Empowering Innovation at Tampa VA
Building a Culture of Creativity and Engagement
The Story
The Tampa VA Innovation Program began as a nascent initiative with a bold ambition: to cultivate a culture of innovation that would position the Tampa VA as a leader within the VA ecosystem and beyond. Tasked with raising awareness of programs like Shark Tank and Spark-Seed-Spread, the program aimed to foster collaboration with community partners, academic institutions, and regional medical centers.
However, as the program evolved, its focus shifted toward empowering employees to respond to internal challenges with innovative solutions. This pivot led to the creation of a community platform where ideas could be crowdsourced, developed, and matured into submissions for national VA innovation programs. Ibility was brought in at the program’s inception to provide strategic guidance, branding, marketing support, and a suite of communication tools to bring this vision to life.
The Problem
The Tampa VA Innovation Program faced several challenges typical of a newly established initiative. One of the key obstacles was an undefined vision and unclear processes. The long-term goals and methodologies for achieving innovation were not established at the outset, leading to uncertainty about direction. Additionally, low awareness among staff members was a significant hurdle, as many were unaware of the VA Innovation Ecosystem programs and the opportunities they offered.
Engagement was also limited, with no structured way for employees to share their innovative ideas or participate in solving known challenges. The program also faced brand identity gaps, as it lacked consistent and professional branding, which was necessary to establish credibility and visibility. Furthermore, event support needs became apparent, as the program required marketing, design, and communication resources for high-profile events like their first-ever Hackathon.
These issues created barriers to cultivating an innovation-driven culture and establishing Tampa VA as a regional leader in innovation.
The Solution
Ibility developed and executed a multi-pronged approach to address the challenges faced by the Tampa VA Innovation Program. One of the first steps was strategic communication and branding. We developed consistent branding for all events and initiatives, ensuring a professional and cohesive visual identity across the program. Over the course of 40 weeks, we produced internal newsletters, including more than 20 designs for the “Haley Happenings” and innovation email newsletters. Additionally, we crafted social media graphics, email content, and animated videos to drive engagement.
We also launched a crowdsourcing campaign in partnership with RallyPoint, creating a closed, digital community for Tampa VA employees to share innovative solutions to internal challenges. A strategic marketing campaign was designed to drive platform adoption, which included email campaigns, social media assets, and video content. Our team moderated the community to foster engagement and developed criteria for evaluating and refining submitted ideas.
Support for the first-ever Hackathon was another key focus. We designed all event collateral, including flyers, signage, and nametags, to ensure a polished and professional experience for attendees. A post-event booklet was created to summarize key metrics, feedback, and ideas generated during the event. Additionally, a small-scale social media campaign was delivered to promote the Hackathon through Innovation Ecosystem channels.
Finally, we focused on content creation and thought leadership. We authored blogs, social media posts, and executive presentations to highlight the program’s achievements. Interviews with participants in Innovation Ecosystem programs were conducted to capture their stories, which were then used to draft articles for both internal and external publications.
The Impact
Ibility’s contributions had a transformative effect on the Tampa VA Innovation Program.
Increased Awareness
Internal newsletters and strategic campaigns significantly boosted staff understanding of innovation practices and programs.
Hackathon Success
The Hackathon attracted meaningful participation, generating innovative ideas and establishing Tampa VA’s reputation for creative problem-solving.
Employee Engagement
The RallyPoint community fostered a culture of collaboration, with employees submitting ideas to address internal challenges.
Professional Branding
Consistent and professional branding enhanced the credibility of the program across the VA enterprise.
Improved Accuracy
AI-driven data extraction ensured claims were processed with unparalleled precision.
Although the contract ended before the crowdsourced ideas could be fully developed into submissions for Shark Tank and Spark-Seed-Spread, Ibility’s foundational work set the stage for continued growth and innovation.
The Conclusion
Through its strategic support, Ibility helped the Tampa VA Innovation Program establish itself as a center for innovation, both regionally and within the VA enterprise. From creating a digital community to driving engagement through professional branding and communication strategies, Ibility’s efforts empowered employees, fostered creativity, and laid the groundwork for long-term success.
This case study exemplifies the importance of a comprehensive approach to innovation, combining strategic planning, branding, and employee empowerment to achieve impactful results.