It helps any organization, regardless of type, sector, or size, establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve an innovation management system. It addresses a realm of guidance related to innovation management systems, including understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties, determining the scope of the system, the role of leadership, planning, operation, improvement, managing risk, and innovation processes and objectives.

In addition to organizations who want to effectively manage innovation activities, ISO 56002:2019 is applicable to customers and other interested parties who seek confidence in an organization’s innovation capabilities, as well as organizations that want to improve communication through a common understanding of what constitutes an innovation management system. It can also be used by policy makers and training providers in innovation management.

By implementing an innovation management system in accordance with ISO 56002:2019, organizations can see an increased ability to manage uncertainty, increased growth, reduced costs and waste, increased revenue, and increased customer satisfaction.

While focused specifically on innovation management, ISO 56002:2019 applies Annex SL—the framework developed by ISO to improve alignment among its international management system standards. Furthermore, it features concepts that we’ve seen in other ISO management system standards: continual improvement, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and the involvement of leadership.

Innovation enables adaptability. While it is lauded for driving entrepreneurs, massive inventors, and other disrupters of the status, innovation belongs to everyone. With society adapting at a rapid pace, any business needs to be resilient enough to keep up.