Dolby - Customer Case Study

Making foresight everyone's job

People are hungry for structured ways to think critically about possible futures within their places of work. From a business perspective, this is a strategic advantage when harnessed correctly. There are so many modern challenges to which solutions are urgently needed. Building internal capacity for foresight and innovation work is a critical part of staying ahead of the consumer needs in the long run. This is also the case with Dolby.

Dolby is using ITONICS to help build an internal foresight movement in motion. The platform forms the digital engine of the Dolby Futures Council, an internal institution which deals with all issues relating to possible futures. Today, about 30 stakeholders are an active part of the initiative, anchoring foresight throughout the organization.

profil-chris-bennett-bw — Chris BennettChief Technology Officer, Dolby

Foresight at Dolby

Dolby is a company working at the forefront of innovation in immersive audio and video experiences. The ever-evolving entertainment landscape requires Dolby to anticipate the future needs and desires of its consumers. Foresight allows Dolby to identify potential opportunities, threats and trends that may impact the business and develop strategic plans to address them.

Desire for a central platform for inputting, rating, and discussing foresight data
Other platforms lacked dynamic and searchable databases with ongoing archiving of data and analysis
Absence of a structured and established process for foresight activities
Created a much needed central repository or knowledge base for foresight topics and information

Dolby Foresight Radar powered by ITONICS

Objectives of implementing a central foresight platform

Structured foresight process: A central knowledge hub where Dolby employees can input, rate, and discuss foresight data.
Improved intelligence: An increase in company-wide intelligence and awareness about a wide range of possible futures.
Scale across Dolby: Scaling up futures discussions across the company, creating a knowledge base and structure for collaborative long-term thinking.

profil-linda-rogers-bw — Linda RogersChief People Officer, Dolby

A single point of truth for futures thinking

ITONICS is used as a central and structured platform for inputting, rating, and discussing foresight data and is now an integral part of the work of Dolby’s Futures Council. The Futures Council is a group of stakeholders from different parts and levels of the company with the mission to anchor foresight in the entire organization.

Process

1. Signal scouting

2. Rating

3. Connection

4. Distribution

Achievements

One digital foresight platform: ITONICS has been instituted as the digital backbone for the Futures Council, empowering its 30 key members and wider audience to drive a foresight mindset throughout Dolby.
Broadened perspectives: The foresight movement at Dolby encourages employees to think toward the future, challenging and reframing their conventional thinking.
Increased organizational intelligence: The implementation of a structured foresight process and knowledge hub via ITONICS has increased company-wide intelligence. This has boosted awareness of emerging signals and trends and amplifying Dolby's strategic agility.
Enhanced insights: Contributors from different areas and levels within the organization bring diverse insights, ensuring a multitude of perspectives on future scenarios.
Systematized signal evaluation: Dolby can now systematically evaluate a vast range of market signals. These signals are further processed and linked to ongoing activities at Dolby, allowing for proactive response to market dynamics.
Enabled scalability: As Dolby continues to decentralize the adoption of ITONICS, more people are being brought into the Futures Council facilitating the scaling of this future-oriented initiative across the entire organization.

profil-tessa-finlev-bw — Tessa FinlevFutures Council Founder and Consulting Futurist, Dolby

Go deeper into foresight at Dolby with Tessa Finlev

About Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Dolby website

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. is a leading American company specializing in audio and imaging technologies. It was founded in 1965 by American engineer Ray Dolby and is best known for its eponymous Dolby Surround sound technology used in cinema, home theater, and mobile devices.

The global player offers a wide range of products and services aimed at enhancing the entertainment experience, including audio and video processing, voice technologies, and more. Dolby is headquartered in San Francisco, California and has a global presence, with offices and facilities in countries around the world.

To learn more about Dolby, the Dolby Futures Council and the use of ITONICS, listen to the Innovation Rockstars podcast episode with Tessa Finlev.