How FOCUS Framework principles help your business succeed. FOCUS Principles: A Roadmap to Practical Innovation

How FOCUS Framework principles help your business succeed.

Innovation and growth don’t have to be overwhelming or mysterious. FOCUS Framework and its principles are designed to bring clarity and structure to these processes, making it easier for any business, big or small, to navigate change and achieve success.

11.11.2024
Alfa Sverdrup Sommersol

These principles break down common business challenges into simple, practical steps. Here’s how each FOCUS principle can help drive your business forward.

1. Break It Down

When facing a large project or complex problem, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. “Break It Down” encourages you to divide big tasks into smaller, manageable pieces. By tackling one step at a time, you can reduce complexity and stay organised.

Example: Instead of attempting a full product launch all at once, you might begin by perfecting individual elements like design, marketing, and distribution. Each area can be refined separately, making it easier to launch successfully when everything is ready.

How This Helps: Breaking down tasks helps teams focus on one thing at a time, reducing errors, stress, and the risk of overlooking details. Each completed part brings you closer to the overall goal, creating a steady sense of progress.

2. Simplify

“Simplify” is all about removing unnecessary steps or features that don’t add real value. Businesses often complicate processes by adding layers that don’t serve customers or improve outcomes. Simplifying keeps things efficient and clear.

Example: In customer onboarding, you could remove redundant forms or steps, making it faster for new clients to get started.

How This Helps: Simplifying saves time and resources, making processes quicker and reducing frustration for both customers and team members. When systems are straightforward, employees work more efficiently, and clients enjoy a smoother experience.

3. Tailor to Fit

No two customers or situations are identical, so a “one-size-fits-all” approach rarely works best. “Tailor to Fit” means adjusting solutions to meet specific needs across different areas of your business.

Example: If expanding to new markets, adapt your marketing and sales strategies to match the preferences and culture of each region, instead of using a standard approach everywhere.

How This Helps: Tailoring allows you to serve customers more personally and effectively, increasing satisfaction and engagement. When your solutions are tailored to fit unique needs, you’re more likely to achieve positive results.

4. Focus on Impact

Businesses sometimes try to spread resources evenly, but “Focus on Impact” encourages you to concentrate efforts on areas where they’ll make the biggest difference. By putting extra attention on high-impact areas, you can achieve stronger outcomes.

Example: If one product line is particularly popular, focus resources on improving and promoting it, rather than investing equally across all products.

How This Helps: Prioritising high-impact areas helps you get the most value from your resources. By focusing your energy where it counts, you can drive faster, more noticeable growth.

5. One Solution, Many Uses

Creating a versatile solution that serves multiple purposes can be more efficient than solving each issue individually. “One Solution, Many Uses” is about developing adaptable solutions that address multiple needs, saving time and effort.

Example: A project management tool that tracks tasks, monitors deadlines, and allows for team messaging eliminates the need for multiple platforms, making it easier for teams to stay organised in one place.

How This Helps: Multipurpose solutions save time, reduce costs, and simplify processes. When one solution meets various needs, teams can focus on productive work rather than switching between multiple tools or methods.

6. Be Prepared

Good planning often means avoiding problems before they arise. “Be Prepared” encourages you to take proactive steps, ensuring you’re ready to handle challenges smoothly.

Example: Stock up on high-demand items before a busy season to avoid shortages and fulfil orders more efficiently.

How This Helps: Preparation reduces last-minute panic and costly delays. When your team is equipped to handle upcoming challenges, they can respond confidently and deliver results without unnecessary stress.

7. Listen and Adjust

Innovation isn’t a “one and done” process—it requires continuous improvement. “Listen and Adjust” means gathering feedback and using it to fine-tune your approach. Whether from customers, employees, or stakeholders, feedback offers valuable insights.

Example: Run regular customer surveys to identify areas for improvement in your service. Use this feedback to refine your approach and better meet customer needs.

How This Helps: Regular feedback helps you stay relevant and responsive. By making adjustments based on real insights, you keep your offerings aligned with customer expectations, which leads to higher satisfaction and loyalty.

8. Layer Solutions

Layering allows you to serve multiple user levels without creating unnecessary complexity. “Layer Solutions” is about offering a basic version with additional options for those who need more features, meeting diverse needs in a streamlined way.

Example: Offer a standard product that covers the basics, with optional add-ons for customers who want advanced features.

How This Helps: Layering solutions makes it easier to meet a wider range of needs. It also allows you to grow with your customers, adding complexity only where necessary, without overwhelming those who need a simpler option.

