{"id":28644,"date":"2026-03-31T09:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/?p=28644"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:37:42","slug":"innovation-framework-7-dimensions-systematic-innovation-smes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/blog\/innovation-framework-7-dimensions-systematic-innovation-smes\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation Framework: 7 Dimensions for Systematic Innovation in SMEs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background:#f0f1f3;padding:20px 24px;margin-bottom:32px;border-radius:12px;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;font-size:1.1em;margin-bottom:8px;\">Key Takeaways:<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-canvas\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">Business Model Canvas<\/a> alone isn&#8217;t enough to manage innovation systematically. The PON Innovation Framework covers the entire innovation process across 7 dimensions: from market analysis through vision, offering, team, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/go-to-market-strategy\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">go-to-market<\/a>, financing, to concrete implementation planning. Especially for SMEs that need to innovate with limited resources, it provides a battle-tested structure that eliminates blind spots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav style=\"background:#fff;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;padding:16px 24px;margin-bottom:32px;border-radius:8px;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:8px;\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0;\">\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#why-single-tools-fall-short\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">1. Why Single Tools Fall Short<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#pon-framework-overview\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">2. The PON Innovation Framework: 7 Dimensions at a Glance<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#7-dimensions-detail\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">3. The 7 Dimensions in Detail<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#practical-example\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">4. Practical Example: A Manufacturer Walks Through All 7 Dimensions<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#comparison\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">5. PON Framework vs. BMC vs. Lean Canvas: What Covers What?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#how-to-start\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">6. How to Put the Framework Into Practice<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding:4px 0;\"><a href=\"#faq\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#0e6b99;\">7. FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<h2 id=\"why-single-tools-fall-short\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">1. Why Single Tools Fall Short<\/h2>\n<p>87% of executives consider innovation critical to their organization&#8217;s success, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/strategy-and-corporate-finance\/our-insights\/innovation-and-commercialization-2010-mckinsey-global-survey-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">McKinsey survey<\/a>. Yet most innovation initiatives don&#8217;t fail because of a lack of ideas. They fail because of a lack of system. Companies reach for individual tools like the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-canvas\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">Business Model Canvas<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/lean-canvas\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">Lean Canvas<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">Design Thinking<\/a>, and hope these will cover the entire innovation process. They rarely do.<\/p>\n<p>The reason is simple: each tool illuminates only one aspect. The Business Model Canvas describes your business model but says nothing about market dynamics, team composition, or timeline. Design Thinking delivers customer-centric solutions but ignores financing and scalability. The Lean Canvas focuses on problem-solution fit but leaves strategic positioning untouched.<\/p>\n<p>Even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/68221.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ISO 56002:2019<\/a> provides guidance for <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">innovation management<\/a>, but stays at the management system level. It tells you that you need an innovation process, not how to structure a specific initiative. What&#8217;s missing is a practical framework that connects all relevant dimensions of an innovation project into one coherent system.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"pon-framework-overview\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">2. The PON Innovation Framework: 7 Dimensions at a Glance<\/h2>\n<p>The PON Innovation Framework emerged from hands-on consulting work with SMEs across industries. The core insight: successful innovation doesn&#8217;t need one tool, it needs a system that connects seven critical dimensions. None can be missing, none stands alone.<\/p>\n<p>The 7 dimensions are:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#1a5276;color:#fff;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;\">Dimension<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;\">Core Question<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">1. Market, Competition &amp; Strategy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Where do we play, where don&#8217;t we?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">2. Vision &amp; Goals<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Why does this initiative exist?