Final answer:
The first step in Hamel's wheel of innovation aligns closely with the imaginative phase, where ideas are generated and conceptualized, although it's not explicitly listed in the options. The 'Explore Possibilities' step in design involves a thorough understanding of design characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in Hamel's wheel of innovation is not specifically listed among the provided options (imagining, assessing, experimenting, scaling). Typically, the innovation process entails stages such as imagining, which involves generating new ideas; designing, which covers the development of concepts; experimenting, which involves testing and refining ideas; and scaling, which is about expanding and implementing the idea broadly.
However, considering the closest alignment to the 'wheel of innovation,' one might interpret the imaginative stage as a starting point, where the cycle of innovation begins with creative thinking and ideation.
Furthermore, when examining a design process, the step 'Explore Possibilities' corresponds to understanding design characteristics, which involves a deep dive into design concepts to assess their strengths and weaknesses. The internal search for ideas as part of the innovation process is also key, as it taps into the existing knowledge and creativity within an organization.