Insights on impact from the development, delivery and evaluation of the CLEAR IDEAS innovation training model

The increasing pressure on organisations to innovate more effectively in what they deliver and how they work means there is a distinct need for interventions that enhance the innovation capabilities of employees. This paper therefore describes insights from the development, delivery and impact evaluation of a research-based innovation training model (CLEAR IDEAS) designed to improve both the idea generation and idea implementation competencies of trainees. How key findings from the creativity and innovation literature were turned into a practical model and its operationalisation in practice are first discussed. This is followed by presenting a longitudinal evaluation of the training intervention with 151 public sector leaders. Findings showed that the model was well received, led to significant improvements in innovation competencies and resulted in certain trainees undertaking a range of actions to introduce innovations back in the workplace while others failed to apply their learning. Longer-term data provided several examples of subsequent notable ultimate impacts on organisations’ functioning and public service delivery. Finally, reflections on key training, trainee, task and work environment facilitators and inhibitors of innovation training impact are offered.