
A financial institution changed their CX program to focus on MX
A restaurant chain developed a new personalization platform for customers
A hotel group developed thought leadership on the customer journey that informed several digital initiatives
A health insurance company changed the way they measure patient success
A health & wellness group developed their loyalty and service program
A large television network developed a new approach to segmentation
The most innovative university in the country developed new alum programs and post-graduate student programs
The largest beverage company in the world created world-class employee engagement initiatives and solutions for small to mid-sized business customers
Two top brand experience consulting groups developed new methodologies for the CX journey
AND SO MUCH MORE!
What is the average tenure for how long companies participate in a Collaborative?
On average, companies participate for three years. Some companies stay for a year, others 6+ years, and some take a year off occasionally.
The Collaboratives will help you think differently; it is an innovation process focused on improving your experiences for customers or employees. Come in expecting to be stretched in your thinking to solve challenges that you have both for today and preparing for tomorrow.
The length of time you stay is up to you, but we know whatever you decide, you will leave with thinking that will stretch you and strategies you can apply in practical ways.
What other questions do you have? Reach out to us HERE
