ABSTRACT
Some have developed centers for innovation, innovation labs, and innovation teams. In establishing and sustaining a vision for innovation at Oregon State University's Ecampus, the authors have found it helpful to consider innovation from several perspectives. They have identified six key areas of impact for a vision statement including solving a problem, serving an audience, supporting the university's mission, guiding culture, improving strategic thinking, and strengthening brand identity. Think about the market research the readers have access to or that they need to obtain to better understand the unmet audience needs and market potential inherent in their innovative vision. However, the authors have also struggled with the university's brand at times because our audience and programs are not bound to the physical campus founded in 1868. The innovation team does not currently have its own budget aside from the staff time devoted to its projects, although as a large organization, discretionary funding is available for key projects.
