How Honeywell Prioritizes Growth Projects

Strategyzer
StrategyzerMar 26, 2026

Why It Matters

By institutionalizing evidence‑based playbooks, Honeywell demonstrates how large enterprises can make faster, lower‑risk growth decisions—providing a replicable model for any organization seeking to prioritize innovation strategically.

Key Takeaways

  • Honeywell uses playbooks to standardize growth project evaluation.
  • Evidence-based decisions combine VOC data with deeper market validation.
  • Growth Symposium aligns cross‑functional teams around customer‑centric priorities.
  • Digital visual workspaces replace static templates, enhancing collaboration.
  • Iterative playbook development reduces risk and accelerates project approvals.

Summary

The webinar walks through Honeywell’s systematic approach to selecting and funding growth initiatives, highlighting a three‑stage process that blends a proprietary playbook framework with rigorous, evidence‑based decision making. Senior Product Director Maxwell Johnson and Strategizer facilitators explain how the company moved from traditional voice‑of‑customer (VOC) surveys to a layered evidence hierarchy that incorporates market tests, prototype feedback, and quantitative forecasts before green‑lighting projects. Key insights include the definition of a playbook as a visual, step‑by‑step guide that replaces static templates, the use of digital workspaces for real‑time collaboration, and the role of the annual Growth Symposium in surfacing high‑potential ideas. The team emphasized that evidence ranges from light (VOC) to strong (controlled experiments such as brochure A/B tests), and governance boards apply predefined thresholds to decide which projects advance. Max Johnson noted, “We realized VOC was just one piece of evidence; deeper validation lets product managers prove market fit to leadership.” Carol Hill added that the evidence‑based model forces teams to design as if right and test as if wrong, while Alex described four iterations of the symposium that refined the playbook’s structure. The session also showcased AI‑augmented facilitation to reduce reliance on costly in‑person coaching. For businesses, adopting Honeywell’s playbook methodology can streamline project pipelines, cut investment risk, and align cross‑functional stakeholders around clear, data‑driven criteria, ultimately accelerating time‑to‑market for innovative offerings.

Original Description

How does a Fortune 100 company decide which growth projects to fund? In this session, Honeywell Senior Product Director Maxwell Johnson joins Strategyzer's Alex Osterwalder and Carol Hill to reveal how structured playbooks and a five-level evidence framework transformed their growth investment decisions.
Most enterprise teams rely on voice of customer and polished slide decks to justify growth investments. Honeywell discovered that this approach leaves critical blind spots – the gap between what customers say and what they actually do. Over four growth symposiums, they built a repeatable system that replaces opinion-based pitches with evidence-scored business artifacts.
This webinar walks through the full framework, real examples from Tesla and Fireflies.ai, and practical lessons from Honeywell's journey.
Chapters:
[00:00] Introduction and webinar overview
[06:30] What is a playbook? From tools to structured execution
[13:30] Maxwell Johnson on Honeywell's evidence journey
[15:15] Evidence-based decision-making: the five levels explained
[22:00] Real-world examples: Tesla, American Family Insurance, Fireflies.ai
[27:00] Interactive quiz: score the evidence level
[34:00] Inside the Honeywell growth symposium
[49:00] Key takeaways and lessons learned
[55:00] Q&A: testing in regulated industries and cycle times
KEY RESOURCES
Read the full wrap-up and download slides: www.strategyzer.com/library/fortune-100-prioritizes-growth-projects
Explore Strategyzer workshops: https://www.strategyzer.com/workshop
ABOUT STRATEGYZER
Strategyzer helps organisations make better strategic decisions with practical tools, structured playbooks, and expert facilitation. Known for the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, Strategyzer works with enterprise teams worldwide to move from strategy to execution.
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