In many ways the problem with innovation tools is one of seeing the wood for the trees. There are some many tools on offer that it becomes difficult to know which to try for what application. Two points are worth making here — the first is that no tool will meet every need so it will be a matter of choosing a set of tools for dealing with different problems. And the second is that choosing tools will be helped if there is a framework to put them in context.
To take a different metaphor, we all need clothes for different occasions, ranging from digging the garden to attending a wedding. We could simple throw them all into a big cupboard, but then we would have trouble finding the right items fast and without a lot of unnecessary rummaging around. By putting them into a wardrobe, we can begin to put some structure and organisation into the choosing process. That is the main purpose of this toolbox — to provide a structured framework within which to review and choose tools.