Part 2: Idea Management is Dead, Long Live Idea Ma...
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In past years, Idea Management was a hype. Companies bought idea management systems in hopes that the Holy Grail will be delivered via the idea management system. A good idea? Yes. But in reality, the following hiccups occur in most of the companies:
The idea management process is very slow in moving forward
The responsible idea manager can´t really give an opinion on what is a good idea and what not
Too many ideas can´t be handled with the limited resources (capacity)
When a good idea surfaces, budget is still a discussion topic
People are not motivated to submit ideas
More than one process and system is in place
So the question is “What shall we do with the idea management system?”
Burn it, uninstall it, or should we just learn to use it in the right way?
Allow me to highlight an example from Ericsson that has impressed me.
Once upon a time…
Ericsson used “normal” idea management process
After the global rollout, the inbox of the idea management system was over flowing with ideas
Every country used its own process
No clear decision process and no process transparency existed
Over time, the employees were not motivated anymore
So how was it changed?
Ericsson used an approach which was completely different.
They developed a virtual collection point for one specific topic.
Any employee who recognizes in his field a current need for innovation and also has the resources, can open such an virtual collection point - so the owner becomes the Innovation Manager for exactly this problem
Every employee can access this collection point and can submit concepts and ideas
If there is a similar idea out there, the people will be connected and can work on the idea together
Every employee can read other peoples’ ideas while also scoring them , adding content, and commenting.
So, if the right process is in place – one which gives the general conditions and has free space for creativity – then innovation will take indeed happen in a natural way.
To wrap things up, watch this very interesting video: