---
id: "framework-initiative-canvas"
type: "framework"
source_timestamps: ["§ Integrating disparate intentions and ways of working", "¶23"]
tags: ["project-intake", "alignment-tool"]
related: ["entity-org-the-hangar", "entity-nicole-m-jones", "framework-three-functions-of-bridgers", "action-articulate-shared-intention"]
steps: ["Define the problem to be solved.", "Assign specific deliverables to partners.", "Identify the executive sponsor.", "Identify potential skeptics.", "Describe the vision of success (who to 'wow')."]
source_url: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-great-innovations-fail-to-scale"
source_title: "Why Great Innovations Fail to Scale"
sources: ["futures"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-futures"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-nm-102-innovations-fail-to-scale"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-great-innovations-fail-to-scale"
sourceTitle: "Why Great Innovations Fail to Scale"
---
# Initiative Canvas

An **intake form designed by [[entity-nicole-m-jones|Nicole M. Jones]] at Delta's innovation lab, [[entity-org-the-hangar|The Hangar]]**, used for future innovation projects to capture fundamental agreements among partners and define a shared 'north star' *before* work begins. Filling out the canvas often requires **multiple rounds of debate**, forcing partners to reconsider initial agreements — but this upfront work pays off in smoother execution. It operationalizes the [[framework-three-functions-of-bridgers|integrating]] function and [[action-articulate-shared-intention|articulating the shared intention]].

**Key fields:**
- Description of the problem the project is meant to solve.
- Assignment of deliverables.
- Name of the executive sponsor.
- Names of potential skeptics.
- Vision of success — e.g., prompted by *'describe whom we want to wow with this solution.'*

**Enrichment note:** The named 'Initiative Canvas' is primarily documented in Hill's case work rather than broad public sources, but the fields (problem, deliverables, sponsor, skeptics, success vision) match established innovation-charter and project-canvas practices used across labs and accelerators.