{"id":25660,"date":"2026-03-03T22:25:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/glossary\/idea-management\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:15:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:15:37","slug":"idea-management","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/idea-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Idea Management"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background:#f0f1f3;padding:1.5rem;margin-bottom:2rem;border-radius:12px;\">\n<strong>In a nutshell:<\/strong> Idea management is the systematic process by which companies capture, evaluate, develop, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and external sources. It bridges creative input and a structured innovation process.\n<\/div>\n<nav style=\"background:#f8f9fa;padding:1.5rem 2rem;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:2rem;\">\n<strong style=\"font-size:1.1rem;\">Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin:0.75rem 0 0;padding-left:1.25rem;\">\n<li><a href=\"#definition\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">What is idea management? \u2013 Definition and differentiation <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prozess\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">The idea management process in 5 phases<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#methoden\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Methods for idea generation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bewertung\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Idea evaluation: Objective and transparent<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#digital\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Digital tools for idea management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#kultur\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Idea management and innovation culture<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#kmu\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Idea management for SMEs: Start simple<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Frequently asked questions about idea management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#verwandte-glossar-begriffe\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Related glossary terms<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h2 id=\"definition\">What is idea management? \u2013 Definition and differentiation <\/h2>\n<p>Idea management (also known as: corporate suggestion scheme 2.0) is a structured system for capturing, evaluating, and implementing improvement suggestions and innovation ideas within an organization. It connects employees\u2019 creativity with the company\u2019s strategic direction. <\/p>\n<p>Unlike the traditional corporate suggestion scheme (BVW), which often targets only small improvements, modern idea management also includes strategic innovation ideas\u2014from process optimizations and new products to <a href=\"\/glossar\/geschaeftsmodell-innovation\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">business model innovations<\/a>. It is a key component of <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\">innovation management<\/a> and forms the first phase of the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-process\/\">innovation process<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Effective idea management answers three core questions: How do ideas enter the system? How are they evaluated fairly and transparently? And how are the best ideas implemented consistently?  <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"prozess\">The idea management process in 5 phases<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Phase 1 \u2013 Idea generation:<\/strong> Ideas are actively stimulated and collected. Sources include employees at all levels, customer feedback, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/open-innovation\/\">open innovation<\/a> impulses, and targeted <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-workshop\/\">innovation workshops<\/a>. Methods such as <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\">design thinking<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/jobs-to-be-done-jtbd\/\">jobs-to-be-done<\/a> analyses provide structured insights.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Phase 2 \u2013 Capture &amp; structuring:<\/strong> Ideas are documented in a central system, categorized, and enriched with relevant information (target group, expected benefits, required resources).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Phase 3 \u2013 Evaluation &amp; prioritization:<\/strong> A defined evaluation framework filters out the most promising ideas. Criteria include strategic fit, customer value, feasibility, and expected ROI. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Phase 4 \u2013 Further development:<\/strong> Top ideas are developed into robust concepts\u2014e.g., using a <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-canvas\/\">Business Model Canvas<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/lean-canvas\/\">Lean Canvas<\/a>. Initial prototypes or MVPs are created. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Phase 5 \u2013 Implementation &amp; feedback:<\/strong> Validated concepts are transferred into the regular <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-process\/\">innovation process<\/a>. Idea submitters receive feedback\u2014regardless of whether their idea is implemented. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"methoden\">Methods for idea generation<\/h2>\n<p>The quality of idea management depends largely on the diversity and quality of the input methods:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classic brainstorming:<\/strong> Free idea generation in groups\u2014effective with clear rules (no criticism, quantity over quality)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\">Design thinking<\/a>:<\/strong> User-centered problem solving in structured phases\u2014ideal for complex challenges<\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenge-based calls:<\/strong> Targeted calls on specific topics \u2013 e.g., &#8220;How can we digitise our <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/customer-journey\/\">customer journey<\/a>?&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trend scouting:<\/strong> Systematic monitoring of technological and societal trends as a source of ideas<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/swot-analysis\/\">SWOT analyses<\/a>:<\/strong> Deriving innovation ideas from identified strengths and market opportunities<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reverse brainstorming:<\/strong> Questions such as &#8220;How could we destroy our business model?&#8221; provide surprisingly valuable insights<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer ideas:<\/strong> Systematically capturing feature requests, complaints, and improvement suggestions from the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/customer-journey\/\">customer journey<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"bewertung\">Idea evaluation: Objective and transparent<\/h2>\n<p>A fair evaluation system is crucial for the acceptance of idea management. Proven approaches: <\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1rem 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f1f5f9;\">\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Criterion<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Questions<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Weighting<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Strategic fit<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Does the idea align with the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-strategy\/\">innovation strategy<\/a>?<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">High<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Customer value<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Does the idea solve a real customer problem?<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">High<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Market potential<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">How large is the addressable market?<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Medium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Feasibility<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Do we have the resources and capabilities?<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Medium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Differentiation<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Does the idea strengthen our <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/usp-unique-selling-proposition\/\">USP<\/a>?<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Medium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Peer voting has also proven effective as a complement: employees evaluate their colleagues\u2019 ideas. This creates transparency and increases participation. