Business Week is running a series of what you might call "self-help articles for businesses." Before you yawn and think it's the same old, same old, you might want to check this out. In an April 28th article titled: Finding Your Company's Great Thinkers, I was pleasantly surprised by the content. I think you might be, too.


The article's premise: companies are increasingly turning to outside experts to assist them in their innovation processes and achieving success by doing that. But what if companies take the time and initiative to look inwardly? Sometimes companies engage in brainstorming sessions, but generally that happens within departments. What if instead, everyone regardless of department, was encouraged to participate?
The writers of the article then share three tips:
1.
Challenge employees. A problem or question requiring a solution "on behalf of clients" using competition or games can get creative juices flowing. Post the challenge on bulletin boards, in emails, on the Intranet. Set deadlines. Offer prizes. The idea here is that the creative thinkers in any organization might be a bit competitive, and they will certainly rise to the challenge.
No current challenge? No problem. The article urges companies to make something up to snag responses and find out where the innovators truly are within the ranks. Hmm. . . . .
2.
Let them doodle. By encouraging employees to literally draw ideas or pen their thoughts on expanses of paper provided in a specific room, regardless of who they are or where they are on the flow chart, some fresh new thinking might emerge. Everybody loves to doodle and the room would be a draw where everybody might pen a few words, thoughts or assist in building a "collage" of information. Great stuff could emerge in this kind of setting.
Once the paper-lined room is filled up, the idea then is to call small group meetings so that potentially good ideas can be fleshed out and discussed in more detail.
3.
Idea catalysts get noticed. Employees who regularly ideate and share their thoughts, generate positive energy and enthusiasm, "raise their profiles", as the article states.
Basically, I think the article makes a great point: some of a company's greatest innovations might come from its own best and brightest, many of whom are probably working away in their designated jobs and departments, largely unnoticed. What a great, but wasted asset companies ought to take full advantage of.
Having said that, I recognize the merits of the ideas presented, but I'm wondering whether the authors haven't missed the boat a bit?
Questions:
*
Tip #1 has been done since time immemorial. Do you think it will still work, that is, will sufficient numbers of employees take part or are we all too savvy to play this kind of game these days?
*
Tip #2 is a device design firms like and use. It does tend to net some great ideas, but then, project groups barnstorm in person where we can build on each others' ideas, as well. Do you think this idea will work in a large company with a lot of employees milling around or is there a better way?
*
Why hasn't the idea of an Intranet blog surfaced in this article? Isn't that a better way to encourage conversation about problems, challenges the company is facing and potential solutions and innovations?
*
If successful, couldn't an Intranet blog be extended to consumers to get their input? Wouldn't that yield some fresh thinking and potentially great innovations?
I'd like to hear from you.