Innovation management:
Definition, community, software, tips, methods & best practices

Innovation management is much more than collecting and managing ideas. Read in this blog article what innovation management means for your company and how you can successfully implement innovations faster and easier with the support of software and community tools

Definition of the term innovation management

The definition of innovation management varies, but the most reliable definition was given by Henry Chesbrough. Chesbrough, who coined the term Open Innovation, argues that innovation management is not simply the management of the "idea supply chain" but plays an essential role in successful implementation of Open Innovation. Innovation management is responsible for organizing and managing innovation programs that collect, elaborate and implement promising new ideas for the purpose of innovation. This can be done in both product and service organizations or in any other business or public sector. Open innovation cannot succeed without successful implementation.

The definition of innovation management should be visualized as a flow chart. It starts with the arrangement of the flow of ideas. This is followed by the capture, elaboration and selection of the best ideas, which are then implemented. The best innovation management programs include a method for capturing and maintaining a database of ideas that represents the company's innovation portfolio.

Is there only one definition of the term innovation management?

An interesting aspect of the definition of innovation management is that it is constantly evolving. As in other disciplines, innovation management is defined by the ability to provide a consistent strategy that leads to the goal. This strategy defines innovation management for a team or individual that wants to implement open innovation. Nonetheless, the definition itself is continually expanding. Innovation management is a business model taught in universities and organizations, which in turn means that it is itself subject to innovation. Over time, academia will learn how to put innovation management research into practice and vice versa.

How do managers contribute to the definition of the term innovation management?

When a management team moves from closed innovation to open innovation, leaders must guide the organization through this change. This process involves supporting, motivating, and communicating the successes and failures of these developments. Over time, management teams contribute to an ongoing dialogue about open innovation and the successes it has achieved. For this reason, explanations of the term innovation management are constantly expanding.

Professional community software for idea and innovation management

QuestionPro's innovation management community platform has innovative and professional innovation management tools that enable companies and organizations to quickly and easily create and manage an innovation management community for customers, employees, prospects, innovators, entrepreneurs et al. Our innovation management community is particularly well-suited for driving ideas forward, as it includes innovative tools to foster community member engagement and motivation, as well as features to easily manage, administer, develop and implement outstanding ideas!

Creation and development of an innovation management community platform with web-based software from QuestionPro

The first steps in creating and building an innovation management community platform is the biggest challenge. Many questions arise here, such as which tools, functions and features does an innovation community need to actually drive ideas and innovations and keep the motivation and engagement of community members at a high level and foster creativity. QuestionPro is a "turnkey" innovation platform that has been closely developed over many years to meet the needs and desires of our customers. Thus, you can be sure that QuestionPro leaves nothing to be desired in terms of functionality.

Create a scalable innovation management platform with community software from QuestionPro

And because not every innovation management community needs all features from the start, QuestionPro's web-based community software can be scaled. You don't have to pay for those tools that innovation drivers don't need. However, QuestionPro's innovation platform grows with you and can be expanded with new features at any time.

With QuestionPro’s innovation management software, you can create your own community platform for innovation management “out of the box”

QuestionPro's web-based community software gives innovators the ability to create a complete innovation management community platform in just a few steps. Everything you need is already available. Tools such as member invitation, idea submission, idea evaluation, idea ranking, task management, incentivization and gamification, member surveys, discussion forums, analytics tools, team building, document management, suggestion management and many many more. In addition, QuestionPro's innovation management community platform is multilingual and accessible, workflow-enabled, and has the ability to integrate third-party systems via API interfaces.

Examples of functions of the community software for innovation management from QuestionPro

QuestionPro's professional innovation management community software (SaaS) is a web-based platform that includes an easy-to-administer community management dashboard, an equally simple and clear member administration, tools for surveys and polls, for ranking ideas, and other exciting functions for turning ideas into innovations. Here we present some of these features.

Invitation of members and member recommendation

Invite new members easily with a few mouse clicks via serial mail and give your existing community members the opportunity to invite friends and acquaintances to join the innovation community.

Mobile ready

The QuestionPro innovation community adapts fully automatically to the display of the end device used. All functions can therefore also be easily operated with a smartphone.

Community app

To enable members of your innovation management community to be active from the comfort of their smartphone, QuestionPro offers a community app that is easy and intuitive to use.

Clear idea board

The Idea Board supports administrators of the innovation community in managing submitted ideas. Community members can post ideas here and rate and comment on ideas from other community members. In addition, ideas can be sorted according to a variety of criteria.

Summarizing ideas

Ideas can be grouped together via the Idea Board if they are the same or similar. Using a predictive word algorithm, this can even be done fully automatically. This prevents a "proliferation" of ideas and helps you reach your goal faster.

Innovative engagement tools

QuestionPro's community software provides you with a wealth of engagement tools to hear community members' motivation to participate in discussions and submit ideas. You can intensify innovation community members and reward a thus lively participation. In addition, icons next to member names show the level of engagement and activity of members.

