The process of turning ideas into developed products can be challenging, and it is an area in which Pure Insight subscribers want actionable insights. As a result of some recent research that we have conducted on behalf of one of our Food and Drink ILP member, we have been able to establish eight key insights on how to successfully coordinate and streamline ideas and turn them into innovation briefs.
1. Start off simply and add maturity as the lessons come.
Don’t buy a software package to streamline and manage ideas until the key people in the company understand and agree on how they want to access data on ideas and evaluation.
2. Have the right culture inside the company
It is important to understand the role that teamwork plays in passing ideas over to product development. Having an idea management system and the ‘best’ process for selecting the best ideas will not guarantee the success in the market. Internal politics and culture both play a significant role. Poor teamwork or not having the right innovation culture will increase the risk of failure in making the best decisions, no matter what process is put in place.
 |
| Idea selecting should be based on their commercial feasibility |
3. Have a Pre-Filter Idea System
Structure your front-end so that it has a direct connection with the R/D activities. For example, a global manufacturing company has streamlined its selection process by applying a pre-filter system: now this company has a global network of over 100 idea managers who to have spend 10% of their time on ideas.
4. Knowing the problem is key to the selection of ideas.
There are many existing cases of companies not recognizing the ideas as solutions because they lack full understanding of the original problem.
5. Idea selection should be based on their commercial and technical feasibility.
5. Idea selection should be based on their commercial and technical feasibility.
Evaluate your ideas, measure their value. Create a classification table and label each idea as either excellent, likely, possible, 50:50, long shot. Align the criteria of selection with the company’s vision of where they want the product to be.
6. Get experts Involved in the idea evaluation process
Experts will know if similar ideas have been implemented on the past, and can often provide suggestions on how to improve and generate more value to the ideas given.
7. Decide the levels of risk that this idea is going to carry on to product development
Risk reduction is an important consideration when taking an idea into product development. Fully understanding your end user and making sure the company is aligned and communicating between departments are two ways to manage the risk around an idea and ensure idea success.
8. Pass the idea through a list of “Reasons to Believe”
Fill up the gap in between the ideation process and product development process with a “reasons to believe” stage. These reasons will vary with the company focus and target, but they should address the potential to satisfy the business need, the technical feasibility, development of risk, its cost, the time it will take to develop, IP situation, the competitive situation, and the satisfaction of the consumers needs.
No comments:
Post a Comment