Innovation Management ? The Need For Knowledge Managers


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.

the need for Knowledge Managers

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.

A number of techniques can be used to generate vast quantities of ideas rapidly. For example, asking 100 participants to address a problem and generate five ideas an hour, results in 4000 ideas at the end of one working day.

But what do we do with all these ideas?

An idea is valueless unless it is successfully implemented.

From those 4000 ideas, a selection process has to be organised and many people with varied competencies need to be brought into the idea selection process if good decisions are to be made.

And then those ideas have to be pushed through the innovation process.

But the thing with problems is that they are never ending. The first problem solved is only the most pressing, that problem which is foremost in the bottleneck. And bottlenecks have to constantly be attended to.

And then there are issues such as sustained awareness.

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/







Related News



Biggart to step down as dean of UC Davis management school - Bizjournals.com

Biggart to step down as dean of UC Davis management school
Bizjournals.com, NC -3 hours ago
The dean of the Graduate School of Management at University of California Davis will step down in July 2009 after six years of leading the school. ...
UC Davis Business School Dean to Step DownMarketWatch
UC Davis business school dean to return to teachingSacramento Bee
UC-Davis business dean to step down next JulyBizjournals.com
all 18 news articles

Pimco Banks On El-Erian - Forbes

Yahoo

Pimco Banks On El-Erian
Forbes, NY -57 minutes ago
Pacific Investment Management's Co-Chief Executive Mohamed El-Erian will single-handedly run the world's largest bond fund management company when Bill ...
Pimco Names El-Erian CEO Of the Bond-Investing GiantWall Street Journal
El-Erian to be PIMCO's sole CEOPensions & Investments
Pimco names new CEOInvestmentNews
Hedge Fund Net - MarketWatch
all 62 news articles

Tube City IMS Corporation Announces Acquisition of Hanson Resource ... - MarketWatch

Tube City IMS Corporation Announces Acquisition of Hanson Resource ...
MarketWatch -3 hours ago
"We are delighted to add Hanson and its excellent management team and work force to the Tube City IMS family," said I Michael Coslov, Chairman and CEO. ...


Oblicores Industry Leading Service Level Management Solution ... - MarketWatch

Oblicores Industry Leading Service Level Management Solution ...
MarketWatch -3 hours ago
Oblicore Guarantee, a leading solution for service level management, was nominated for its work with the multi-institutional health system, Catholic Health ...

Evergreen Investments Announces Portfolio Management Changes - MarketWatch

Evergreen Investments Announces Portfolio Management Changes
MarketWatch -2 hours ago
Fund Existing Portfolio New Portfolio Management Team Management Team Evergreen Adjustable Lisa Brown-Premo Richard Rate Fund Robert D. Rowe Applebach, ...

Assurant to Acquire GE Consumer & Industrial's Warranty Management ... - MarketWatch

RTT News

Assurant to Acquire GE Consumer & Industrial's Warranty Management...
MarketWatch -Sep 4, 2008
for Assurant to acquire GE's Warranty Management Group (WMG) business, a unit that markets and sells extended warranties and service contracts for major ...
Assurant announces acquisition of GE Consumer & Industrial's ...Trading Markets (press release)
Assurant to Acquire GE's Warranty Management Group - quick factsRTT News
Analysts say Assurant's GE deal 'a natural fit'CNNMoney.com
The Associated Press - Wall Street Journal
all 96 news articles

Kennametal Management Holds Analyst Day Event for Financial ... - MarketWatch

Kennametal Management Holds Analyst Day Event for Financial ...
MarketWatch -1 hour ago
announced today that its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlos M. Cardoso, as well as key members of the senior management team, ...

Teamster Leaders Meet in Chicago to Support Striking Workers at ... - MarketWatch

Teamster Leaders Meet in Chicago to Support Striking Workers at ...
MarketWatch -1 hour ago
Teamster leaders from across the country met in Chicago today to discuss ongoing labor issues with solid waste giant Waste Management Inc. (WMI). ...

Flight Management Announces First Agency Agreement - MarketWatch

Flight Management Announces First Agency Agreement
MarketWatch -8 hours ago
Functioning as a central agency for a large, diverse group of carefully screened carriers, Flight Management expects to quickly secure its position as an ...

Babson Executive Education's Retail Management Program Helps ... - MarketWatch

Babson Executive Education's Retail Management Program Helps ...
MarketWatch -5 hours ago
Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its ...