Integration of social networks and crowdsourcing platforms

It is very easy to integrate external networks and crowdsourcing platforms into QuestionPro's innovation community thanks to the open interface concept. This turns a closed community into an open innovation platform.

Brainstorming

Idea management starts with brainstorming, often with a blank sheet of paper and a few ideas that are then discussed in depth. With QuestionPro, you can take this process even further and map it completely online. In just a few clicks, you can set up a brainstorming forum for all members of your organization.

Teambuilding

QuestionPro gives you the ability to create teams around submitted ideas to drive and develop those ideas. Here, you have numerous collaboration tools at your disposal that greatly facilitate cooperation among members.

Document Management

QuestionPro's innovation community software includes sophisticated document management. Documents, including sketches and graphics, can be submitted directly with the ideas.

Surveys and voting

Initiate surveys and polls among community members and gain quantitative data to develop ideas. You can also select a group of community members based on specific criteria or send polls to defined teams. The community members then receive an invitation via the notification system.

Email & Notifications

All registered members of QuestionPro's innovation management community can choose to receive notifications (email updates) about all community activity, such as idea submissions, new comments, status changes, etc., without having to access the community on a regular basis. Members can also contact each other via messaging.

Discussion forums

Of course, the Innovation Community has a sophisticated forum function. Here, community members can exchange ideas and discuss with each other.

Google Analytics integration

To gain deeper insights into your innovation management community, you have the option of integrating Google Analytics. Google Analytics can provide you with data on key metrics regarding the activity, usability and performance of your innovation community.

AI-based semantic text analysis

Text analysis tools help you automatically analyse and structure open free text such as comments. In addition, listen in on external networks to see what and how topics that are important to you are being discussed there.

Reporting and analysis

QuestionPro's innovation management software has a clear analysis dashboard that graphically displays all key figures of your innovation community at a glance. The dashboard is individually configurable and provides you with deep insights into your community, such as the activity level of community members or the development of ideas. Comprehensive filter and selection criteria are available to you here.

Fully customizable design

Customize your innovation management community according to your own wishes and needs. Design and structure can be completely individualized.

Integration of online panels

Integrate QuestionPro's own online panel into your innovation management community and launch surveys directly from the community, for example on the feasibility of innovations, acceptance and market potential. With the panel software, you can select your own samples.

Multilingual and barrier-free

You can run QuestionPro's community platform in multiple languages. In addition, community members can select their preferred system language. In addition, the Innovation Community is accessible in accordance with 508 compliance.

Focus group discussions

QuestionPro's community platform has the ability to conduct virtual focus group discussions, for example, to gain qualitative insights in the context of market research and to generate ideas and develop innovations.

Best practice tips for more engagement within your innovation management community

Developing an innovation community is a wonderful resource to help you develop new product innovations. However, engagement needs to be high in order for many ideas to be developed and ultimately implemented. QuestionPro's innovation management community has great member engagement tools. But increasing engagement requires more than just tools. Below, you'll learn from innovation experts how to bring your innovation community together and work with commitment toward a common goal. Developing an innovation community is a wonderful resource to help you develop new product innovations. However, engagement needs to be high in order for many ideas to be developed and ultimately implemented. QuestionPro's innovation management community has great member engagement tools. But increasing engagement requires more than just tools. Below, you'll learn from innovation experts how to bring your innovation community together and work with commitment toward a common goal.

Get to know your community!

Start by really understanding who your innovation community is. What are the unifying factors to get members to work together in a committed way? What are the interests and skills of community members? What are their pain points? Who are their advocates, and who is most active on your innovation platforms or meetings? To analyse the membership structure of your innovation management community, also use the analytics tools that QuestionPro has at your disposal.

Set tasks that are simple and easy to complete

The complexity of a task and the willingness of people to perform that task are inversely related. If you send out an email asking members of your innovation management community to rate or comment on a particular idea, you'll get far more feedback than if you basically ask for more participation. Make any tasks you want to assign to someone as streamlined and easy to understand as possible, while leaving the door open for more detailed communication. For example, you could ask for yes or no votes and then ask community members why they voted a certain way afterwards.

Set clear deadlines and milestones

If you've ever had a task with a vague or non-specific deadline, it's likely to have slipped down your to-do list as other things become more urgent. The same is true for community engagement: if members of your innovation management community don't have a specific timeline, they won't attend to tasks, if at all, until they've been reminded several times or have completed other tasks that they themselves feel are more important or interesting. Include clear deadlines and milestones you want to achieve to drive engagement.

Communicate clearly and transparently

Be clear with yourself about what exactly you want to achieve and how, and why you want it. If you need their feedback on an idea, present the idea as soon as possible and describe it accurately. This applies to other communications as well. If you ask someone to participate in the development of your idea, be upfront and articulate that clearly. QuestionPro's innovation management provides you with a messaging function for this purpose.