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">3. Offering &amp; Quality<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">What exactly do we solve, and why better?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">4. Team &amp; Partners<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Who brings what, what&#8217;s missing?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">5. Marketing &amp; GTM<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">How do we reach the right customers?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">6. Financing &amp; Business Model<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Does the math work?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;font-weight:600;\">7. Timeline &amp; Project Planning<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">What happens when, and what blocks what?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #1a5276;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">How the 7 dimensions connect:<\/p>\n<p>Dimension 1 (Market) validates the foundation \u2192 Dimension 2 (Vision) sets the direction \u2192 Dimension 3 (Offering) defines the what \u2192 Dimension 4 (Team) clarifies the who \u2192 Dimension 5 (GTM) clarifies the how \u2192 Dimension 6 (Financing) checks if the numbers work \u2192 Dimension 7 (Timeline) makes everything concrete and time-bound.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The difference from existing frameworks: it&#8217;s not about summarizing a business model on one page. It&#8217;s about thinking through an innovation initiative from the start so that no critical dimension gets overlooked. In our consulting practice, we see the same pattern repeatedly: companies start with a brilliant idea (Dimension 3), skip market validation (Dimension 1) and team planning (Dimension 4), and then fail at execution (Dimension 7).<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"7-dimensions-detail\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">3. The 7 Dimensions in Detail<\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 1: Market, Competition &amp; Strategy<\/h3>\n<p>Every innovation starts with an honest assessment of the market. Not with your own idea, but with the question: Is there a market that&#8217;s large enough, and where is our strategic position within it? In this dimension, you clarify TAM\/SAM\/SOM (Total, Serviceable, Obtainable Market), identify geopolitical factors and regulations, analyze competitors and their gaps, and define your unfair advantage: what can only you do?<\/p>\n<p>For SMEs in particular, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/competitive-analysis\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">competitive analysis<\/a> isn&#8217;t an academic luxury &#8211; it&#8217;s a survival skill. Entering a saturated market without clear differentiation burns resources. A <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/swot-analysis\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">SWOT analysis<\/a> is a helpful starting point here, but it&#8217;s not sufficient on its own.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 2: Vision &amp; Goals<\/h3>\n<p>Without a clear vision, innovation becomes busywork. This dimension defines where the initiative should be in 3 years, formulates SMART goals for 3, 12, and 36 months, and establishes the North Star Metric: the one number that defines success. It also includes explicit hypotheses about what must be true for the initiative to work.<\/p>\n<p>In our work with SMEs, we frequently encounter teams that know what they want to build, but not why. A clear goal system with measurable KPIs prevents projects from becoming an end in themselves.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 3: Offering &amp; Quality<\/h3>\n<p>This is where things get concrete: what exactly are you offering, and why should anyone pay for it? This dimension uses Jobs-to-be-Done to identify the core problem, defines the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/value-proposition\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">value proposition<\/a>, evaluates <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/blue-ocean-strategy\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">Blue Ocean potential<\/a> (what new market can you create?), and establishes the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/mvp-minimum-viable-product\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">MVP<\/a>: the smallest testable version.<\/p>\n<p>The classic mistake: companies build what&#8217;s technically feasible instead of what the market needs. The combination of Jobs-to-be-Done thinking and MVP methodology prevents exactly that.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 4: Team &amp; Partners<\/h3>\n<p>The best idea fails without the right people. Dimension 4 analyzes the core team and its competencies, identifies gaps, defines strategic partnerships, and clarifies roles: who does what by when? This also includes core resources such as assets, technologies, IP, and networks.<\/p>\n<p>For SMEs, this dimension is especially critical because resources are limited. The question isn&#8217;t &#8220;What do we need?&#8221; but &#8220;What can we cover internally, and where do we need partners?&#8221; Strategic partnerships can compensate for missing competencies and reach without blowing up the cost structure.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 5: Marketing &amp; GTM<\/h3>\n<p>A great product that nobody knows about isn&#8217;t a great product. The fifth dimension defines the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), selects the right channels, formulates the messaging, and plans the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/go-to-market-strategy\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">go-to-market strategy<\/a>. This includes lead magnets (whitepapers, tools, audits), the choice between inbound and outbound, and a content plan for thought leadership.