Innovation is difficult and often fails due to various pitfalls, but there are ten ways to reduce the failure rate.
The United Nations uses Planview IdeaPlace to power their open innovation challenge aimed at solving complex and connected challenges in the developing world, like the relationship between access to education and water sources.
Innovation efforts should start by defining the dream or vision, not a plan. A dream tends to be inclusive, unconstrained, expansive, and can be accomplished in a number of ways.