Tailor your communications to the target audience

Let's say you have a contest for new app ideas for local government that includes a cash prize. Since you're keeping it short, you can write the same message in multiple ways to address different needs and desires in your group. For example, you might have one segment that couldn't care less about the prize but are civic supporters who want an easier and better life in their city, while another segment is interested in the prize. You should mention both, of course; remember that transparency is key. However, you could send different messages to these groups, focusing on the different aspects.

Tried and popular methods in innovation management

If you are responsible for systematically creating change in your organization, then you need to develop workflows and processes that enable you to consistently produce, organize, promote, and ultimately implement new ideas. With QuestionPro's Innovation Management Community, these systems become the funnels that turn outstanding ideas into real projects and, in the best cases, breakthrough innovations. Some organizations like to use industry-proven methods, while other teams go their own unique way, but we've noticed some innovation processes and innovation methods that are used more than others to execute and implement innovation programs. Here's an overview of the four most common innovation processes:

Six Sigma innovation method

This method is most often used to find new efficiencies or process improvements. The main components of the process include: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. By defining the problem, measuring the performance to be improved, and collecting suggestions for improvement and then implementing them, customers can save time and money.

Agile innovation methods

The agile methodology is a type of project management process used primarily for software development, where requirements and solutions evolve through the collaborative efforts of self-organizing and cross-functional teams and their customers. One of the reasons so many people use idea management and innovation management in conjunction with agile programs is that prioritization and improvement are important parts of the process. Feature requests and product needs can be submitted as ideas, prioritized through various evaluation methods, and built upon and improved with the help of all stakeholders within the innovation program.

Innovation method Design Thinking

Design Thinking is an approach to practical and at the same time creative problem solving. Design Thinking is based heavily on the methods and processes that designers have developed and use, hence the name Design Thinking. Design Thinking actually evolved from a number of different fields - such as architecture, engineering, and business. However, Design Thinking can be applied to any field, it doesn't necessarily have to be In Context Design. Design Thinking is extremely user-centric. The method focuses primarily on people and seeks to understand their needs and find effective solutions to meet those needs. It is what is generally referred to as a solution-oriented approach to problem solving.

Global innovation management method

The great thing about the Global Innovation Management Methodology is that it can be applied to almost any problem, whether you want incremental or disruptive change or innovation. The Global Innovation Management Methodology's five-step approach enables practitioners to identify challenges and define goals, conduct research, align their strategy with their capabilities, develop concepts, and forge particularly inspiring ideas. This process is used by small business owners to Fortune 500 companies.

This selection is just a few methods within an innovation process, and many organizations design their very own and sometimes modified versions of one of these processes. But if you'd like to learn how to choose the right process for you, or design your own, feel free to talk to our innovation experts. We will be very happy to advise you!

Phases in innovation management

Phase 1: Generate ideas

The good news is that the first step in innovation management is the easiest - generating great ideas. Ask your customers, ask your employees, and take a good look at your industry. But remember, you need to get your ideas down to earth and figure out how to make them happen. Work to filter ideas so that the best and most thoughtful ideas are prioritized. This is where idea management software like QuestionPro's can help you.

Phase 2: Develop ideas

Once you have some ideas that you believe will work, those ideas need support. And even the greatest innovators can have a crisis of faith. In 1901, after the failure of their test airplane, Wilbur Wright told his brother Orville, "Not in a thousand years would man ever fly." It can be difficult to fight institutional inertia or tradition. Still, there is something to be said for refinement; every idea needs to be vetted for feedback by all stakeholders. But remember to ask all the time what's next. Ideas need to become tangible in some way and often need refinement.

Phase 3: Experimentation

No brilliant idea emerges fully formed from a "lab." Robert Heinlein, the famous science fiction writer, famously claimed he never wrote a second draft unless an editor told him to, but remember: an editor often told him to rewrite something. An idea is rarely so brilliant that it can't be made better, so try it out. Do a pilot test, create a prototype.

Phase 4: Commercialization

Once you have an idea of how your refined idea will work, the next question is: How do you turn your prototype into a product? That can be harder than you think. Ever wonder how long Apple spent working on the iPad? Four years? Ten years? Try 1983; the iPad has its roots in an unusual product Apple experimented with that attached an LCD screen to a desk phone. But there just wasn't a market for the idea, cool as it was, so Apple kept it handy as it innovated elsewhere and brought the idea to market when it was ready.

Phase 5: Dissemination

This is the step in innovation management that brings the entire company on board. Now that everything is in place, you and those who worked on the project talk about what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Think of this step as the trial run to sell your innovation to the world. This is where you'll test out how to best explain it and show how it will make your industry better.

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Innovation management: Community platform and software tools from QuestionPro

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