The co tant search for Good Ideas has resulted in many techniques for generating them. Part 1 of Good Ideas will briefly discu Frankli (2003) research into the types of ideas that are most likely to succeed.
The research investigated the types of ideas that had been most succe ful in the past. Six types were defined:
a) Need otting where individuals would actively look for a need and attempt to resolve it.
b) Solution otting where a technique was already known and the individual went out searching for a problem to a ly it to (e.g. laser technology was a lied to music, resulting in CDs and DVDs).
c) Market research ideas generated as a result of needs establishing through market research.
d) Random event moments of serendipity when people stumble acro a wers they werent looking for.
e) Mental invention pure random ideas with no previous knowledge of how they may be implemented. An a roximate example is Ei tei E=mc squared.
f) Trend following ideas that resulted from following the crowd.
Of all of the above, a random event generated the highest succe rate and lowest failure rate.
Solution otting that is, having existing knowledge and seeking problems to a ly it to scored an 87.5% succe rate and a 12.5 % failure rate.
The conclusio are, in fact, open to interpretation. It is po ible to increase the probability of random events occurring but it seems the most manageable and tangible proce of coming up with succe ful ideas (according to this theory alone) is to use established knowledge and competencies and seek out domai where it can be a lied.
This topic is covered in depth in the MBA di ertation on Managing Creativity and I ovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and I ovation 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 addre at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management co ultant based in London, UK. He has co ulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Tra ort for London. He has led Improv, creativity and i ovation worksho , exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of scree lays. He is a pa ionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.
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