In today's business world, idea management is much more than just collecting suggestions. It is about systematically utilising creativity and embedding innovation across all departments. KIROI Step 7 shows how companies can transform this process and realise their full potential. By providing targeted support for ideas, idea management becomes a strategic success factor that makes your company more competitive [1][2].
Why modern idea management is indispensable today
The economic landscape is changing rapidly. Companies need to innovate faster and optimise their existing processes at the same time. Systematic idea management helps to achieve both goals [1]. But many organisations fail because ideas are viewed in isolation and are not driven forward across departmental boundaries.
The problem often starts in the classroom of modern corporate culture. Employees generate great suggestions. But implementation stalls because there are communication barriers. Because responsibilities are unclear. Because there is a lack of digital transparency. The classic company suggestion scheme is no longer enough. Companies need a strategic framework that not only collects ideas, but actively supports them.
This is where modern idea management comes in. It combines three central elements: systematic idea collection, structured evaluation and consistent implementation. However, this also requires a new way of thinking. Ideas are not viewed as individual projects. They are seen as continuous impulses that drive the company forward [2].
KIROI step 7: Rethink idea management
KIROI Step 7 takes idea management to a new level. It focuses on the company-wide scaling and sustainable support of ideas [1]. Instead of working in isolation, ideas pass through all phases transparently. With targeted coaching, obstacles in communication are recognised and eliminated.
The core idea is simple but effective: no idea should be lost. Every employee is a potential innovator. And every department has knowledge that can benefit others. Idea management becomes a bridge between different departments.
In practice, this means the following. Moderated workshops bring specialised departments together. Feedback rounds create transparency. Digital platforms document the status of each idea. Employees receive feedback and see how their suggestions are implemented. This motivates and strengthens the culture of innovation in the long term [3][4].
The pillars of modern idea management
Successful idea management rests on several pillars. Each of these plays a decisive role:
Firstly: the open generation of ideas. Brainstorming, workshops and digital platforms create space for creativity. Ideas are generated everywhere, not just in management.
Secondly, structured evaluation. Scorecard methods define clear criteria. Feasibility, effort, benefit and risk are assessed. This creates objectivity in idea management [7].
Thirdly: active implementation. Responsible persons are named. Milestones are set. Progress is monitored. Idea management becomes a lived practice.
Fourthly, continuous communication. Transparency about the status of ideas is essential. Idea providers want to know what is happening with their suggestions.
Practical examples from various industries
Idea management in the automotive industry
The automotive industry is a pioneer when it comes to idea management. Here, moderated workshops show how production optimisation can be successfully implemented [2]. Specialist departments benefit from open interdisciplinary dialogue. Blockades are broken down. New solutions emerge.
A well-known example: production teams make suggestions for improvement. Quality assurance and design review these together. If the idea is feasible, it is quickly transferred to a test phase. This structured idea management has reduced the time-to-market for optimisations by weeks.
Safety ideas also emerge organically in this way. An employee suggests redesigning a machine station. The risk of accidents decreases. Employees become safer. And the idea provider experiences that their contribution improves everyday life. This strengthens idea management and employee loyalty [4].
Idea management in the financial sector
The financial sector also uses idea management strategically. Agile teams enable the rapid integration of customer-orientated ideas into IT processes [2]. Retrospectives and feedback rounds take place regularly. This allows innovations to emerge in a targeted manner.
A customer service team identifies that customers are missing a certain function. This idea is documented in idea management. The IT department assesses the cost and benefit. If the message is clear, the idea is developed. It is often small improvements like these that have a big impact and increase customer satisfaction.
Bank divisions report that the idea management process has strengthened cooperation between teams. Mutual support has grown. Innovations no longer arise in isolation in individual departments.
Idea management in retail
Retail companies rely on digital platforms for their idea management. Ideas from shops are documented transparently and transferred to innovative projects [2]. This will significantly improve the transfer of knowledge across locations.
