Unleashing ideas management: KIROI step 7 company-wide

Idea management as a motor for innovation

Idea management is becoming increasingly important in companies because it is more than just collecting suggestions. It is a holistic process that promotes creative impulses, identifies barriers and involves the entire organisation[1]. However, many organisations are faced with the challenge that although idea management is started, it is not really put into practice. Suggestions often disappear into drawers or receive no feedback - this demotivates and slows down innovation[2]. Modern, company-wide idea management is therefore not an end in itself, but a key lever for sustainable success. And this is precisely where transruptions coaching comes in as an accompaniment to idea management projects in order to provide impetus and support the change process.

The holistic approach: project start to scaling

Traditional methods such as the company suggestion scheme are often not sufficient today because they are too rigid or offer no room for real dialogue. Modern idea management emphasises flexible processes, digital tools and an open communication culture[2][3]. The involvement of all employees is crucial, as this is the only way to create diverse perspectives and practical solutions. In mechanical engineering, for example, moderated workshops and structured feedback cycles significantly shorten development times. As a result, new product ideas are implemented faster and better. In software development, the active involvement of teams ensures greater dynamism and accelerates the implementation of new features. Retailers also benefit from digital platforms that document ideas transparently and strengthen dialogue between shops.

Knowledge transfer and lively ideas management

A key objective is to promote knowledge transfer between the specialist areas and systematically remove obstacles. Clients often report that suggestions come to nothing or that there is a lack of dialogue. This is exactly where coaching comes in: It is not about one-off actions, but about continuous exchange, targeted feedback and the development of a culture of innovation[1][2]. One example is a company from the industrial manufacturing sector that has systematically passed on knowledge between departments through regular workshops. This accelerated implementation projects and sustainably strengthened the company's innovative strength.

BEST PRACTICE with one customer (name hidden due to NDA contract) In a leading industrial manufacturing company, structured innovation workshops significantly improved the dialogue between production, development and sales. Transparent feedback cycles enabled obstacles to implementation to be recognised and eliminated at an early stage. The result: new ideas were put into practice more quickly and acceptance throughout the company increased significantly. The continuous support provided by transruptions coaching proved to be the key to sustainably anchoring the process and strengthening the innovation culture in the long term[1].

Methods and tools for creative idea management

Appropriate methods and digital tools are needed for idea management to succeed. Brainstorming, hackathons and ideas competitions are classic approaches to stimulate creativity[4]. In the mechanical engineering sector, many companies rely on regular innovation workshops in which employees from different departments develop solutions together. One example is a manufacturer that used cross-department workshops to incorporate practical improvements directly into production. In the software industry, digital platforms are particularly effective for collecting, evaluating and prioritising ideas. One retailer uses a central platform to visualise suggestions from different shops and promote internal exchange. Creativity techniques such as SCAMPER also help to scrutinise existing processes and gain new perspectives[4]. This allows known problems to be solved innovatively and increases innovative strength.

Example from software development

A company from the IT sector relies on agile methods and digital tools to keep idea management alive. Teams regularly exchange ideas in short meetings, give each other direct feedback and develop new features together. This open communication enables technical and organisational hurdles to be overcome more quickly and significantly increases the quality and speed of software development. The involvement of all employees ensures that idea management is not only perceived as a mandatory task, but also as a driver of innovation[1][2].

Implementing idea management successfully: Practical tips

• Create space for real dialogue: Moderated workshops, regular feedback rounds and digital platforms encourage everyone to participate.
• Ensure continuous support: coaching helps to recognise blockages and provide targeted support for changes.
• Use a variety of methods: Combine classic and innovative approaches to strengthen creativity and the power of realisation.

Clients often report that projects fail because the step from idea to implementation is too short. Transruption coaching supports teams in developing new perspectives and taking concrete implementation steps. This creates a culture of innovation in which idea management is lived practice[2].

Example from the trade

A retailer has introduced a digital platform on which all employees can submit suggestions. These are presented transparently, prioritised and developed further together. Feedback is provided promptly and implemented ideas are celebrated internally. This increases the spirit of innovation and makes employees feel valued. The combination of a digital tool and regular workshops has sustainably strengthened innovation and improved internal communication[1].

My analysis

Idea management is not a self-runner, but an intensive process that requires commitment, a variety of methods and a genuine culture of communication. If you want to develop your organisation sustainably, you should not just focus on collecting ideas, but actively support and shape the entire innovation process. As an experienced partner, Transruptions-Coaching offers practical support in order to unleash idea management throughout the organisation and strengthen innovative power in the long term. The industry examples clearly show that lively idea management promotes creative solutions, accelerates implementation projects and makes a decisive contribution to the company's success.

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Further links from the text above:

Unleashing ideas management: KIROI Step 7 Innovation company-wide [1]
Rethinking idea management: KIROI step 7 - holistic approach [2]
Idea management methods incl. free booklet [4]