Innovation isn’t random – stop acting like it

In today’s turbulent business environment, innovation is no longer a buzzword—it’s the strategic core of survival and growth. Organizations that thrive are those that manage innovation deliberately, not chaotically. But here’s the challenge: when executives hear standards, it is not innovation that come to mind. Standards are often pictured with bureaucracy, rigid compliance, and creativity-killing red tape.

It’s time to flip that script.

Modern innovation standards—especially the ISO 56000 series—don’t restrain creative thinking. They enable it. When applied smartly, they give leadership the clarity, structure, and momentum needed to turn ideas into measurable results.

Let’s explore how.

What is innovation management?

Innovation management revolves around steering innovation activities within an organization. It’s about sparking new ideas and strategically identifying growth opportunities, assimilating novel technologies, and refining processes to stay ahead of the curve. And of course, it isn’t a solo endeavor. It thrives on collaboration across departments, drawing upon diverse expertise, tools, and methodologies to sift through ideas, allocate resources, and gauge success. This collective synergy drives business growth, helping enterprises remain competitive and vibrant.

Innovation management is a system, not a lottery

Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. Leading organizations don’t just hope for breakthroughs—they manage innovation with the same discipline they apply to finance, operations, or quality.

This is the philosophy behind the ISO 56000 family, particularly:

ISO 56000: The vocabulary and principles of innovation management.
NEW – ISO 56001: Published in 2024, it defines the requirements for an IMS. Think ISO 9001 for innovation—ideal for organizations looking to certify and continuously improve their innovation capability.
ISO 56002: A comprehensive guidance standard for designing and operating an Innovation Management System (IMS).

These standards form a robust framework to help organizations shift from sporadic ideas to systematic innovation.

Structure empowers, it doesn’t restrict

Contrary to the myth that standards stifle creativity, the ISO 56000 series promotes:

Cross-functional collaboration
Strategic alignment of innovation and business priorities
Supportive leadership and culture
Risk and opportunity management
Scalable innovation practices

Instead of telling you what to innovate, these standards show you how to create an ecosystem where innovation thrives—across departments, partners, and borders.

Certification: The role of ISO 56001

Introducing ISO 56001 adds a new level of seriousness to innovation management.

Key benefits include:

Precise, auditable requirements for an innovation management system
Alignment with other ISO management system standards (such as ISO 9001, 14001, etc.)
Opportunities for external certification, increasing credibility with investors, partners, and regulators

For top management, ISO 56001 serves as a roadmap to build trust and accountability into innovation efforts, without stifling creativity.

Collaboration is king: ISO 56003 and ISO 56006

Innovation today happens in ecosystems, not silos. Whether through R&D alliances, supply chain co-creation, or public-private partnerships, collaboration multiplies impact.

ISO 56003: Helps structure innovation partnerships—defining goals, roles, IP rights, and trust mechanisms.
ISO 56006: Guides the development of strategic intelligence—so you’re not just reacting to trends, but anticipating them.

Together, they help leaders unlock synergies beyond their walls.

Safeguard your breakthroughs: ISO 56005

Innovation without protection is exposure.

ISO 56005 ensures that intellectual property (IP) is not an afterthought, but a strategic asset. It helps organizations:

Identify innovation with IP potential
Strategize protection and licensing
Integrate IP management into the innovation lifecycle

This is essential risk and value management in a world of fast-moving knowledge exchange.

What else is new in the 56000 family?

Besides ISO 56001, the innovation management series now includes:

ISO 56008 (2024): Tools and methods for measuring innovation performance.
ISO 56007 (2023): Guidance on managing opportunities and ideas—bridging ideation with execution.
ISO/TS 56010 (2023): Illustrative examples to help apply ISO 56002 in real-world scenarios.

This expanding toolkit gives organizations a flexible yet comprehensive foundation for managing innovation effectively.

Final thought: Lead innovation by design, not by accident

At StandardsHero, we believe standards aren’t there to tell you what to do—they’re there to help you do what matters, better. With ISO 56001 and the whole ISO 56000 family, innovation becomes more than an aspiration. It becomes a management capability that drives results, builds trust, and sustains growth.

So don’t fear the framework. Use it. Challenge it. Evolve it because the most innovative leaders know how to lead through standards, not around them.