ISO And Innovation - EN

ISO and innovation

164*members22 500*We are ISO,the International Organizationfor StandardizationInternationalStandards100new standardseach month245*technicalcommitteesWe are an independent,non-governmental organization.We are a global network ofnational standards bodies withone member per country.Our job is to make InternationalStandards.We are coordinated by a CentralSecretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.We are not for profit : selling ourstandards allows us to financetheir development in a neutralenvironment, to maintain themand to make new ones.* October 2019ISO provides a platform fordeveloping practical tools throughcommon understanding andcooperation with all stakeholders.

Innovation is not just about shiny new inventionsor discoveries. Innovation is a crucial businessneed as it relates to a company’s ability to identifyand pursue new areas of opportunity whileunderstanding and responding to changingconditions in its environment. It also helpsorganizations to create value while managinguncertainty and to leverage the knowledge andcreativity of the people who work there.It is a fundamental factor in business sustainabilityand economic viability, as well as a key contributor tothe development of society as a whole. Innovation isessential, because the world never stays still.Organizations that are innovative also contribute tomany of United Nations’ Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, including Goal 9, which aims to “ buildresilient infrastructure, promote inclusive andsustainable industrialization and foster innovation ”.ISO has developed a large portfolio of InternationalStandards and guidance documents that enable anorganization to align all its systems and processesin order to undertake innovation activities andinitiatives. They address all factors that contributeto an organization being innovative, right downto the implementation of an effective innovationmanagement system.What is innovation ?The OECD’s Oslo Manual 2018 : Guidelines forCollecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovationdefines four types of innovation : product, process,marketing and organizational.3

Defining innovationNow in its fourth edition, the Oslo Manual waspublished at the initiative of the Organization forEconomic Co-operation and Development (OECD)to answer fundamental questions about howinnovation can be measured.In developing this edition, ISO’s technicalcommittee for innovation management,ISO/TC 279, collaborated with the OECD toexchange perspectives on the definitions ofinnovation and innovation management.This led to an alignment of the definitions,taking into account the different objectives ofthe Oslo Manual and ISO standards.For more information, see ation.htm and www.iso.org/committee/4587737.html.In accordance with these guidelines, an innovation is a new or improvedproduct or process that differs significantly from previous productsor processes and is made available to users. This definition is in linewith those found in ISO standards so that they can be useful tools forcomparing and assessing innovation within and amongst organizations.Why do we need ISO standardsfor innovation ?Because innovation is an aspect of business and organizational changethat can be managed. ISO has hundreds of standards that support thegrowth and competitiveness of organizations. They help put systemsand processes in place that create added value and contribute toan organization’s own individual way of harnessing and maximizinginnovation. In this way, ISO standards help to build a more innovative,resilient and sustainable society.4

Who benefits from ISO standardsfor innovation ?Regulators and policy makerscan rely on ISO standards asa solid base on which tocreate public policies thatencourage innovationfor a more sustainableand resilient society.IndustryRegulatorsISO standards for innovation help businesses effectivelyrespond to change in order to maximizeopportunities for growth and development whilereducing associated risks. Companies can demonstratetheir ability to manage innovation activities to achievetheir intended outcomes : increased revenues andprofitability, improved sustainability and resilience,greater ability to attract partners, collaborators andfunding, and enhanced customer satisfaction.Consumers derive many benefitsfrom ISO standards for innovationsince increasing the innovationcapabilities of an organizationresults in their enjoyment of new andimproved products and services.Consumers

What standardsdoes ISO havefor innovation ?Frameworks for innovationISO has standards that provide organizationswith ways of defining what innovation meansto them, and the tools to help them get there.The ISO 56000 suite of standards andguidance documents on innovationmanagement offers a systematic approachto integrating innovation into all layers ofan organization. This helps to seize andcreate opportunities for the development ofeverything from new products, systems andservices to business models.They also bring many advantages such asan increased ability to manage uncertainty,greater profitability, improved reputation andclient retention, reduced cost and a moreempowered workforce.Published documents include : ISO 56002, Innovation management– Innovation management system– GuidanceThis standard covers all aspects of aninnovation management system. It considersthe context in which an organization worksand spans all types of innovations, includingproducts, services, processes, models,methods and related approaches.8

