Wazoku Case Study

This is the fifth insight, in our short series of case studies.

We are going to take you inside a massive institution that can become very nimble when push comes to shove. An organisation that firmly believes in the power of employee innovation… actively encouraging radical, problem-solving, ideation from within its own ranks. An organisation that also challenges the entire world to find inspired solutions to critical global issues. Who is this massive institution? Read on and amaze yourself…

How does the MoD crowdsource clever solutions to help protect our nation?

A senior executive insight into tapping world-class, technology expertise with speed and safety.

Here’s the inside story…

‘All corporates are corpulent’. ‘All institutions are slow and sclerotic’. That’s the clumsy stereotype. Well, meet one colossus that smashes this urban myth…

With 250,000 military and civilian personnel – including over thirty external agencies – the MoD is one of the UK’s largest and most complex organisations. So, by popular definition, it must be bureaucratic and morbidly obese.

It’s not. It frequently breaks the conventional mould. In extremis, our armed forces are remarkably lean and agile. Their leaders are enlightened and surprisingly entrepreneurial. And the evidence is very compelling…

Discovering the art of the possible.

Historically, the rigid hierarchy of the armed forces has inhibited innovation. Few ideas ever rose up the chain of command. But the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review changed everything. It recognised that innovation was key to the future of defence. More importantly, it called for a coordinated approach with greater investment in innovation across the MoD and industry.

This enlightened thinking has already delivered results. And one of them could, quite literally, save our planet…

Case Study One: Jet propelled sustainability.

The MoD must surrender to the truth. In the past, it probably ranked among sustainability’s worst offenders. Indeed, our armed forces used to be exempted from all emission targets. But no longer. The government has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And defence is no exception.

The General appointed to deliver on this new reality, made a swift decision. He tasked the Defence Ideas Programme to search the MoD for sustainable solutions. He also mobilised Wazoku – a unique platform designed to identify and develop inspired ideas buried deep within large organisations. And very soon this alliance bore fruit…

The search for smart solutions identified a small research team in Bristol. For some time, they had been working on ways to use synthetic aviation fuel in military jets. Frustratingly, the project had been shelved, like so many promising ideas, for commercial reasons. So ‘top brass’ mistakenly assumed that military jets would never use synthetic fuels.

The Defence Ideas Programme breathed new life into the project. By engaging experts in the RAF, industry, civil aviation and NATO allies, a raft of new synthetic fuel data surfaced. And one previously unseen test report proved hugely revealing. The Swedish air force had successfully undertaken sustained flights, at Mach 1.6, using synthetic aviation fuel.

In March 2023 – after further exhaustive research – defence chiefs formally recognised that synthetic aviation fuel can be used to power military jets. This decision is a gamechanger. It opens the door for synthetic fuels to power planes, ships and every conceivable land vehicle – and not just in the defence sector. Wider application could have profound implications. Vital sustainability goals – right across the world – may now be achievable.

But none of this would have happened without the unrelenting quest for answers. The Defence Ideas Programme was pivotal. But so, too, was the idea harvesting and forensic analysis platform that Wazoku brought to the table. Without this ability to sift complex data, connect disparate dots, surface brilliance and then back it all the way to reality, synthetic fuel solutions would still be on the shelf, collecting dust.

It’s an object lesson for all senior management. And here’s another…

Case Study Two: Keeping connected when all communications are dead.

Imagine this scenario…

A collision of tectonic plates deep beneath the Java Sea sends a violent quake through Sumatra, Java and southern Indonesia. Measuring over 8 on the Richter scale, the impact is devastating. But worse is to come. An unstoppable tsunami then strikes the low-lying islands. Vulnerable coastal communities are destroyed. And out of this destructive chaos comes an urgent call for international support.

Two British warships docked in Singapore harbour are immediately ordered to join the relief effort. But where are they most needed? What help is most in demand? And how do they coordinate life-saving efforts to best effect?

Relief teams cannot wait days for answers – so, here are the MoD’s two big dilemmas:

1. How do you obtain urgent observational imagery of the disaster zone when all available surveillance satellites are out of orbital alignment?

• How do you coordinate and communicate with first responders when all comms infrastructures have been degraded or destroyed?

This scenario may be imaginary, but the issues are very real. So, the MoD challenged the world for answers. And this time, it turned to another of Wazoku’s unique strengths: a global network of 700,000 problem-solvers.

These experts excel at delivering solutions to extremely complex and critical challenges. Their diverse ideation community includes niche start-ups, professional problem-solvers, research institutions and universities. They are probably the greatest collection of eclectic skills in the world. They have no previous relationship with the organisations setting the challenge, so they always bring a new, inspiring perspective to their problem-solving. Whether you are looking to expand a business opportunity, validate a hypothesis or (as with the MoD) answer a pressing problem, this is a genuinely unique resource.

Under controlled and secure conditions, submissions can be carefully assessed. For this scenario, the MoD set out three key evaluation criteria:

1. Have the complexities of the challenge been fully understood?
2. Is the solution feasible, practicable, durable and cost-effective?
3. Can it be integrated into existing international rescue/support systems?

A shortlist of prime contenders emerged and from this came a select group of project partners. The MoD is now working with them to develop smart scenario solutions. And already the results prove that the MoD has received input, innovation, and creativity far beyond the original scope of this challenge. That’s impressive.

‘Big corporates and institution should not be defined by stereotypes. This case study is evidence they can be as lean and agile as any start-up. But they need help…

If you want to unlock the smart – but dormant – ideas in your company OR if you want to challenge Wazoku’s unique problem-solving community, just talk to me. I can provide more insights and personally introduce you to this remarkable company. Contact me: Robert Baldock on 07768 402131 or robert.baldock@clustre.net