Ideas and Innovations

All companies and organisations need to be innovative if they are to continue to meet the demands of their customers and the changing marketplace. Innovative companies also have the ability to break into new markets and improve their profitability.

New products, new processes and new ways of working are the results of successful innovation. They require a steady flow of good ideas, knowledge and resources.

*Innovation starts with ideas. Thinking creatively can get the ideas flowing.
--*A frequent problem for many businesses is finding the time to be creative.
How do you continue to come up with the ideas that can be developed into successful products, services or processes?
How do you generate the best ideas that can keep you ahead of the competition?

Internal ideas:
Often the best place to find or generate ideas is within your own company.Take time out to think and encourage others to do the same. Record your ideas and act on the best ones. Simple techniques such as brainstorming and Mind Mapping can get the ideas flowing, help you to organise them and save you time.
--Mind Mapping:
Mind Maps are an excellent technique for organising ideas or issues around a particular problem or theme. You begin by writing the main issue in the centre of your page and then writing associated words on lines coming from the centre. You then continue the process linking more associated words and phrases from each new word. The theory is that this kind of arrangement of ideas matches the way our brains work.

This feature of mirroring the way the brain works does not just help with creativity. It can aid memory too.

Brainstorming:
Brainstorming is probably one of the most familiar techniques. It is usually done by a group and involves the recording of all ideas around a particular problem. The recording of all ideas without judgement is one of the most important aspects of brainstorming. You should not make any decisions about the ideas or how to take them forward until a later session.

Allowing yourself to record your most outlandish ideas during brainstorming can be useful. They may not provide you with your final solution but they can be the spark that leads to a truly innovative and practical route.

SWOT:

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is a simple tool for analysing your current situation and deciding how best to go forward. You should make four lists under the headings Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The entries you make in these lists can form the basis of how you plan over the short and long term. Look for connections between the lists too. Can threats become opportunities? Can you turn weaknesses into strengths?

While making the lists you should try to write down how others might perceive you as well as how you perceive yourself.

Six universal questions

There are only really six kinds of question we can ask:

* What?
* Where?
* When?
* How?
* Why?
* Who?

When faced with a particular problem or opportunity it is always worthwhile asking a question of each kind. You can also keep asking the same kind of question to focus in on a particular issue. One suggested technique is to start a Mind Map with these questions as the first six points coming out of your central issue.

External ideas:
You should also look at sources of inspiration outside of your company. Talk to others to find inspiration or to get help testing your ideas.
Be aware of changes in your business area. If you act quickly enough you can turn threats into opportunities.

Strategic Planning for the Future:
Making the most of your ideas and opportunities means putting them into context for your business and looking at the big picture.