Innovation at PwC - Gordon Vala-Webb

Building smarter organizations

Innovation at PwC

#smartorg@dynamicadaptatn

Gordon Vala-Webb

May 2013

www.DynamicAdaptation.com

Context

1Slide 2


What is PwC?• Size

– PwC is a network of member firms in 158 countries with close to 169,000 people

What we do– Leading professional services

firm• Audit and assurance• Consulting• Deals• Tax

Complexity– See above

Slide 3

Innovation – fit to PwC’s strategy

• Logical extension of the PwC brand– Increases staff

engagement– Formalizes interest

of the executive in hearing from ALL of our people

• Opportunity for revenue / cost savings

4


Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0%

Global “before” survey of PwC staff / partners

64%

But . . . not easy to share and develop ideas with other PwC professionals.


Safe to voice my opinion . . .

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and

change.”Brune Brown

The Power of Vulnerability

Slide 6


Solution

2Slide 7


What did we need? An innovation bicycle for PwC

Slide 8

“A bicycle makes man the most efficient mover on the earth.A computer is a bicycle for our mind.” Wilson Miner (from Steve Jobs)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Ladies_safety_bicycles1889.gif



The model: Mindset

• Time-limited business challenges owned by specific leaders

• Demonstrate acceptance of the odd

• Signal how important innovation is– PwC: give people a

code to use for their innovation time)

Slide 9


Model: Capability

Slide 10Source: http://www.slideshare.net/dhinchcliffe/enterprise-20-summit-2012-closing-keynote

• Social networking platform with an ideation module

• Very small core team made up of part-timers

• Cross-organization idea vetting designed to maximize “out-of-the-box” thinking

• Single point of leadership responsibility for innovation


Ideation

3Slide 11


Types of ideation

Open participation Closed participation

Closed subject

Open subject

12

Connecting with clients

What are the best methods you've found for reaching out to clients and/or prospects to ensure you get a call back or solidify a relationship?

Building a better mousetrap

What could we develop as an “product” to take to the market and identify us as distinctive?

Stop it! Reducing the drag

What could we (safely) stop doing that gets in your way, would make it easier for you to have more time in the market, or does not contribute to the firm’s success?


PwC spark!The global idea marketplace, PwC style

14


By the numbers

• 101 ideas submitted• 66 unique contributor

– 5 of were partners

• 948 votes• 281 comments• 1/3rd of all the PwC partners and

staff participated in platform in some way

Slide 15


Evaluation

4Slide 16

Process / governance

• Focus on “starters”• All ideas reviewed by

cross-organization (vertical / horizontal) working group– Members had demonstrated

“out of the box” thinking

• Challenge owner picked up rest

Slide 17

All ideas

Specific office 4%

No brain 11%

Not now 7%

Already offered

Ranked78%

Top ideas (XLoS)

Challenge leaderreview

78% were “starters”

Slide 19

2023-04-10 Slide 20

Results

10 “no brainers” implemented

2 “top ideas” implemented within 6 months from launch

10 “top ideas” active consideration

Slide 21

Tips

• Find the right leader– Broader thinker– Knows / known by the organization– Wants a challenge

• Have someone who understands how to rollout novel programs within your organization

• The soft stuff is the hard part• Strategic opportunism• Make it easy for people to feel comfortable –

sharing ideas and opinions can be scarySlide 22

Thank you . .

• This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, Gordon Vala-Webb and Dynamic Adaptation does not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.

© 2013 Gordon Vala-Webb. All rights reserved.

Gordon (at)

DynamicAdaptation.com


Twitter: @dynamicadaptatn

Slide 23

http://www.dynamicadaptation.com/

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Innovation at PwC - Gordon Vala-Webb