Meaning ● Distributed Innovation Governance, within the Small and Medium-sized Business (SMB) context, refers to a decentralized framework by which an SMB manages and directs innovative efforts, distributing the decision-making power related to these activities across different teams, departments, or even external partners. A structured approach is important to make sure the allocation of innovation resources drives growth strategies, ensures the automation of business processes aligns with key business priorities, and that the implementation of new technologies supports scalability. ● For an SMB, this governance structure enhances agility, enabling faster adaptation to market changes and opportunities that directly result in business improvements, while promoting employee contribution to innovation. By establishing clear guidelines and responsibilities, an SMB can effectively steer its innovation endeavors toward achieving strategic business goals, such as enhancing operational efficiency or improving customer engagement via streamlined automated workflows. A core business goal involves connecting innovation to tangible outcomes. ● In SMBs automation plays a vital role. Innovation governance needs to address this aspect and have the support to properly manage any aspect of automation that arises within the SMB. ● Distributed Innovation Governance implementation makes for a robust methodology in small business.