War rooms - A space for innovation by Dave Nemeth

The big word on every company’s lips in these fast paced challenging times is innovation. There are a host of disruptions taking place across all sectors of business. Companies need to be geared up and have all the necessary tools in order to make groundbreaking decisions, which will put them far ahead of their competitors. Most of these decisions will involve a team and in many cases, a variety of department heads and players. This process will involve a variety of different methods, think tanks and strategies to come up with something that is truly innovative.


A vital element to this process, which often requires many hours of debate, presenting and hopefully many productive arguments is not suited to today's boardroom. A boardroom is great for structured meetings and a place to meet clients, but not a great place to come up with great ideas. Welcome to the War Room or sometimes referred to as an innovation center.


The term War room was coined during world war and these large operation rooms were the heart and soul of the strategy and motivation in planning a nations next strategic move in out witting the opposition. These rooms consisted of maps, models, boards and screens where top military personnel would brainstorm for hours on end.


So what exactly is a current day War Room and what does it take to set one up effectively. To start with, the space needs to be a fun and thought provoking space. It is no good sticking to corporate colours or simply replicating the look and feel of the rest of the space. It needs to be like stepping into a completely new dimension. It requires privacy from outside disturbances, but at the same time allow for ample light as well as good quality temperature control. Many hours will be spent within this space, so it is vital that the space is sufficient and comfortable carpeting is laid.


The interior dynamic of the space needs to be flexible, in other words, one day it can accommodate a number of people sitting around a table and the next it can take on the form of a lounge. The lounge scenario will require comfortable couches, occasional chairs or even beanbags. Colour is another vital element; bright colours promote the senses, but can also become a bit jarring on the nerves after long periods of time. A great alternative to this is controlled LED mood lighting, which can be changed. Bright accent colours will create playfulness without becoming overpowering.


Generally there is ample usable wall space. This space can be used as a space to map out " post it notes" to create mind maps and thought processes. More creative war rooms convert these spaces onto white boards or more industrial blackboards adding a multifunctional dimension, and still adding a creative touch. The space in most companies is all about creativity, with even the most conservative firms going full tilt with differentiation of this space.


Retro coke fridges and coffee machines assist in keeping people focused for long periods of time, it also helps one to remove themselves mentally from the standard office layout and is aimed to create a relaxed frame of mind. This area is all about innovation and being inspired is part of this creative journey. Many companies, who have successfully created war rooms, have incorporated large bookshelves with vast amount of books and magazines across a broad spectrum of industries and subjects. Having resources at your fingertips is an essential part of this space, so large screens connected to high speed internet are a given.

 


Companies within the fashion and design arena go as far as having libraries of movies and music available for individuals that want to break away and gather their thoughts. This room can double up as a resource center, where regardless of whether it is one person or a group of ten, it becomes the hub or melting pot of great new and innovative concepts, which will leave the competition in the dust.







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