The fourth step for projects in the Mid Zone is for teams to develop a sound business case for the opportunity. This is important because it will be…

The fourth step in the Mid Zone is the culmination of the validation and planning efforts for an innovation project. Developing a sound business case provides leadership with the necessary financial projections, strategic alignment, and risk assessment to make an informed investment decision. This decision is specifically about whether to commit the substantial resources required to proceed with the final, most expensive phases of the innovation lifecycle: full-scale development, market launch, and commercialization, which constitute the Back End of Innovation.

A. Marketing is a specific activity within the commercialization phase; the business case decision precedes and enables this, but is not limited to it.

B. Building a new facility is a potential capital expenditure that might be part of the plan, but it is not the core decision itself.

D. Pivoting the entire business is a massive strategic shift; a single innovation project's business case typically does not propose such a drastic measure.

1. Global Innovation Institute (GInI). (2020). Applied Innovation Master Book (AInMB) v2.0. Part 3

Chapter 11: The Mid Zone of Innovation

Section 11.5: Step 4: Develop the Business Case.

2. Global Innovation Institute (GInI). (2020). Applied Innovation Master Book (AInMB) v2.0. Part 3

Chapter 12: The Back End of Innovation

Section 12.1: Introduction to the Back End of Innovation.