Context Analysis. The discipline to look for data and focus on what is strategically important.
Mind the Gap
Uncover blind spots
and opportunities.
Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in focus.
We tend to rely on familiar patterns when making business decisions, and these patterns often influence the way we search for data. If the pattern we use to gather data is flawed, our decisions are likely to be off track.
Analyzing the environment is a crucial step in any innovation project. But it's equally vital when making strategic bets and planning for the year ahead.
Context Analysis is one of the workshops where I ask teams to put in significant effort, both before and during the session. For teams eager to start their innovation journey, this step can feel daunting. It might even seem like they're redoing something that's already been covered in various strategic initiatives.
Most strategic exercises are done once a year, when leaders assess a broad set of data. Companies review what worked, what didn’t, financial results, competition, and often some regulatory or economic factors.
But there are three flaws in this approach:
It's done only once a year.
The same data is often crunched over and over.
It's typically the work of a few, not a collective effort involving a wider group of members.
Here’s how I help teams explore new ways of finding relevant data for their strategic decisions, whether it's for innovation or business as usual.
The workshop is designed for a multidisciplinary team, where each member receives specific guidance on what to search for.
The process of discovering where to find data is part of each team member’s learning journey.
I encourage individuals to look within, around, and into the future.
When it comes to competition, it's not just about the value proposition; it's about everything that shapes the Business Model, Customer Experience, and Solution Delivery.
Once everyone has gathered their insights, we come together for a one-day workshop aimed at sharpening critical thinking and analysis.
Teams present their findings structured into gaps, opportunities and not now, select what’s most relevant, and decide on their next steps. This isn't meant to be a one-off exercise, but rather a routine practice embedded in their work. Given how quickly our environments shift, it seems crazy to limit this analysis to just once a year. Teams must become investigative, collaborative, and communicative to stay ahead of the competition.