Underpinning the success of so many innovation programs is an approach that uses challenges. A technique that brings focus to an element of business which is often open-ended, challenges help businesses create value through innovation. By asking participants for solutions to real problems, companies are better positioned to innovate in a continuous, scalable manner. This guide is the third of a three-part mini-series focusing on one of the most vital elements of this challenge-driven methodology: the challenge planning.

In part one, we discussed challenge background. In the second guide, we looked at challenge framing. Now, we will outline the final element of challenge planning: communications.

We’ll break the communication phase down into five areas and illustrate how the messaging should change at different stages of the challenge process. We will discuss what to communicate and when, all the way from initial ‘teaser’ communications, through challenge launch and live, all the way to the communications sent out once the challenge is completed.