Innovation Management ? Capturing Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Capturing Ideas

The Economist (2003b) states that 3000 bright ideas are needed for 100 worthwhile projects, which in turn will be winnowed down to four development programmes for new products. And four such development programmes are the minimum needed to stand any chance of getting one winner.

From the above it is clear that a large number of good ideas are required before the innovation process can truly begin. Given that the bright ideas themselves would have been chosen from a larger pool of general ideas, the problem becomes one of maximising idea generation before idea selection begins.

All too often idea generation is a conscious process. Leaders will herd people into a room with a flip chart, conduct a "brainstorming" session and state a problem (without deeper analysis) and ask for ideas. However, this shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how ideas occur.

It is true that problem identification results in better output when it is conducted consciously ? i.e. when people pay attention to it. However, once problems a have been addressed and idea generation begins, it is more productive to:

a) Consciously generate ideas. Time limits and incremental goals produce more output than a "do your best" approach.

b) Realise that incubation is valuable. The mind will subconsciously work on problems and, over a period of time, will generate richer solutions than time pressure sometime allows.

Because of b) and the fact that idea generation is a cognitive process, many more ideas are generated by individuals than is appreciated. The task thus becomes one of collecting all the ideas produced. Mundane methods include:

a) Carry around a tape recorder. In one day the author noted more than sixty ideas that popped into his head.

b) Keep paper and pen handy. This is especially useful when an idea has to be expanded into a structure. For example, an idea for a screenplay can be mapped against a framework to produce a step-outline quite rapidly.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:54:27 GMT EU to consider Zimbabwe sanctions - PRESS TV PRESS TV EU to consider Zimbabwe sanctions PRESS TV - 1 hour ago German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the European Union would consider 'all possible sanctions' against the Zimbabwean government. African Union Weakened by Summit Inaction on Zimbabwe Voice of America Q&A: Zimbabwe's disputed election guardian.co.uk Financial Times - The Associated Press - Reuters - AllAfrica.com all 6,000 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:14:17 GMT Study suggests serotonin plays a role in SIDS - Los Angeles Times dBTechno Study suggests serotonin plays a role in SIDS Los Angeles Times - 6 hours ago Mice who overproduced the brain chemical showed symptoms similar to those of the infant syndrome before they died. By Wendy Hansen, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Mice genetically engineered to overproduce the brain chemical serotonin died at an early ... Brain imbalance 'cot death key' BBC News SIDS Linked to Brain Chemical Dysfunction Washington Post Reuters - WebMD - The Associated Press - Bloomberg all 250 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:46:43 GMT Goleta fire doubles in size overnight - Los Angeles Times The Age Goleta fire doubles in size overnight Los Angeles Times - 15 hours ago The blaze near the Santa Barbara city has grown to 5400 acres and triggers more evacuations. No homes have been destroyed. The local fireworks show is canceled and face masks are being distributed to BIG SUR -- The fires that bedevil California took ... Video: Wind Keeps California Wildfires Raging AssociatedPress Firefighters hold line on two California wildfires Reuters New York Times - FOXNews - CNN International - KSWT-TV all 798 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:36:05 GMT Calm in Mongolia as emergency rule nears end - Reuters Wall Street Journal Calm in Mongolia as emergency rule nears end Reuters - 2 hours ago ULAN BATOR (Reuters) - Troops began pulling back from the streets of the Mongolian capital on Saturday ahead of the lifting of a state of emergency that had been declared after rioting over alleged election fraud. Mongolia prepares to lift state of emergency AFP Curfew in downtown Ulan Bator lifted Xinhua Wall Street Journal - International Herald Tribune - Radio Australia - Reuters India all 1,406 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:01:57 GMT Mamma Mia! Torres thrills crowd at trials - Sports Network Washington Post Mamma Mia! Torres thrills crowd at trials Sports Network - 2 hours ago by Eric Gold, Olympic Editor Omaha, NE (Sports Network) - Dara Torres held her two-year-old daughter Tessa while receiving a medal for finishing first in the 100-meter freestyle, something that was totally unexpected, but nevertheless a charming moment ... Torres, Phelps steal show at swim trials Seattle Post Intelligencer On Her Way to Another Games New York Times San Francisco Chronicle - SI.com - Fort Worth Star Telegram - Washington Post all 379 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:48:43 GMT Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, patriotism ... - ABC News New York Daily News Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, patriotism ... ABC News - 1 hour ago By COLLEEN LONG AP Writer AP Fireworks explode over the Manhattan skyline during the 32nd annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks... The nation's largest fireworks display exploded in a spectrum of color over the East River, temporarily stealing the ... US marks Independence Day with fireworks, revelry The Associated Press US marks Independence Day with fireworks, revelry China Daily The Associated Press all 274 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:20:07 GMT Consortium Rescues Bell Canada Takeover - New York Times Boston Globe Consortium Rescues Bell Canada Takeover New York Times - 5 hours ago By IAN AUSTEN OTTAWA - A private equity and pension fund consortium said it salvaged a record $52 billion deal for Bell Canada on Friday by postponing its closing date until mid-December and renegotiating some terms of the transaction - including ... BCE, Ontario Teachers' Reach Final Agreement on Sale (Update5) Bloomberg BCE Finalizes Tumultuous Takeover Forbes Wall Street Journal - TheStreet.com - The Associated Press - FOXBusiness all 297 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:56:07 GMT Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages Increase Web Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Business Innovation ? the Value of Frameworks

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Set Yourself Up for Success!

Set Yourself Up For Success!... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Role Play

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Mindfulness and Beliefs: Irrationally Yours

I can't help it--I am a confirmed neuroscience geek.So I... Read More

Facing a Resource Crunch? Read On!

Recently I read an excerpt from a new business innovation... Read More

Humankinds Greatest Inventions

There are a number of amazing inventions that have been... Read More

Color Your Life

Have you ever arrived at place in your career and... Read More

Innovation Management ? Isolating Problems and Implementing Solutions

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? Small Changes, Big Effects

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Improve Your Business Dealings with Improvisation

"Nothing is accidental ... use everything." -- Keith JohnstoneEven the... Read More

Seeking Initiative and Innovation? Reward Failure!

Based on Proprietary Research"If you want to increase initiative and... Read More

Business Innovation ? Eliciting Talent

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Innovation Management ? 5 Ideas An Hour

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Managing Creativity and Innovation, Part 1 of 2

Leaders, consultants and managers must be competent in at least... Read More

The Hidden Superpowers Of Your Mind

The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic... Read More

Process Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

A Time for Rebellion!

When is it right for you to rebel against the... Read More

Change Is a Skill Development Learning Process

Change, like almost every other life experience, is a learning... Read More

Life ? The Teacher

You've probably heard the phrase "repetition is the mother of... Read More

Business Innovation ? Blocking: Saying YES or NO

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Why Do We Suppress Higher Thought?

Throughout History we have imprisoned our brightest stars and thinkers.... Read More

Business Ideas ? Need a New Idea? Try Changing Your Perspective

One definition of creativity states that creative people look at... Read More

Innovation Management ? moving past the wall

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Fire Evacuation Drill with a Difference

I had been given the task to organize a fire... Read More

Enhancing Vulnerability To Master Perfectionism

One of the ways a person must advance past perfectionism... Read More