EXPLORE THE COMPASS SPACES

North Star: The North Star represents an organization’s ultimate purpose, extending beyond profits to reflect the desired state for the wider system it operates within. It should inspire, unify, and guide employees, aligning their day-to-day efforts with the company’s higher mission.
Get Started
Near Star: The Near Star is a shorter or near-term goal tied to a specific innovation project. While the North Star remains steady, the Near Star can change and evolve – especially as projects reach maturation. Each Near Star moves the organization closer to its North Star and helps track progress.
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Framing Problems: A problem is the gap between where you are and where you want to be. How you frame this gap shapes your understanding and influences the ideas and actions you explore.
Frame the Problem
Exploring Patterns: Awareness is the process of deepening your understanding of the broader system in which your problem is embedded. Most of us only see parts of the system we interact with – so establishing a view of the entire system is vital.
Build Awareness
Imagining Possibilities: Ideas are potential solutions to the problem. Ideas often emerge informally, so be sure to keep track of them while going through the other spaces of the Compass and also set aside dedicated time for formal ideation.
Generate Ideas
Forging Pathways: Actions are a range of ways to tackle the problem and move toward the Near Star. Actions don’t control the system – they nudge it forward so the focus is on small, quick actions that actors can take immediately to work towards the long-term outcomes envisioned in the Ideas space.
Explore Actions

WHAT IS IT AND HOW WAS IT CREATED

The Compass is an innovation tool designed to guide organizations through an iterative process of tackling complex challenges. Similar to how a physical compass aids in navigating unfamiliar terrain, Innovation North’s Compass is intended to help organizations navigate the growing complexity and disruptions they face using a systems approach. The Compass was developed over five years in collaboration with leaders from 30 top Canadian companies and experts from Ivey Business School.

WHY USE IT

We are living in an era of unprecedented disruption. As people, products, and data become increasingly interconnected, the challenges we face are becoming more systemic and complex.

Traditional approaches to innovation often overlook the ripple effects of actions within complex systems. At Innovation North, we believe organizations must take a systems approach to innovation, going beyond profits to consider their broader roles within interconnected systems. That is why we developed the Compass, an innovation tool designed to help organizations address complex challenges while keeping the system in view.

The Compass is unique from other innovation or problem-solving tools because:

It keeps the end in view throughout the process, guided by a North Star and a Near Star that represent the organization’s long-term purpose and near-term goals.
It is highly iterative, allowing movement among its four spaces: Problem, Awareness, Ideas, and Actions.
It encourages collaboration, particularly in the Ideas and Actions spaces, where innovators are prompted to work with others beyond their organization to tackle challenges together.

There is no single action that can solve complex problems. Instead, these challenges often require multiple, interacting solutions, which we call an ecology of actions. These are typically small nudges, tests, or pilots that together can catalyze new products and services.

The Compass also supports educators and students in exploring innovation, systems thinking, and sustainability.

HOW TO USE IT

1. Start with the North Star

If you’re just embarking on an innovation project, start by defining your organization’s North Star. This sets a clear strategic direction and keeps your efforts aligned, ensuring you don’t veer off course. Each action should move the organization toward this long-term goal that extends beyond profits.

2. Iterate through Each Space of the Compass

Once you’ve defined your North Star, begin working through the Compass. Where you start is flexible, though our team typically begins by framing the problem. On your first pass, move steadily through each space: Problem, Awareness, Ideas, and Actions. After that initial round, navigate back and forth among the spaces, spending the most time deepening awareness

As you explore the system landscape, you’ll gather insights that guide your next steps.

3. End with the North Star

Once you have identified the actions you want to take, revisit your North Star to ensure that your efforts remain aligned and you haven’t lost your way.

Watch the video below to see the Compass applied to the challenge of product returns: