by Paul Marray

How can an operational trial transform organisational change?

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, innovation is essential, particularly when faced with high technical complexity and tight financial constraints. Innovation is the combination of idea generation and robust implementation. At 4OC, we believe in the co-design process to identify the right idea for the problem at hand, ensuring bespoke solutions that stand up in operational reality.

An effective strategy to foster effective innovation under these challenging conditions is to conduct a well-considered operational trial that involves key stakeholders: users, sponsors, maintainers, as well as SME and academia to help challenge the status quo or facilitate transformative step changes.

An operational trail is a crucial phase in the development of a system, product, or process where it is tested under realistic operating conditions, and conducting one not only reduces financial risk but also enhances the potential for successful implementation of new technologies or processes.

Key factors 

Outlined below are some of the key factors to consider when setting up an operational trial, and examples of the range of benefits they can bring.

1. Real-World Feedback and Quick Iterations

Operational trials are a valuable means to collect authentic feedback from end-users who will interact with the new system or product on a daily basis. This feedback is crucial as it ensures the innovation process is grounded in practicality and improves delivery certainty, rather than theoretical assumptions.

By understanding user experiences, preferences, and challenges, we can quickly modify the offerings before full-scale deployment. This rapid iteration helps refine the innovation to better meet user needs, thereby increasing its acceptance and effectiveness.

2. Inclusion of Expertise from Academia and SME Specialists

Engaging SME specialists and academics from the outset – for example in areas like AI, ESG, data insights and technical aspects can enhance the innovation’s foundational elements.

These niche experts bring cutting-edge research and specialised knowledge that will drive value and success factors early in the process. Their input can lead to the development of more sophisticated, sustainable and secure solutions that are ahead of market trends and regulatory changes.

3. Alignment with Business Goals

Involving sponsors, often senior stakeholders or decision-makers, in operational trials ensures that the innovation aligns with the broader business objectives and strategic goals.

Sponsors can offer essential insights into how the innovation integrates within the existing business ecosystem and its potential impact on the company’s financial performance. This alignment is critical, especially in financially restricted environments where every investment needs to be justified and is expected to yield measurable returns.

4. Assessing Maintainability and Sustainability

The inclusion of maintainers, such as IT support staff or operations teams, during the trial phase is vital for evaluating the new technology or process’ maintainability. These individuals will be responsible for its upkeep and troubleshooting after deployment.

Their early involvement helps pinpoint potential technical challenges and maintenance issues that might become costly or problematic later. Addressing these issues early ensures that the innovation is not only effective but also sustainable long-term.  This level of focus ensures OPEX outlays are thought through early in the lifecycle and the business is not tied into costly new support arrangements unnecessarily, limiting future changes and adaptability.

5. Risk Mitigation

Conducting an operational trial also acts as a crucial risk management tool. It allows organisations to test their innovations in controlled, real-world environments where potential failures carry lower stakes. This is particularly important in situations involving high technical complexity, where unexpected issues can lead to significant disruptions to BAU and financial losses.

By identifying and resolving these issues during the trial phase, the business can prevent costly setbacks and ensure a smoother introduction of the innovation.

6. Involving Supply Chain to Support Commercialisation

Including supply chain partners in the operational trial helps in assessing the deliverability and cost requirements of the innovation.

An early investment in identifying the right commercial arrangements to engage the supply chain will ensure suppliers and partners are prepared to support the commercialisation of the new product or service, highlighting any logistical challenges or efficiencies that could be leveraged. It also allows for a more accurate estimation of costs and timeframes, which are both crucial factors for success.

7. Enhancing Stakeholder Buy-in and Support

Lastly, engaging a diverse group of stakeholders throughout the trial process builds a sense of ownership and buy-in, crucial for the successful adoption of any new initiative.

When users, maintainers, sponsors, and experts from academia and industry are actively involved in the development and testing phases, they are more likely to support the final product and advocate for its implementation. This widespread endorsement is critical, especially in environments where resources are scarce, and each new project must be carefully evaluated to ensure it adds value.

Round up

Running a well-considered operational trial is crucial for promoting innovation in environments marked by financial constraints and high technical complexity. Such trials enable detailed feedback, ensure strategic alignment, assess long-term sustainability, mitigate potential risks, and enhance overall stakeholder engagement.

By dedicating time and resources to the thorough planning and execution of these trials, organisations can significantly increase the success rate of their innovative endeavours.

Want to trial a trial?

You can find some of our 4OC successes and case studies here, to see how we have helped organisations run timely, cost effective operational trials leading to trailblazing and best-in-class innovation. If you’d like to talk through what an operational trial might look like in your organisation, contact paul@the4oc.com.