Anyone Can Use Hackathons to Generate New Ideas

Hackathons are no longer just for coders. Companies far outside the tech world are using these intense brainstorming and development sessions to stir up new ideas on everything from culture change to supply chain management.

At their best, hackathons create a structure and process around idea development. Sure, breaking out of the day-to-day routine can reinvigorate and inspire staff, but hackathons also demonstrate to employees that innovation is not only welcomed but also expected. Well-run hackathons lead to concrete ideas for new products and processes that can improve the customer experience and increase growth.

Just about any company can hold a productive hackathon by following these five steps:

1. Stoke creativity. A short team activity can help participants open their minds. It can be as simple as challenging teams to brainstorm uses for an oddly shaped object.
2. Empathize with customers. A promising idea starts with a deep understanding of who your end users are, what they need, and why.
3. Ask the right question. Start with an open-ended but clear challenge, such as: “How might we help our sales team interact with contacts more effectively?”
4. Prototype quickly. Prototyping can be as simple as drawing a product on paper.
5. Nurture the best ideas. Put resources behind the strongest pitches after the hackathon ends.

Adapted and Reprinted from “Hackathons Aren’t Just for Coders,” by Elizabeth Spaulding and Greg Caimi (Harvard Business Review)