--- title: Innovation project management description: "## Why this feature is needed Once an idea is approved, the work is no longer about collecting input. It becomes about execution, progress tracking, ownership, deadlines, stage movement, and measuring results. Without a structured project workflow, innovation teams can…" url: "https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/knowledge/innovation-project-management/" updated: "2026-04-16" category: Project portfolio / Portfolio Overview --- # Innovation project management ## Why this feature is needed Once an idea is approved, the work is no longer about collecting input. It becomes about execution, progress tracking, ownership, deadlines, stage movement, and measuring results. Without a structured project workflow, innovation teams can lose visibility on what is moving forward and what value is being created. Innovation project management helps teams keep control of active innovation work. It creates a clear way to monitor project stages, follow progress, compare projects, and understand how innovation efforts contribute to business outcomes. ## What this feature is Innovation project management in [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/) is the structured process of managing approved innovations as projects. It helps teams monitor project progress, guide projects through defined stages, and measure innovation success over time. Projects in [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/) are managed through project funnels. These funnels work in a similar way to idea funnels, but they are focused on execution instead of idea review. Project funnels help teams organize projects by team, department, country, or ownership model. Within the projects area, users can work with different views such as list view, Kanban view, and Gantt chart view. These views support day to day monitoring, stage progression, and portfolio insight. ## Video about projects [Innovation Project Management](https://player.vimeo.com/video/409399195?dnt=1&app_id=122963) ## Access level [Power User](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/power-user/) You need access to the Projects area in the Innovation Studio to manage project progress. [Admin](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/admin/) permissions may be required to start new projects, configure project funnels, or connect idea funnels to project funnels. ## Navigation path Navigation path: Innovation Studio → Projects ## How to use this feature Project management starts when an innovation moves beyond idea selection and into execution. In [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/), projects are used to monitor progress, track deadlines, manage stages, and understand whether innovation work is creating value. Projects can be started from approved ideas or created as new projects from scratch. Once a project exists, it can be managed in the relevant project funnel and reviewed through different project views depending on the type of overview needed. ### Step by step instructions 1. Open **Innovation Studio**. 2. Go to **Projects**. 3. Choose whether you want to review existing projects or start a new project. 4. If needed, create a project from an approved idea or start a completely new project. 5. Open the relevant project funnel. 6. Use the available views such as **List view**, **Kanban view**, or **Gantt chart view** depending on the type of project overview you need. 7. Open a project card or project record to update details such as progress, project manager, deadline, stage, and status updates. 8. Move projects through the project funnel as they progress from one stage to the next. 9. Review project value, investment, and fit as part of the ongoing project monitoring process. ![image](http://www.acceptmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-13-1024x632.png) ## Introduction When creating an innovation project, keeping track of progress is important for delivering the innovation successfully. Every innovation project needs to meet certain criteria before it can move to the next stage. These stages can include [Problem](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/problem/) finding, [Solution](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/solution/) finding, [Experiment](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/experiment/), business case, development, and delivery. In [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/), teams can define and manage these criteria through the project settings and project funnel structure. ## Project funnels Project funnels are the structured workflows used to manage innovation projects. They help teams organize projects by responsibility and execution flow. Just like idea funnels, project funnels can be created and managed separately. This makes it possible to set projects apart for different teams, departments, countries, or ownership models. ## List view The list view provides a simple overview of all projects linked to the company or selected project funnel. Each column can be sorted to help users compare project data quickly. The latest report column is based on the date of the latest modification made to a project. This helps teams identify which projects were updated most recently. ![image](http://www.acceptmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-14-1024x620.png) ## Kanban view The Kanban board is the default dashboard view for projects. It shows all project cards grouped by stage and makes it easier to see project progress across the full workflow. Each project card presents useful information such as the progress bar, project manager, and deadline. You can easily edit these values in the project details form by clicking on a project card. To update project progression, each project card can be moved manually to the next stage with drag and drop. In every stage, financial details are combined to show the profit per stage at the bottom of each stage column. The profit is based on estimated revenue minus investments in the project settings score tab. ![image](http://www.acceptmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-15-1024x627.png) ## Gantt chart view The Gantt chart view helps users understand project timing across departments. Each bar represents a project, and projects are placed under the department linked to them in the project settings. When hovering over a project in the chart, additional information can be shown, such as the project title, start date, and end date. Users can determine the displayed time window by entering dates in the from and to fields or by using the slider below the chart. ![image](http://www.acceptmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-16-1024x640.png) ## Start an innovation project As an [Admin](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/admin/), you can start an innovation project based on one of the innovation ideas from Inbox, Selection, or Ideation missions. You can also start a completely new project from scratch. With Projects, the [Admin](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/admin/) can monitor the project status, stage, status updates, upcoming deadlines, strategic fit, investment in time and money, and created value. Within a project, new missions can also be started, such as an ideation [Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/mission/), to help move the work forward. [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/) automatically maintains a backlog of project activities. The platform is designed to help innovation teams keep track of projects, monitor progress, and create value, while detailed task execution can still be managed in other operational tools where needed. ## Configuration and adjustments Project management is shaped by the setup of project funnels and connected project settings. Review the project funnel structure carefully to make sure the stages reflect the execution process your organization wants to follow. This may include stages such as [Problem](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/problem/) finding, [Solution](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/solution/) finding, [Experiment](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/experiment/), business case, development, and delivery. Defining these criteria clearly helps teams understand what is needed before a project can move to the next stage. If your organization uses different project workflows for different departments or countries, create separate project funnels to keep execution ownership and reporting clear. ## Practical example – Innovationlands Innovationlands uses [Accept Mission](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/accept-mission/) to move selected attraction and guest experience ideas into structured innovation projects. After a new attraction concept is approved in the idea funnel, the innovation team starts a project and places it in the relevant project funnel for execution. The project moves through stages such as concept development, feasibility validation, business case, build preparation, and delivery. The team uses the Kanban view to monitor which projects are moving forward, the list view to compare project data, and the Gantt chart to understand timing across departments such as Park Operations, Guest Experience, and Technology. For one mixed reality attraction project, Innovationlands tracks the project manager, deadline, expected investment, and progress percentage inside the project card. As the project moves through its stages, the team can monitor whether it is still aligned with the original business case and whether it is ready for the next [Decision](https://www.acceptmission.com/nl/encyclopedia/decision/) point. This helps Innovationlands manage innovation execution with more structure and stronger visibility across the portfolio.