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcg.com\/publications\/2023\/advantages-through-innovation-in-uncertain-times\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 BCG study<\/a>, 61% of companies invest in AI technologies, but only a fraction have a clear GTM strategy for them. Having the technology isn&#8217;t enough. You need to know how to reach the market with it.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 6: Financing &amp; Business Model<\/h3>\n<p>This is where the numbers come in. Dimension 6 clarifies the revenue model (SaaS, consulting, commission, hybrid), defines revenue targets, calculates unit economics (CAC, CLV, payback period), quantifies the investment needed, and identifies the funding source: bootstrap, grants, or investors? The break-even scenario shows when the initiative becomes self-sustaining.<\/p>\n<p>Many SMEs avoid this dimension because the numbers are uncertain early on. That&#8217;s precisely why it matters. It&#8217;s better to calculate with rough assumptions and iterate than to start without any financial foundation. The <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/pricing-strategy\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">pricing strategy<\/a> deserves special attention here: priced too low positions you as &#8220;cheap,&#8221; too high locks you out of the market.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#2e86c1;margin-top:24px;\">Dimension 7: Timeline &amp; Project Planning<\/h3>\n<p>The final dimension makes everything concrete. It defines phases (Discovery \u2192 MVP \u2192 Launch \u2192 Scale), sets milestones with dates, identifies dependencies and risks, plans review cycles, and establishes the communication structure. Without this dimension, even the best framework remains a strategy document.<\/p>\n<p>In our experience, most innovation initiatives don&#8217;t fail in the strategy phase but in the transition to execution. A realistic milestone plan with clear review points is the difference between an idea and an outcome.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"practical-example\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">4. Practical Example: A Manufacturer Walks Through All 7 Dimensions<\/h2>\n<p>A mid-sized industrial equipment manufacturer with 120 employees wants to develop a digital predictive maintenance offering as a new business line. Here&#8217;s how applying the PON Innovation Framework looks step by step:<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 1 &#8211; Market, Competition &amp; Strategy:<\/p>\n<p>The global predictive maintenance market is growing at approximately 25% annually (Grand View Research, 2024). Large players like Siemens and Bosch dominate, but there&#8217;s a gap: mid-sized manufacturing companies that don&#8217;t have million-dollar budgets for enterprise solutions. The unfair advantage: 30 years of industry expertise and direct access to an existing customer base.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 2 &#8211; Vision &amp; Goals:<\/p>\n<p>Vision: &#8220;Within 3 years, we are the leading predictive maintenance provider for mid-sized manufacturers in Europe.&#8221; North Star Metric: Number of machines actively monitored. SMART goals: 5 pilot customers in 3 months, 50 paying customers in 12 months, 200 customers in 36 months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 3 &#8211; Offering &amp; Quality:<\/p>\n<p>Job-to-be-Done: &#8220;I want to prevent unplanned downtime on my production machines.&#8221; Value Proposition: &#8220;We reduce your unplanned downtime by at least 40% &#8211; no IT department needed, plug-and-play in 2 hours.&#8221; MVP: An IoT sensor kit with dashboard for 3 machine types. Blue Ocean: No cloud requirement, runs on-premise too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 4 &#8211; Team &amp; Partners:<\/p>\n<p>Core team: CTO (internal, mechanical engineering expertise), 2 software developers (external, IoT specialization). Competency gap: Data science for the algorithms. Solution: Partnership with a university of applied sciences (applied research + talent pipeline). Advisor: A former Siemens executive as a sparring partner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 5 &#8211; Marketing &amp; GTM:<\/p>\n<p>ICP: Production managers in manufacturing companies with 50-500 employees across Europe. Channels: LinkedIn (thought leadership), industry trade shows (Hannover Messe, SPS), existing customer network. Lead magnet: Free &#8220;Downtime Cost Calculator&#8221; as an online tool. Messaging: &#8220;What does one hour of downtime cost you? We&#8217;ll show you how to prevent it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 6 &#8211; Financing &amp; Business Model:<\/p>\n<p>Revenue model: Hardware kit (one-time \u20ac2,500) + SaaS monitoring (monthly \u20ac299\/machine). Unit economics: CAC approximately \u20ac3,000 (trade shows + outreach), CLV approximately \u20ac14,000 (36-month subscription + hardware). Payback: 4 months. Investment needed: \u20ac180,000 (development + pilot phase). Financing: 50% bootstrapped from cash flow, 50% government innovation grants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Dimension 7 &#8211; Timeline &amp; Project Planning:<\/p>\n<p>Phase 1 (Month 1-3): Discovery + MVP development, onboard 5 pilot customers. Phase 2 (Month 4-6): Integrate feedback, V2 with 8 machine types. Phase 3 (Month 7-12): Sales ramp-up, 50 paying customers, break-even. Review cycles: Biweekly sprint reviews, monthly steering committee. Risk: Certifications (CE marking for IoT sensors) &#8211; Mitigation: Parallel track from Month 1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>This example demonstrates: none of the 7 dimensions stands on its own. The market analysis (Dimension 1) determines the niche. The vision (Dimension 2) sets the direction. The offering (Dimension 3) responds to real customer needs. The team (Dimension 4) compensates gaps through partnerships. The GTM strategy (Dimension 5) leverages existing strengths. The financing (Dimension 6) is realistically calculated. And the timeline (Dimension 7) turns the plan into a project with deadlines.