Making innovation operational.
Exploring emerging technology with the people and departments that could put it to use.
Director, Technical Innovation, BlueLabs · Contract
The setting
BlueLabs explores new ideas and technologies within KLM. My role connected that experimentation with digital transformation and the practical needs of operational and commercial departments.
The question behind the work
An experiment needs a useful problem, engaged colleagues and a path to ownership. Work in one department can also have value elsewhere, making cross-departmental awareness an important part of innovation.
What I did
- Worked with departments to explore and test technical ideas.
- Connected experiments with departmental strategy and commitment.
- Brought external expertise into the innovation process.
- Supported awareness of experiments across organisational boundaries.
- Advanced Slack Enterprise Grid through application integration and workflow automation to improve developer productivity, including a custom-app strategy for flight and ground operations.
Exploring a faster path into service.
At KLM Blue Labs, we worked on a digital twin project aimed at speeding up the A321neo’s entry into service. A technical deep dive with Epic formed part of that work.
What this chapter brings together
Technology strategy, practical experimentation, cross-departmental collaboration and enterprise integration.
Ideas, experiments and integration.
For a related perspective on organisational alignment, see my writing on shared direction and ownership.
Read the alignment article →