Co-design readiness: Leadership
About the 'leadership' co-design readiness domain
The 'Leadership' domain of our Organisational Co-design Readiness Assessment tool focuses on the organisational commitment to support co-design at a leadership level, including the operational readiness and willingness to engage in shared decision-making. It considers the leadership's role in shaping culture, advocating for co-design, and sustaining practices that include community or user perspectives.
We believe that the success of co-design initiatives hinges significantly on the level of understanding and commitment from organisational leaders.
'Leadership' co-design readiness assessment questions
Questions to ask yourself to gauge how much co-design is supported and championed by leaders within your organisation:
Are the leaders in my organisation familiar with co-design concepts, principles, and methods?
Do the leaders in my organisation provide support and encouragement to co-design teams and facilitators?
Do the leaders in my organisation advocate for co-design as a core requirement for our programs and services where appropriate?
Are the leaders in my organisation open to sharing decision-making power with people with lived experience and key stakeholders?
Do the leaders in my organisation take lived experience and feedback seriously, acting on them regularly to improve programs and services?
Is there explicit senior-level backing in my organisation for involving lived experience insights in all stages of a program or service?
Tangible ways that you encourage organisational leaders to buy into co-design
If your organisation has scored low on this domain or you are looking for tips on how to gain support from organisational leaders for doing co-design type work, here are some tangible examples that your organisation could commit to:
Co-design leadership training: implement regular training sessions for leaders on co-design methods, its benefits and how to effectively support co-design teams and co-facilitators, enhancing their familiarity and engagement with co-design processes. Training such as this would be substantially different to practitioner-level training.
Embedding co-design in leadership KPIs or OKRs: integrate co-design principles and practices into the organisation's KPIs or OKRs to ensure leadership accountability and focus on co-design initiatives. This could include setting measurable objectives related to co-design engagements, such as the number of co-design projects initiated, the level of participation from individuals with lived experience, or the impact of co-design outcomes on service improvement and user satisfaction. By tying co-design to leadership performance metrics, the organisation reinforces the importance of co-design and encourages leaders to actively support and engage in co-design processes.
Executive sponsorship policy for co-design projects: develop and implement a policy or guideline stipulating that all co-design projects should have an executive sponsor who is accountable for championing the project outcomes to other leaders within the organisation. This executive sponsor should be responsible for ensuring the project aligns with organisational objectives, advocating for necessary resources, and communicating the value and outcomes of the co-design process to the broader leadership team and organisation. By having an executive sponsor, each co-design project gains a level of leadership commitment and visibility, fostering a culture of accountability and support for co-design initiatives.
Structured decision-making collaboration: establish frameworks where leaders actively participate in decision-making processes with people with lived experience and other stakeholders. This can be through joint committees or advisory groups that aim to integrate diverse perspectives in strategic decisions. Such frameworks can facilitate shared ownership of decisions and promote a culture of inclusivity and respect for the insights of all contributors.
Leadership co-design retreats: organise retreats or workshops that focus on experiencing co-design first-hand. These immersive experiences can help leaders understand the value of co-design and how it can be applied to enhance services and programs. Retreats or workshops could focus on organisational matters but used in a way to show leaders that taking this approach is the way to go.
Gain the support of organisational leaders for effective co-design
Improving co-design literacy among leaders is more than just a box-ticking exercise; it's a strategic move towards cultivating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and ensuring that programs and services are designed with lived experience folks at the centre.
The actionable ideas outlined in this blog offer a pragmatic pathway for organisations to improve the level of understanding and commitment towards co-design at a leadership level. From implementing co-design leadership training to embedding co-design in performance metrics and establishing executive sponsorship for co-design projects, these steps underscore the pivotal role of leadership in championing co-design.
As leaders become more adept in co-design methods and principles, organisations are better positioned to unlock the full potential of co-design, ensuring not only the success of co-design initiatives but also the realisation of more inclusive, innovative, and impactful solutions. The journey towards enhancing co-design literacy among leaders is a strategic investment in bolstering organisational capability to navigate the complexities of today's challenges through collaborative problem-solving and shared decision-making.
About the Beacon Strategies organisational co-design readiness assessment tool
The Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool is an instrument that has been designed to evaluate an organisation's preparedness and capability to engage in effective co-design practices.
The tool is based on a combination of our insights in delivering co-design work but also inspired by the work of co-design thought leaders from Australia and beyond regarding the ‘enablers’ that organisations can have in place to deliver co-design effectively. This tool focuses on key domains that are central to delivering a ‘good’ co-design process. This tool isn’t academic in any way, it has simply been constructed to give your organisation an insight into how you can give your co-design activities the best chance to succeed.
To assess your organisation's readiness for co-design and to learn more about embedding effective co-design practices, access the Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool.
For further information and resources, visit our co-design homepage.