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"comparison\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">5. PON Framework vs. BMC vs. Lean Canvas: What Covers What?<\/h2>\n<p>No framework is perfect for every use case. The following comparison shows where the strengths and limitations of the three most common approaches lie:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#1a5276;color:#fff;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;\">Dimension<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:center;\">PON Framework<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:center;\">Business Model Canvas<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px 12px;text-align:center;\">Lean Canvas<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Market Analysis &amp; Competition<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Dedicated dimension<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Only &#8220;Existing Alternatives&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Vision &amp; Measurable Goals<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 SMART + North Star<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Only &#8220;Key Metrics&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Value Proposition &amp; Offering<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 JTBD + Blue Ocean + MVP<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Value Proposition<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Problem + Solution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Team &amp; Partnerships<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Dedicated dimension<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Only &#8220;Key Partners&#8221;<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Go-to-Market &amp; Marketing<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 ICP + Channels + Messaging<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Only &#8220;Channels&#8221;<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Only &#8220;Channels&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f8f9fa;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Business Model &amp; Financials<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Unit Economics + Break-even<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Revenue Streams + Costs<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u26a0\ufe0f Revenue Streams + Costs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;\">Timeline &amp; Execution Plan<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u2705 Phases + Milestones<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px 12px;text-align:center;\">\u274c Not included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #1a5276;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">Important: These tools aren&#8217;t mutually exclusive<\/p>\n<p>The Business Model Canvas and Lean Canvas are excellent tools for their respective purposes. The BMC is perfect for visualizing an existing business model on one page. The Lean Canvas helps with rapid validation of a startup idea. The PON Framework isn&#8217;t a replacement &#8211; it&#8217;s an extension. It embeds these tools within a larger strategic context.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-start\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">6. How to Put the Framework Into Practice<\/h2>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7f3;padding:16px 24px;border-left:4px solid #0d6e3f;margin:16px 0;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px;\">3 steps to get started:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 1: Assessment (1 day).<\/strong> Take your current innovation initiative and evaluate it against all 7 dimensions. Where do you have clear answers? Where are the blind spots? In our experience, most SMEs are missing Dimension 1 (market validation), Dimension 4 (team planning), and Dimension 7 (concrete execution plan).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 2: Prioritize gaps (half day).<\/strong> Not all dimensions need to be perfectly filled out at the same time. Start with the most critical gaps. Without market validation (Dimension 1), everything else is speculation. Without a team (Dimension 4), everything stays theoretical.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 3: Iterate (ongoing).<\/strong> The framework isn&#8217;t a one-time document. Plan review cycles: monthly for the first 6 months, then quarterly. Every new insight updates all affected dimensions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The PON Innovation Framework deliberately follows the PDCA principle: Plan (work through dimensions), Do (build the MVP), Check (review against goals), Act (update the framework). Not a static document, but a living system that evolves with the initiative.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\" style=\"color:#1a5276;margin-top:32px;\">7. FAQ<\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin:16px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;\">What size of company is the PON Innovation Framework designed for?