A system is a set of interrelated and interacting elements. In a Management System, those elements are people, processes, and technology. A Management System gives us a business model that steadily strengthens these links but retains flexibility. Linkage is everything and for example, if sales are not linked to design, the design people will guess what the customer wants and operations pick up the pieces. To become a serial innovator, you need a System Approach.

The new ISO 56002 Guidance on Innovation Management is written with the common High-Level Structure (HLS) of ISO Management System Standards. It enables the integration of different ISO management systems. ISO 9001 adopted this structure in 2015 and when you look at activities like setting objectives, capturing data, and data analysis these will integrate easily, as will the vast majority of the Innovation Standard.

This outline of the new Innovation Management System (IMS) Guidance Standard also shows some of the links to ISO 9001:2015.  A requirements version of the IMS standard would come later and be ISO 56001. You can start work on your IMS in preparation for certification. The rationale for certification will be to make an organization more attractive to innovation investors, government grants, and partnering. 95% of innovators partner with other organizations.

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