As the country faces the tremendous challenges of the pandemic, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) chose to set its eyes on the opportunities that lie upon this time of uncertainty. Through the Productivity and Development Center (PDC), the DAP reached out to various members of the government in spreading the culture of Innovation in a Masterclass on Co-Creation Innovation Process.

Last July 13 to 16, 2020, while the nation is preparing to brave the challenges of the new normal, a total of thirty (30) individuals across twenty-eight (28) agencies have gathered together with the desire to gain skills in coping with the fast changing and unpredictable world. After four (4) days of active participation and collaborative learning, they learned the value of empathy as a key ingredient in ideation. They were able to appreciate mindsets and concepts that will equip them in marching towards becoming future-fit leaders.

This 16-hour session, spread over four (4) days, has provided a virtual ideation space for future innovators to collaborate and appreciate the co-creation innovation process. Now that working remotely and work from home arrangements keep the nation physically apart, bringing the government closer to the people has become an even greater challenge. Thus, this year’s Masterclass on Co-Creation Innovation Process was re-designed for participants to unleash their creative and innovative skills right in the comforts of their own homes or work spaces Having a blend of online lectures, workshops and ideation activities, the Masterclass has helped the participants in thinking out of the box as they addressed wicked problems in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

“Everyone was left optimistic and all fired up to spread the culture of innovation.” said Adrian Ramirez, DAP Project Manager. Ending the session was bittersweet as everyone heads back to their normal lives and the realities of the current crisis with that glimmer of optimism that, through innovation and collaborative efforts, they will break the barriers of this pandemic and go beyond that silver lining of hope.

DAP-PDC has been providing training interventions for capacitating and guiding organizations towards implementing the Innovation Laboratory Program using the co-creation innovation process. More information on the DAP-PDC services is available through www.dap.edu.ph or for inquiries on the Innovation Laboratory Program, feel free to send an email through pspinnolab@dap.edu.ph.