The Source of Great ideas Within Organisation

Who in your organization gives the best ideas? Is it the top management, board, head of departments or staff at different levels? Do you still use the suggestion box? 

One of the things that makes an organization excel in achieving their vision is on how they manage their ideas generations and implementation processes. 

Many great ideas have died because of poor cultures within organizations, the situation can be attributed to many factors for example; lack of resources, no goodwill, disconnected team, poor leadership or just because the idea didn't come from a certain person or department. 

Great organizations acknowledge that despite people having different responsibilities, experiences, job titles, educational backgrounds etc, when it comes to ideas, anyone can come up with a brilliant idea that can be developed further through a defined system and structures. Having said that, I believe nobody has a monopoly of coming up with brilliant ideas. All of us can generate brilliant ideas, but one of the points that will set you apart from the rest is if it bankable! Do you know, what is a bankable idea? 

Here is a bankable idea means an idea that meets the S.M.A.R.T model (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound) that can attract different resources and seek more partnerships, as a result securing a win-win balance for all. 

On the other hand, there is also a danger of having an open, flat system and random approach towards coming up with ideas. As much as I would advise on not squashing the freedom of coming up with an idea, a process must be in place informed by a culture within the organization. 

Some of the areas you can include in the process are; 

1. Create a platform for brainstorming (first phase no right or wrong answers) 
2. After selecting a  few from ideas from the brainstorm session, do further research and seek expert views.
3. Present findings to the team for decision making 
4. Implement the idea and be open to new learning.

Take an example, did you know your security guard might have the best ideas on how to improve the general security of the place due to the fact that they are in touch with different experiences everyday that top management might not know.

My point and advise is, organizations should find a way within their system that would allow more inclusive idea generation and implementation process that would later be discussed and decided by top level management on the best ways forward. 

"Idea grows in environments where it is treated with the utmost attention through a defined process, regardless of who initiate it" - Wilson Masaka Youth Advocate - Social Entrepreneur 

Related Good Read;

https://www.agilebusiness.org/page/Resource_paper_nineprinciples_9

https://execed.economist.com/blog/guest-post/great-ideas-can-come-anyone-but-are-we-listening