Innovation from within: CSS employees play a part in shaping

Innovation is often associated with major technological breakthroughs but, at CSS, it starts small – with people and their ideas. After all, big changes are built on small steps, and driving those first steps are our CSS Facilitators – employees using agile methods and innovative approaches to ensure that innovation isn’t just an idea but something actively applied in everyday work, embedding it sustainably into the company culture.

Viola Duss

25 February 2025 | 5 Min. Reading Time

Innovation as a practised culture

CSS fosters an open approach towards new developments and strengthens its capacity for innovation by working closely with employees. “We have an environment where people can think out loud and test new ideas,” is how Timothy Kersting, Requirement Engineer and CSS Facilitator describes the practised culture. At CSS, innovation is an integral part of daily operations, and is supported at every level – by managers, teams, the Innovation department and learning opportunities. As its driving force, employees are at the heart of the process, guided by the principle: “Together. Better. Action.”

This kind of culture encourages people to be curious and bold, to try things out and learn from them.

Guido Schnarwiler, HR Consultant

Employees as drivers of innovation

CSS deliberately looks to its employees to be the driving force behind innovation by strengthening their potential. “It’s essential to strengthen employees as drivers of innovation, as they bring expertise and a valuable bottom-up perspective,” says Désirée Hostettler, HR Consultant.

This mindset shapes the company’s approach: “Do we trust our employees to innovate, or do we leave that solely to an Innovation department?” asks Guido Schnarwiler, HR Consultant. The answer is clear: CSS places its trust in the creativity and expertise of its staff.

“Involving employees boosts engagement, encourages responsibility and makes work more exciting,” he adds.

TBD — In an engaging discussion, Schnarwiler, Roger Gabriel and Timothy Kersting share their perspectives on how employees at CSS actively contribute to an innovation culture.

The CSS Facilitators: a key force for change

To further strengthen the staff-driven innovation culture and embed it in daily practice, CSS relies on the CSS Facilitators, whose role is to not only promote innovation, but actively live it.

This community embodies a culture of continuous learning and agile working. Facilitators actively promote innovation in each team by teaching staff to develop the mindset and methods needed to think and act innovatively. Their training in agile methodologies ensures consistent standards and a shared understanding of innovation. Currently, 60 Facilitators work across different departments, creating tangible added value throughout the organisation.

Facilitators don’t offer conventional support – they bring in creative methods that have a lasting impact on the company culture.

Guido Schnarwiler, HR Consultant

How Facilitators strengthen teams and the organisation

Facilitators play an advisory role, encourage fresh perspectives and foster an innovative mindset. “CSS Facilitators provide unbiased support, helping to tackle even long-standing challenges,” adds Timothy Kersting, Requirement Engineer and CSS Facilitator. Their knowledge and agile methods benefit entire teams. They ensure that “everyone in a workshop embraces the mindset and speaks the same language,” explains Roger Gabriel, Head of Business Analysis & Product Owner.

“Facilitators are a practical example of the innovation culture – they inspire creativity within teams, integrate innovation into everyday work and drive agile methods across departments,” says Désirée Hostettler, HR Consultant. By acting as bridges between departments, Facilitators contribute to process improvements and drive continuous development.

What makes working with CSS Facilitators so valuable is their fresh perspective on challenges. It enables us to rethink solutions.

Roger Gabriel, Head of Business Analysis & Product Owner

Added value for personal growth

The CSS Facilitator community benefits both the organisation and its individual members. “Being a Facilitator means broadening my professional horizons and expanding my perspectives through new approaches,” says Timothy Kersting, Requirement Engineer and CSS Facilitator.

The professional Facilitator training programme is seen as particularly enriching. Roger Gabriel describes it as “one of the most hands-on and application-focused training programmes at CSS, as it offers both professional and personal development while being closely linked to daily work.” Through external training in agile methods, Facilitators bring new expertise into the company as internal specialists.

The role also promotes personal growth, helping employees refine their skills in specific areas and expand their capabilities. The Facilitator community is well-connected, regularly exchanging ideas and offering “a space for mutual learning and inspiration,” says Guido Schnarwiler.

Embedding innovation

The innovation culture at CSS highlights the importance of actively involving employees and nurturing their potential. The CSS Facilitators ensure that innovation is not just initiated but firmly embedded – professionally, methodically and culturally.

Through their work, they help make innovation tangible and embed it in the company culture – bringing lasting benefits to employees, teams and the entire organisation.