Innovation Funnel

At this stage, a small team of WESD staff reviews the submitted innovation idea to identify opportunities, problems, unmet needs, or new ways of delivering value to students, districts, staff, and communities.

At this stage, the goal is not to have all of the answers. Instead, the focus is on understanding the opportunity and creating space for creative thinking. Ideas are collected and considered in relation to WESD's strategic direction and the potential value they could provide.

Not every idea will move forward, and that is an important part of the process. The innovation funnel allows WESD to gather many ideas while focusing additional time and resources on those with the greatest potential.

Refinement is where a promising idea begins to take shape. Ideas that show potential are explored more deeply to better understand the problem or opportunity, the people who would benefit, and what a successful solution might look like. This stage provides an opportunity to ask important questions, gather additional perspectives, research what already exists, and clarify how the idea connects to WESD's strategic priorities.

The goal is to move from an interesting concept to a clearer and more focused proposal. During refinement, the team considers factors such as potential value, demand, resources required, alignment with WESD's goals, and the ability to realistically move the idea forward. Some ideas may be combined, modified, paused, or discontinued as new information is gathered. The result should be a stronger understanding of the idea and a clear rationale for determining whether it is ready to be tested.

Validation is where an idea moves from “we think this could work” to “let's find out.” At this stage, the focus is on testing the key assumptions behind the idea. This may involve gathering feedback from potential users or partners, conducting additional research, developing a small prototype or pilot, or examining whether there is sufficient need and demand for the proposed solution.

Validation is designed to be thoughtful and appropriately scaled. Rather than committing significant resources to an untested idea, WESD can use a smaller investment to learn what works, what needs to change, and whether the idea is worth pursuing. Evidence gathered during this stage helps determine whether an idea has the value, demand, feasibility, and sustainability necessary to move toward implementation.

Scaling is where a validated idea begins to move toward broader implementation. Ideas that demonstrate sufficient value and potential during validation may receive additional resources and support to determine how they can work effectively within WESD. This stage shifts the focus from “Can this work?” to “How can we make this work well and sustainably?”

Scaling requires thoughtful planning around resources, staffing, processes, partnerships, communication, and long-term sustainability. A successful pilot does not automatically mean an idea is ready to expand; the organization must also consider how the effort fits within existing systems and whether it can consistently deliver the intended value. As an idea scales, lessons from implementation are used to refine the approach and inform final planning. Successful efforts can then move into broader implementation and become part of how WESD delivers services and creates value.