The Sushi Model for Innovation is an alternative to the traditional funnel models. Ideas are presented "raw" to business stakeholders and customer representatives in a sort of "idea buffet".

1. Enterprise Innovation Strategy
The Sushi Model
© Chris Gledhill

2. Lots of exciting
ideas go in here
The traditional “Funnel” Innovation Model
A rigid array of of selection filters, categorization
activities, PoC experiments, business case
assessments and approval gateways are placed
along the funnel
Many ideas get dropped, watered down, parked,
snagged or just plain lost along the way
A selection of safe, monotonous,
unadventurous and uninspiring
ideas exit here
Whatever Innovation Model your organization is using the chances are it resembles some sort of funnel. There may be
more or less gateways, rigid or porous edges and you may call it Lean, Agile, Fail Fast, Factory, Open etc but it all boils
down to ideas going in one end and, after some process of elimination, a fewer number of ideas emerge at the other.
© Chris Gledhill

3. Problems with The “Funnel” Model
 Idea Flattening – The funnel has a normalizing effect on the ideas that pass
through it. Blue sky ideas are quickly ejected and the ones left are repeatedly
refined to make them more palatable.
 Time lag - Getting ideas through the funnel can sometimes take months. This
frustrates suppliers/partners and loses this initial buzz/excitement/context an
idea originally started with.
 Unnovation – Without decisive gateway controls ideas can flow backwards
through the funnel.
© Chris Gledhill

4. © Chris Gledhill
The Sushi Model
A new approach to innovation…
 No complex funnel/filtering – ideas are
presented raw
 Ideas are delivered in small, easily
understandable “dishes” – like sushi dishes!
 The dishes are circulated amongst
stakeholders and customer sounding groups
– like a sushi conveyor!
 Instant feedback is received – like a Tinder
for ideas!
© Chris Gledhill

5. © Chris Gledhill
The Sushi Model – Sushi Kitchen
To the “Restaurant”
Big Data Mesh Networks Crypto-currenciesArtificial Intelligence Wearables
Internet of Things APIs Drones 3D Print/Scanning Cloud
Biometrics Mobile Robotics Open Source
Technology / Solution
Ideas
AWD/RWD
Innovation
Team
Innovation
Team
Innovation
Team
Innovation
Team
Dishes
Moonshot
10x idea
Quick
Win
Incremental
Feature
Strategic
Development
Innovation Team Role
• Package ideas into easily
understandable concept dishes
• Make dishes appealing
• Use the best “ingredients”
• Produce a variety of dishes
• Review liked/disliked dishes and
learn what works

6. © Chris Gledhill
Customer
Representative
The Sushi Model – Sushi Restaurant
To the “Kitchen”
Customer
Representative
Customer
Representative
Customer
Representative
Business
Stakeholder
Business
Stakeholder
Business
Stakeholder
Business
Stakeholder
Business Stakeholders and
Customer Representatives
• Partake in idea review forums
• Give undivided attention
• Review ideas and tag the ones that
appeal
The Sushi “Restaurant” may take different forms
depending on what works for your organization:
• A forum with idea cards
• A screensaver with ideas presented
• A Tinder like app for reviewing ideas
• An app within an Enterprise Social media platform
• An email with voting buttons
Restaurant Form

7. twitter.com/cgledhill
uk.linkedin.com/in/chrisgledhill
© Chris Gledhill
Chris Gledhill
Innovation Technologist