9. Stay Flexible

Change is constant, so having flexible systems in place is essential for long-term success. “Stay Flexible” means building processes that can adapt to new information, challenges, or opportunities.

Example: Use a project management plan that allows for periodic adjustments, so you can refine strategies as new information becomes available.

How This Helps: Flexibility makes it easier to respond quickly and effectively when circumstances change. By remaining adaptable, your business can thrive even in shifting conditions.

10. Fine-Tune the Details

Small adjustments can often make a big difference. “Fine-Tune the Details” involves refining specific elements to improve overall performance.

Example: Speed up delivery times by streamlining the packing and shipping stages, ensuring orders get to customers faster.

How This Helps: Fine-tuning key details can enhance efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and give you a competitive edge. Small improvements add up, creating a more polished experience for everyone involved.

11. Trim and Reuse

Sometimes, resources are tied up in areas that don’t deliver results. “Trim and Reuse” is about identifying what isn’t working and repurposing resources where they’re needed most.

Example: If a particular product isn’t selling well, discontinue it and reinvest resources into more popular products that drive revenue.

How This Helps: This approach prevents wasted resources and ensures your efforts are concentrated on the areas that benefit your business most. Repurposing allows you to maximise value without unnecessary expenditure.

12. Try a New Approach

Thinking outside the box can often reveal new paths to success. “Try a New Approach” encourages you to rethink traditional methods, sometimes reversing the usual sequence of steps.

Example: If traditional marketing methods are falling short, consider focusing on partnerships or influencer collaborations instead.

How This Helps: Fresh approaches can open new doors and uncover solutions that may not have been apparent before. By staying open to different methods, your business remains innovative and adaptable.

How FOCUS Principles Help Your Business

The FOCUS principles give you a clear, straightforward approach to innovation and growth. These principles offer a practical guide for fostering innovation, simplifying complex tasks, and staying adaptable as your business grows.

FOCUS principles are designed to be applicable across any industry and each principle provides a unique way to solve problems, optimise resources, and create solutions that resonate with real needs.

By breaking down each step and focusing on what really matters, these principles helps you simplify processes, adapt to changes, and stay focused on impactful results. With FOCUS, any business can approach innovation with confidence, driving success through practical, achievable steps.

The below table breaks down each of the FOCUS principles into straightforward, actionable steps that any business can apply. Each principle includes practical examples making it easy for any team to grasp and implement.

FOCUS Principles Set for Clear, Simple Innovation

Principle Explanation Example
Break it Down Divide large tasks or complex problems into smaller, manageable parts to make each step easier to address. Instead of tackling an entire website redesign at once, break it down into specific sections like navigation, layout, and mobile compatibility.
Simplify Remove unnecessary elements or simplify complex structures to make processes clearer and faster. Streamline customer onboarding by removing unnecessary steps, making it easier for new clients to sign up.
Tailor to Fit Adapt solutions specifically to fit different user needs or parts of the business system. If expanding internationally, adapt marketing strategies for each new region rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Focus on Impact Unevenly focus resources on high-impact areas that will yield the most significant results. Invest more resources in a popular product line that’s driving growth, rather than spreading efforts equally across all products.
One Solution, Many Uses Develop solutions that can address multiple issues or tasks at once, maximising efficiency and adaptability. Create a multi-purpose tool for your sales team that tracks clients, manages leads, and schedules follow-ups in one place.
Be Prepared Prepare resources or actions in advance to avoid issues or speed up processes when needed. Stock up on essential supplies before a busy season to avoid delays or disruptions during peak times.
Listen and Adjust Continuously collect and use feedback to refine solutions and keep them effective. Send out customer satisfaction surveys regularly and use responses to improve your services.
Layer Solutions Layer features or steps to meet different user levels or serve multiple purposes without additional complexity. Design a basic version of your product with advanced options for users who want to add features as they go.
Stay Flexible Build solutions that can adapt to changing needs or new information, keeping them relevant and responsive. Create a project plan that allows for regular check-ins and adjustments based on progress and new insights.
Fine-Tune the Details Adjust specific parameters (like speed, cost, or scale) to meet desired results and fine-tune the outcome. Speed up customer service response times by adding more agents during peak hours.
Trim and Reuse Remove elements that aren’t effective and reallocate resources to where they are most needed. Identify underperforming products, discontinue them, and focus budget on the ones that are popular and profitable.
Try a New Approach Consider flipping or reversing your usual approach to open up new possibilities or solve issues differently. If your standard marketing strategy isn’t working, consider promoting through influencers or partner collaborations instead.