Idea Generation and Capture
Adopt process(es) to develop and capture innovation ideas that potentially benefit the organization. Idea capturing is enabled by innovation scouts, boundary scanning, participation in research and in standards bodies, and in the use of continuous improvement frameworks, including those for problem solving.
Improvement Planning
Practices-Outcomes-Metrics (POM)
Representative POMs are described for Idea Generation and Capture at each level of maturity.
- 2Basic
- Practice
- Encourage the use of improvement frameworks and establish communications channels for innovation ideation.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained ideation for innovation and improvement purposes.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from improvement initiatives.
- Practice
- Create a 'play space' where business data and analytical data can be pivoted, remixed, and discussed with a view to producing innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- More innovative ideas emerge.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms.
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms that pass filtration into incubation.
- Practice
- Identify relevant online groups and forums and monitor or regularly review content for innovation ideas.
- Outcome
- More innovative ideas emerge.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from online sources.
- Practice
- Encourage employees to join professional organizations and take active roles in the activities of these organizations where relevant.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained volume and quality of ideas for innovation.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from professional association interactions.
- # of professional association ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Proactively engage with organizational stakeholders for innovative ideas about products and services supplied by the organization.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements.
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Raise awareness and encourage staff to identify relevant new concepts in the research literature.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas from research interactions.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from research interactions.
- # of research ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Regularly look outside one's own domain to identify product or service substitutes.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts.
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Encourage staff to attend high grade conferences to help develop their ideation skills.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences.
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences reaching each innovation process stage.
- 3Intermediate
- Practice
- Establish communications channels with other parts of the organization that participate in improvement initiatives to identify innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained ideation for innovation and improvement purposes.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from improvement initiatives.
- Practice
- Examine business data and analytical data dynamic views to stimulate innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained useful ideation for innovative purposes.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms.
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms that pass filtration into incubation.
- Practice
- Participate in and/or start special interest groups around innovation needs.
- Outcome
- Ideation is increased or sustained.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from online sources.
- Practice
- Encourage employees to qualify for higher professional grades in relevant professional association activities.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained volume and quality of ideas for innovation.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from professional association interactions.
- # of professional association ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Proactively engage with suppliers and resellers or customers to elicit innovative ideas about products, services, supply and distribution chains, channels of communications, processes, tools, methods, and so forth.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements.
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Provide access to research literature and study vendor roadmaps for new or innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas from research interactions.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from research interactions.
- # of research ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Attend trade shows and have assigned staff (scouts) scan literature and attend events to identify innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts.
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Encourage staff to attend high grade conferences to help establish informal ideation networks and develop their ideation skills.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences.
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences reaching each innovation process stage.
- 4Advanced
- Practice
- Work with improvement initiatives within supply and distribution chains as well as those in the organization to drive innovation ideation across functions and departments.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained ideation for innovation and improvement purposes.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from improvement initiatives.
- Practice
- Examine business data and analytical data (including external data sets) to stimulate innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained useful ideation for innovative purposes.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms.
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms that pass filtration into incubation.
- Practice
- Participate and take leadership roles in special interest groups around innovation needs.
- Outcome
- Relevant and useful ideation is increased or sustained.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from online sources.
- Practice
- Encourage active participation and leadership in professional associations activities.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained volume and quality of ideas for innovation.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from professional association interactions.
- # of professional association ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Engage with business ecosystem stakeholders for innovative ideas about products, services, supply and distribution chains, channels of communications, processes, tools, methods, and so forth.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovation ideas.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements.
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Engage in and influence innovative research with a view to benefiting the organization and its stakeholders.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas from research interactions.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from research interactions.
- # of research ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practices
- Regularly analyze products and services from other domains for innovative ideas that can be adapted or used in the organization's domain.
- Attend product announcements.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts.
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Encourage staff to attend high grade conferences to identify thought leaders and experts in relevant fields.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced. The number and quality of network contacts is increased.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences.
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences reaching each innovation process stage.
- # of network contacts for innovation idea discussions.
- 5Optimized
- Practice
- Work with improvement initiatives across the wider business ecosystem to drive innovation ideation functions and departments to drive innovation.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained ideation for innovation and improvement purposes.
- Metric
- # of innovation ideas from improvement initiatives.
- Practice
- Examine business data and analytical data (including external data sets and dynamic views) to stimulate innovative ideas.
- Outcome
- There is increased or sustained useful ideation for innovative purposes.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms.
- # of innovation ideas from data platforms that pass filtration into incubation.
- Practice
- Lead and advocate special interest groups around innovation needs.
- Outcome
- Relevant and useful ideation is increased or sustained at lower cost through greater participation by others.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas from online sources.
- Cost per idea from online sources.
- Practice
- Encourage active participation in professional associations at all levels.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained volume and quality of ideas for innovation.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from professional association interactions.
- # of professional association ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Proactively engage with business ecosystem stakeholders and competitors' customers to elicit innovative ideas about products, services, supply and distribution chains, channels of communications, processes, tools, methods, and so forth.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovation ideas.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements.
- # of ideas from stakeholder engagements reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Engage in and influence, through participation, innovative research with a view to benefiting the organization and its stakeholders.
- Outcome
- There is an increased or sustained number and quality of innovative ideas from research interactions.
- Metrics
- # of ideas from research interactions.
- # of research ideas reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Regularly analyze products and services from other domains, including their user and maintenance manuals or service description and terms and conditions of trade where available.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts.
- # of innovation ideas detected by scouts reaching each innovation process stage.
- Practice
- Encourage staff to attend high grade conferences to help identify problems and opportunities of interest to the industry or trade with a view to identifying possible shared research opportunities.
- Outcome
- Ideation for innovation is enhanced and opportunities for shared research are identified.
- Metrics
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences.
- # of innovation ideas detected at conferences reaching each innovation process stage.
- # of network contacts for innovation idea discussions.
- # of shared research opportunities identified through conference attendance.