Example: A sales assistant notices that customers are finding a product group difficult to find. He makes a suggestion for redesigning the shelf area. This idea is recorded via a digital platform. Other shops can vote. If it works, it is implemented throughout the company. Idea management like this turns store managers into innovators.
This is particularly valuable for customer service. Frontline employees know what customers really want. Effective idea management utilises this knowledge systematically. The result: better customer experiences and higher sales figures.
BEST PRACTICE with a customer (name hidden due to NDA contract): A medium-sized production company introduced structured idea management. Regular innovation workshops significantly shortened development loops. Practical solutions were created that were directly implemented in production. Employee motivation increased because they saw their ideas realised. Cross-departmental obstacles were systematically removed. The result was faster product development and a stronger culture of innovation [1][4].
The implementation of idea management in everyday working life
Step 1: Systematically promote the generation of ideas
The first step in idea management is clear: create space for ideas. Brainstorming sessions, workshops and digital suggestion systems are tried and tested methods. It is important that all employees know that their opinion counts [15].
Some companies use anonymous idea boxes. Others rely on open digital platforms. Both have advantages. Anonymity lowers inhibitions. Openness promotes dialogue. Choose the way that suits your culture.
Step 2: Evaluation and prioritisation
Not all ideas are equally valuable. Idea management must therefore evaluate them transparently. Scorecard methods help with this. They define criteria such as time to market, implementation effort or risk [7].
The evaluation should not take place in secret. Involve the relevant experts. This turns idea management into a participatory process. Employees understand the decisions better.
Step 3: Consistent implementation and support
The critical point in idea management is often the implementation. Many ideas fail because no one is clearly responsible. Therefore: Appoint an owner for each idea to be implemented. Set milestones. Monitor the progress [4].
Moderated workshops are a good way to regularly discuss the current status. In this way, blockages quickly become visible. Supporting ideas through to implementation is what distinguishes modern idea management from traditional suggestion schemes.
Step 4: Feedback and communication
Idea providers need to know what happens to their suggestions. Regular feedback rounds are essential [1]. Why was the idea accepted or rejected? How is the implementation progressing? This transparency is the fuel for idea management.
Open feedback processes strengthen motivation. Employees experience that their thoughts are heard. Even if an idea is not realised, honest feedback conveys respect. This encourages the next flood of ideas.
How digital tools are transforming idea management
Digital platforms are fundamentally changing idea management. They enable visibility and scalability. Anyone can submit, comment on and evaluate ideas. The entire process is documented and traceable [4].
Cloud-based systems have one major advantage: they work across all locations. An employee in the branch can contribute ideas. A colleague at the head office evaluates them. Idea management becomes a company-wide coordinated process.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly supporting idea management. It can classify ideas automatically. It can summarise similar suggestions. It can recognise patterns that humans would overlook. This makes idea management more intelligent and efficient [19].
BEST PRACTICE with a customer (name hidden due to NDA contract): A retail company implemented a digital ideas platform. This created transparency and enabled quick evaluations. The exchange between different locations improved significantly. The implementation speed of customer suggestions increased noticeably. Idea management became the company's core competence [4].
Idea management and employee engagement
One major advantage of systematic idea management is often overlooked: It binds employees emotionally to the company. People want to do more than just fulfil their tasks. They want to shape things. They want to exert influence [15].
A functioning ideas management system fulfils precisely this need. Employees experience personal responsibility. They see their ideas become reality. This sense of achievement is priceless for employee loyalty.
Companies that invest in idea management report lower staff turnover. Better quality of work. A working atmosphere characterised by mutual respect. These are measurable effects that are directly reflected in the ROI.
Frequent challenges in idea management
The path to a functioning idea management system is not without its hurdles. One common hurdle: The responsibility lies with just one person. A senior decision-maker takes care of everything. This significantly limits the scope [7].
The solution lies in decentralised idea management. Distribute responsibility across the entire company. This creates a network of innovators. The effects become much more comprehensive.
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