The Maritz Institute

Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab focuses on advancing people-centered solutions. The process is anchored neuroscience and human science discoveries and theories. People are engaged in a dynamic and highly collaborative process that translates what can be learned from science into effective business applications.

Peter Drucker wrote that management is a social discipline. All social disciplines are anchored in assumptions about human behavior. Unfortunately, many of the assumptions about human motivation and behavior that underpin business disciplines are outdated. Our goal is to update our human motivation and behavior assumptions based upon the latest scientific discoveries. From evolved assumptions, we can innovate business practice that works for both business and for people. Our three-phase process includes:

• The Discovery Phase We explore the intersection between science, business and human needs by examining secondary research studies and theories. We begin with a hypothesis and conclude with a white paper.

• The Design and Experimentation Phase We further explore the hypothesis and secondary research by creating experimental models and conducting experiments.

• The Application Phase We apply the resulting model from the Design and Experimentation phase in a business setting and assess the impact of the application.

The three phases of innovation are supported by neuroscience-informed “innovation labs.” These labs accelerate the innovation process by bringing together the best that science can offer with the best that people can offer through their experiences and creative capacities. We like to think of these “labs” as incorporating both science and art!