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"digital\">Digital tools for idea management<\/h2>\n<p>Modern idea management software makes the process efficient and scalable:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dedicated platforms:<\/strong> Tools such as HYPE Innovation, Ideascale, or Braineet provide the full idea management workflow\u2014from submission and evaluation to implementation tracking<\/li>\n<li><strong>Collaboration tools:<\/strong> Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Miro can serve as lightweight idea management channels<\/li>\n<li><strong>Project management:<\/strong> Trello, Asana, or Jira are suitable for moving validated ideas into implementation<\/li>\n<li><strong>AI-supported analysis:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/glossar\/ki-strategie-unternehmen\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">AI tools<\/a> can help cluster similar ideas, identify trends, and make evaluation more objective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For SMEs, a pragmatic approach is recommended: start with existing tools (e.g., a shared board in Teams or Trello) and invest in specialized software only when the volume justifies it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"kultur\">Idea management and innovation culture<\/h2>\n<p>Even the best system is useless without the right <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-culture\/\">innovation culture<\/a>. Key cultural elements for successful idea management: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Psychological safety:<\/strong> Employees need to know that no idea is &#8220;stupid&#8221; and that there will be no negative consequences<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fast feedback:<\/strong> Nothing kills participation faster than the &#8220;black hole&#8221; \u2013 idea contributors need timely feedback<\/li>\n<li><strong>Visible implementation:<\/strong> When employees see that their ideas are actually implemented, participation increases exponentially<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recognition:<\/strong> Appreciation for submitted ideas\u2014not only for implemented ones. Even ideas that are not pursued contribute to the learning process <\/li>\n<li><strong>Leaders as role models:<\/strong> When leaders submit ideas themselves and actively use the system, it signals the desired culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"kmu\">Idea management for SMEs: Start simple<\/h2>\n<p>For Austrian SMEs, idea management does not have to be complex. A pragmatic start in three steps: <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Set up an idea channel:<\/strong> A digital board (Trello, Miro) or a physical whiteboard in the office as a low-threshold submission channel<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monthly idea round:<\/strong> A 60-minute team meeting in which new ideas are presented, discussed, and evaluated<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implementation commitment:<\/strong> At least one idea per quarter is implemented consistently\u2014with a clear owner and deadline<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>As maturity grows, you can professionalize the process\u2014for example through <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-coaching\/\">innovation coaching<\/a> or participation in <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-funding\/\">funding programs<\/a> that also support the introduction of idea management systems.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f,#2563eb);color:#fff;padding:2rem;border-radius:12px;margin:2rem 0;text-align:center;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#fff;margin-top:0;\">Build idea management professionally<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:1.1rem;\">Good ideas exist in every company\u2014the key is to use them systematically. We help you build an idea management system that fits your organization. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/business-model-innovation-services\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#fff;color:#1e3a5f;padding:0.75rem 2rem;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;margin-top:0.5rem;\">Book a consultation now \u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">What is the difference between idea management and the corporate suggestion scheme?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>The corporate suggestion scheme (BVW) traditionally focuses on incremental improvements in operations\u2014e.g., process optimizations at the workplace. Modern idea management goes much further: it also includes strategic innovation ideas, new business models, and market opportunities. In addition, idea management is more digitally supported, more collaborative (peer evaluation, community features), and more closely integrated with innovation management.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">How do I motivate employees to submit ideas?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>The most important motivators are: transparent and fast feedback on submitted ideas, visible implementation of the best ideas, recognition (not only financial\u2014also public praise), low-threshold submission paths, and leaders setting the example. Monetary rewards can be a useful addition, but they are rarely the main driver. What matters is that employees feel heard and that they are making a real contribution.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">How many ideas are needed for a successful innovation?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>Studies show that, on average, around 100 ideas are needed to bring a successful innovation to market. Out of 100 ideas, typically 10\u201315 make it into the concept phase, 3\u20135 are tested as prototypes, and 1\u20132 reach market readiness. This underscores why a functioning idea management system must ensure a constant flow of ideas.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">Which KPIs are suitable for idea management?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>Proven KPIs include: number of submitted ideas (total and per employee), participation rate (share of employees who actively submit ideas), cycle time (time from submission to decision), implementation rate (share of implemented ideas), ROI of implemented ideas, and employee satisfaction with the idea process. Avoid optimizing for quantity alone\u2014the quality of ideas and participants\u2019 satisfaction are at least as important. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;padding:0;margin-bottom:0.75rem;\">\n<summary style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;list-style:none;\">Should idea management focus on quantity or quality of ideas?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem 1.2rem;\">Initially focus on quantity to build participation and habit, then progressively increase quality standards as innovation culture matures. Research shows that 1 in 10-20 ideas typically has significant potential, so more ideas increase your odds of finding breakthrough innovations. However, collecting ideas without evaluation and implementation creates cynicism. The sweet spot is making submission easy, providing quick feedback, and visibly implementing or testing promising ideas so employees see their contributions matter.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Related Terms<\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;margin-top:0.5rem;\">\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\">Innovation Management<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\">Design Thinking<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"\/en\/glossary\/business-model-innovation\/\">Business Model Innovation<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/digital-transformation\/\">Digital Transformation<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/lean-startup\/\">Lean Startup<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/change-management\/\">Change Management<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a nutshell: Idea management is the systematic process by which companies capture, evaluate, develop, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and external sources. It bridges creative input and a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24529,"parent":25140,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25660","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Point-of-New-Business-Model-Innovation-Benedikt-Hasibeder-scaled.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25660"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28065,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25660\/revisions\/28065"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}