Misconceptions about ideas can sink your ideas programme. But since we don’t want to see your hard work go down the drain, we would like to clarify a few points for you. These ‘Ten Biggest Myths’ are adapted from Ideas Are Free by Alan Robinson & Dean Schroeder, to whom we are most grateful.
Myth 1. Big, breakthrough ideas are the ones needed to gain any real advantage.
Fact – Big ideas are often highly visible, and are therefore easily discovered and countered by competitors. On the other hand, most small ideas remain proprietary because there is no natural mechanism for them to migrate to competitors. Over time, small ideas accumulate into a tremendous competitive advantage that is sustainable; the kind of advantage managers should be striving for.
Myth 2. Managers should focus on getting big ideas – little ones aren’t worth the time.
Fact – Small ideas enable an organisation to pay exceptional attention to detail. In many important aspects of business – such as customer service, responsiveness, quality, and managing costs – excellence means getting the details right. It is simply impossible to improve performance beyond a certain level without small ideas. A superior ability to handle details can allow an organisation to do things its competitors literally cannot do.
Myth 3. Without rewards, people won’t give in ideas.
Fact – Yes & No! Continue reading
