TS EN ISO 56008

TS EN ISO 56008 is a guidance standard for how an organization can measure innovation activities. Its focus is on defining, implementing, evaluating, and improving measurements so that innovation operations become more visible, comparable, and manageable. In general technical terms, this means using measurement to support both day-to-day control and longer-term learning in innovation management.

How the measurement areas are organised

The document groups innovation operation measurements into four areas: measurements for establishing and launching innovation initiatives, measurements for innovation processes, measurements for innovation initiatives, and measurements of innovation portfolios. This distinction matters because the indicators used to steer a portfolio of innovation work are not the same as those used to monitor a specific process step or a single initiative. More broadly, measurement frameworks often distinguish between inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, with each serving a different management purpose.

Who it is for and what kinds of innovation it addresses

• Intended for organizations of any sector or size.
• Applicable to private, public, not-for-profit, governmental, and societal organizations.
• Covers product, service, process, model, and method innovations.
• Applies across incremental and radical innovation contexts.
• Supports both short-term and long-term evaluation and measurement needs.

The standard is also relevant where accountability, transparency, and evidence-based assessment are important. In practical innovation management, measurement is not only about tracking numbers; it is also about ensuring that indicators fit the organization’s objectives, can be interpreted consistently, and can be improved over time. That makes the guidance useful for training providers, evaluators, policy makers, and other interested parties seeking a common framework for assessing innovation operations and their results.