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\">The framework was developed for SMEs that need to innovate with limited resources. It works from a team size of 2-3 people and scales to mid-sized companies with several hundred employees. For large corporations with dedicated innovation departments, it can serve as a complement to existing stage-gate processes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;\">How does the PON Framework differ from the Business Model Canvas?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\">The Business Model Canvas describes a business model on one page. The PON Framework additionally covers market analysis, vision, team composition, go-to-market, and timeline. It&#8217;s more comprehensive and action-oriented, while the BMC is better suited for quick visualization. Both can be combined: the BMC works as a tool within Dimensions 3 and 6 of the PON Framework.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;\">How much time does it take to work through all 7 dimensions?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\">A first pass typically takes 2-3 days with a focused team. The depth depends on the initiative: for a new product feature, a compact version suffices; for entering a new market, you need the full depth. Plan an additional 1-2 weeks for market research (Dimension 1).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;\">Do I need to fill out all 7 dimensions from the start?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\">No. Start with the dimensions that are most critical for your initiative. In the early phase, Dimension 1 (Market), Dimension 3 (Offering), and Dimension 2 (Vision) matter most. Team, GTM, and financials can be developed iteratively. But the framework gives you the checklist so nothing gets forgotten.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px;\">Can I combine the PON Framework with agile methods?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\">Yes, and we&#8217;d actually recommend it. The 7 dimensions provide the strategic frame within which agile sprints operate. Dimension 7 (Timeline) translates directly into Scrum sprints. The framework provides direction, agile methods provide speed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3rem;padding:2rem;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a5276,#2e86c1);border-radius:12px;color:#fff;text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1.3rem;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:0.5rem;\">Ready to approach innovation systematically?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1.5rem;opacity:0.95;\">In a free initial consultation, we&#8217;ll analyze which dimensions of your innovation initiative have the biggest gaps &#8211; and how to close them strategically.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/contact\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#fff;color:#1e3a5f;padding:0.75rem 2rem;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;\">Book Your Free Consultation<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1.1rem;font-weight:600;color:#374151;margin-bottom:1rem;\">Related Terms:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-strategy\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Innovation Strategy<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Innovation Management<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-canvas\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Business Model Canvas<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/lean-canvas\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Lean Canvas<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-process\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Innovation Process<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Design Thinking<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/value-proposition\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Value Proposition<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/go-to-market-strategy\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;padding:0.4rem 0.9rem;background:#f3f4f6;border-radius:9999px;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;\">Go-to-Market Strategy<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1.1rem;font-weight:600;color:#374151;margin-bottom:0.75rem;\">Further Reading:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0.25rem;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/blog\/business-model-canvas-guide-examples-and-practical-tips-for-smes\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95rem;\">\u2192 Business Model Canvas: Guide, Examples and Practical Tips for SMEs<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/blog\/innovation-process-the-5-phases-of-successful-innovation-in-companies\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95rem;\">\u2192 Innovation Process: The 5 Phases of Successful Innovation in Companies<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/blog\/go-to-market-strategy-from-concept-to-market-success-2\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95rem;\">\u2192 Go-to-Market Strategy: From Concept to Market Success<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways: A Business Model Canvas alone isn&#8217;t enough to manage innovation systematically. The PON Innovation Framework covers the entire innovation process across 7 dimensions: from market analysis through vision,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[219],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-innovation"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/innovation-framework-7-dimensions.png","author_info":{"display_name":"DI (FH) Benedikt Hasibeder","author_link":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/blog\/author\/methodman\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28644"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28650,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28644\/revisions\/28650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}