THE SECRET TO AGILE & EFFICIENT INNOVATION A CTO with corporate-wide responsibility for R&D found that effectively driving innovation requires a multi-faceted approach. As CTO at Schneider Electric, I was in an environment where constant innovation was a "must-have," not a "like to have." My key challenge was to find the most efficient and agile way to foster innovation. Every business wants to be "innovative." But it takes more than new ideas or even new products to merit that label. In my experience, it takes a concerted effort to identify emerging trends and evolving customer concerns. It requires shifting your focus from products to customer outcomes. It entails collaboration, not only internally but also externally, through partnerships with other organizations. Finally, it requires a disciplined product development process. 31