ISO 56003, Innovation management – Tools and methods forinnovation partnership – GuidanceThis standard helps organizations reap the benefits of innovationpartnerships, such as access to knowledge, competencies, capabilitiesand assets that can help them develop or expand their offering. ISO/TR 56004, Innovation management assessment – GuidanceThis technical report (TR) supports organizations in continuouslyassessing and improving their innovation management capabilities.Currently in development : ISO 56000, Innovation management – Fundamentals andvocabulary ISO 56005, Innovation management – Tools and methods forintellectual property management – Guidance ISO 56006, Innovation management – Strategic intelligencemanagement – Guidance ISO 56007, Innovation management – Idea management ISO 56008, Innovation management – Tools and methods forinnovation operation measurements – GuidanceISO also develops standards on specific management disciplines thatare complementary to innovation management.9

GovernanceISO’s technical committee ISO/TC 309, Governance of organizations,develops standards for all aspects of governance, including direction,control and accountability. These help organizations demonstratetheir commitment to stakeholders, make informed decisions anduphold their mission, vision and values, all of which provide a soundbase on which innovative ideas can grow, making them attractive toinvestors and business partners.Published standards include : ISO 19600, Compliance management systems – GuidelinesThis standard helps organizations manage their level of compliancewith laws, regulations, policies, commitments and standards toprevent any risks to their business. ISO 37001, Anti-bribery management systems – Requirementswith guidance for useThis standard helps organizations fight bribery and promotean ethical business culture. Bribery is a key inhibitor of innovationwithin any type of organization.Currently in development : ISO 37000, Guidance for the governance of organizations ISO 37002, Whistleblowing management systems – Guidelines10

Who developsISO standards ?ISO standards are developed bygroups of experts within technicalcommittees (TCs). TCs are made upof representatives from industry,non-governmental organizations,governments and other stakeholderswho are put forward by ISO’smembers. Each TC deals with adifferent subject, such as energymanagement, water quality orintelligent transport systems.Visit our Website ISO.org to find outmore about the standards developedin a particular sector by searchingfor the work of the relevanttechnical committee.Knowledge managementCapturing, conveying and transforming knowledge within anorganization and its ecosystem is an essential driver for innovation.ISO 30401, Knowledge management systems – Requirements,helps organizations do just that by implementing a managementsystem that promotes and enables value creation through effectiveknowledge and information management.Other standards in development will provide further guidancein targeted areas of knowledge management : ISO 30415, Human resource management – Diversity and inclusion ISO 30422, Learning and development ISO 30424, Knowledge management – Vocabulary11

Quality managementAs innovation aims to deliver value, it is inherentlyrelated to the enhancement of customer satisfactionand the continual improvement of current offerings,such as products and services. Therefore, qualitymanagement is a natural companion to innovation.The ISO 9000 family of standards covers manyaspects of quality management. ISO 9001, Quality management systems– RequirementsThis well-known flagship standard sets out therequirements for a quality management system thathelps organizations effectively manage, control andcontinually improve the quality of their productsand services.Other documents in the series include : ISO 9000, Quality management systems –Fundamentals and vocabularyThis standard provides the essential background,such as the seven quality management principlesand vocabulary, for the correct implementationof ISO 9001. ISO/TS 9002, Quality management systems –Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2015This technical specification (TS) features furtherguidance including real-world examples and casestudies. ISO 9004, Quality management – Qualityof an organization – Guidance to achievesustained successISO 9004 goes beyond the application of ISO 9001by focusing on long-term success through meetingand anticipating the needs and expectations of allstakeholders.12

ISO also has a wide range of documents for the applicationof ISO 9001 to specific sectors. These include :ISO 13485 (medical devices)ISO 54001 (electoral organizationsat all levels of government)ISO 18091 (local government)ISO/TS 22163 (business managementfor rail organizations)ISO/TS 29001 (petroleum, petrochemicaland natural gas industries)ISO/IEC 90003 (software engineering)In addition, the ISO 10000 family of standards (i.e. standardsfrom ISO 10001 to ISO 10019) provides guidance on a rangeof topics related to quality management, from customersatisfaction, people involvement and competence, up torealizing financial and economic benefits from the applicationof quality management principles.13