Key takeaways
- Identify and clearly define your objectives before setting up your idea submission platform.
- Plan an efficient data management system to avoid misnomers, data silos, or idea duplication.
- Implement your system and maintain it over time to accommodate new ideas and changes.
- Simplicity and transparency should be the guiding principles in organizing your platform.
About this guide
When we talk about idea submission platforms, we're referring to an integral part of an organization's innovation management strategy. Having a well-organized idea submission platform can streamline the idea curation process, making it quicker and easier to identify and implement the best and most promising ideas. A poorly organized platform, on the other hand, can mean missing out on brilliant innovation opportunities – a costly mistake in today's competitive business landscape.
Keep reading to discover a step-by-step process of effectively organizing your idea submission platform to boost innovation and productivity within your organization.
1. Identify your goals
Let's start by identifying your goals. What do you aim to achieve with your idea submission tool? The answer to this question could vary depending on factors such as the number of employees, the volume of ideas you're handling, the number of ongoing projects, and your level of innovation sophistication. No matter your specific circumstances, you'll want your idea submission platform to help you easily capture, manage, and track game-changing ideas.
2. Plan your system
Once you've defined your goals, it's time to plan an organization system that helps you achieve them. When dealing with idea management software, it's crucial to track the right kind of information. This might include the origin of the idea, the project it's associated with, the actions needed to implement it, the person or team spearheading the implementation, and the priority level of the action. Setting up the system correctly at this stage will help you avoid common data management mistakes such as poorly named ideas, creation of data silos, or duplication of ideas.
3. Implement your system
The next step is to implement your system using a suitable software solution. There are various categories of software that come in handy in this phase, including online submission systems, feedback management software, and idea governance tools. This is where Skippet comes into play. From simply text descriptions, Skippet can help you create a custom system for your idea submission platform, thanks to its smart AI-powered service.
4. Maintain your organization system
The final step is maintaining and iterating your organization system over time. Your idea submission platform is a dynamic entity – new ideas will flow in, and old ones will be implemented, discarded, or revised. Hence, updating your system to accommodate changes and improve the process of managing ideas is a critical task.
Best practices and common mistakes
As a seasoned expert in the field of idea submission platforms and data management, I would also like to impart some additional insights. The best practice in organizing your idea submission platforms is to focus on simplicity and transparency. Ensure that the ideas can be easily accessed, reviewed, and assigned. On the flip side, a common mistake is not updating the system regularly. This can result in outdated ideas clogging up the system and slowing down the entire process.
Example idea platform organization system
Let's imagine a hypothetical scenario to put things into perspective. Suppose you are a large corporation with a diverse workforce scattered across geographies, each individual teeming with ideas waiting to take shape. A well-structured idea submission platform becomes your cornerstone, gathering data from disparate sources into one centralized location.
In this scenario, the idea submission platform might record information such as the idea description, the person who proposed it, the date of submission, the department it benefits, and the estimated resources needed for implementation. The system should be structured to follow a foundational workflow - the submission of an idea, an initial screening or review, the assignment of an idea champion, and finally, the discussion and implementation stages.
As the company, your category of users would likely include the leadership team, the ideators (employees who submit ideas), the reviewers who tackle the initial screening, and the champions who carry the idea to realization. Each team or individual will have a different interaction with the system. For instance, leaders and decision-makers might use the platform to assess and prioritize ideas, whereas the ideators would use it to submit their innovative concepts.
The leadership team uses criteria such as alignment with company scope, potential impact, and feasibility to prioritize the ideas. These criteria are essential pieces of information that should be recorded in the system for each idea and subsequently updated as the idea progresses through the workflow. The ideators, on their side, monitor the progression of their submissions and receive feedback, creating a culture of transparency and learning.
When it comes to the reviewers and idea champions, they have a more intensive interaction with the system. The reviewers would be using the platform to inspect each idea, providing initial feedback and making decisions based on set parameters. The champions would be responsible for carrying the idea through its lifecycle, from recommending resources to providing regular updates on the progression.
One of the constant elements across all these roles is the need for change tracking and updates. As ideas mature and transform, the system should adapt accordingly by reflecting changes in status, priority, or direction. It is here that the AI capabilities of systems such as Skippet shine. The platform adjusts and evolves with your changing needs, ensuring your idea submission process stays efficient and relevant.
Wrapping up
A well-structured idea management system is integral to fostering a culture of innovation.
We encourage you to explore Skippet, with its propelled AI service, to simplify your organization needs for idea submission. Remember, organizing your idea submission platform is an investment in your innovation environment, providing you with a strategic edge in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Frequently asked questions
What are the key features to look for in an idea submission platform software?
Look for user-friendliness, robust data tracking, customizable fields, version control, and integrated feedback mechanisms.
How can we ensure effective collaboration on the idea submission platform?
Implement features like team comments, idea sharing options, and collaborative review processes.
What is the best way to prioritize ideas in a submission platform?
Use criteria like alignment with business goals, feasibility, and potential impact for prioritization.
How to handle idea duplication in the submission platform?
Implement automatic detection for similar submissions and encourage thorough searches before idea submission.
