Corporate Ideation: Why Ideas Die and How to Revive Them
Why your ideation tools aren’t working
Companies often spend thousands of dollars on innovation tools such as idea platforms, innovation management software, ideation software and idea contests. Each used in isolation for the pure purpose of idea collection results in stagnated innovation and demotivated employees. Without an end-to-end ideation process or system, Innovation Managers are left with half-baked ideas and no roadmap on how to decide which ideas are best to progress and how to progress them. Avoid investing in ‘graveyards’ for ideas by recognising that ideation tools are a means of support for a broader innovation journey, rather than the entire solution.
Extra tip: When staff have taken the time to think about and submit an idea, they are usually keen for an outcome. Provide employees with timely and practical feedback to keep them motivated and engaged in the innovation journey. This way, even if their ideas are not progressed, they are likely resubmit in the future, as well as encourage others to innovate; which lends itself to building a culture that supports innovation.
How to generate quality ideas
So how can unhelpful ideas such as ‘beer fridge,’ ‘buy a 3D printer’ or ‘weekly fruit baskets’ be avoided? Before launching ideation platforms or advertising idea contests, clearly define the ‘problem to be solved.’ These challenges should be aligned to the organisation’s mission, with the aim of closing its growth gap. Once a compelling problem statement has been crafted, employees should be further supported by tools that will help them to flesh out their high-level ideas. With the ‘buzz’ that tends to follow innovation initiatives, there are often many ideas that have not been thought through. Business canvasses and similar frameworks prompt employees to consider elements such as resources, partners, investment required, etc and will challenge them so consider whether they have a quality idea.
Extra tip:Leveraging open innovation by introducing new inputs to the organisation can help to expand and accelerate the organisation’s internal innovation efforts. For example, consider inviting clients, partners and leaders from tangential industries to participate in idea generation activities.
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The WorkFlow podcast is hosted by Steve Glaveski with a mission to help you unlock your potential to do more great work in far less time, whether you're working as part of a team or flying solo, and to set you up for a richer life.
To help you avoid stepping into these all too common pitfalls, we’ve reflected on our five years as an organization working on corporate innovation programs across the globe, and have prepared 100 DOs and DON’Ts.
