Web Resources

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have recently started coming up with some very interesting articles on innovation, and although they don't seem to have an innovation specific section to their site - or to their consulting practice - doing a quick search for "innovation" on their publications section will reveal some great nuggets of information.

BMW's "Virtual Innovation Agency" gathers feedback and ideas from outside sources - complete with legal waivers and codes of conduct to protect themselves. Of particular note is their document concerning the "evaluation of unprotected ideas" which covers all ideas for which patent protection has not yet been sought.

Case study: Imaginatik's Idea Central software streamlines innovation at W.R. Grace's Performance Chemicals division

Bring an idea to life by developing the idea and enhancing relationships with coworkers simultaneously. By Rick Maurer, in CEO Refresher.

Seeks to enable affordable local invention of toys in the developing world and deploys a business system to propagate the most innovative creations to the rest of a developing market and for licensing back in the developed world.

A resource company that helps individuals and companies with creative thinking, problem solving, and innovation with training programs and consulting. It focuses on the management of ideas so they go somewhere.

A daily blog - focuses on Innovation, Knowledge Management and Idea Management Research. Contains not only original research, but also highlights articles and web sites in the topics covered.

web site for the European Project named CREATE, Creative Processes for Innovation in Enterprises

Offers a comprehensive approach to strategic innovation which integrates training, facilitation, leadership development, team building, brainstorming and new product development.

Innovation consultants based in Australia. Assist companies to conceive and develop new product ideas. Provides creative thinking workshops, invention services, opportunity identification and evaluation, and market research services.

Anne Fisher describes how companies are encouraging their employees to produce innovations.

WR Grace talks about how they've generated new product ideas over the last year that have the potential to achieve sales of $6 million.

Although IdeaDollar is now a dead and defunct internet company, the concept behind this company is still incredibly interesting - and may yet have its place in commerce at some point. Companies like IdeaDollar were the first to take idea management to the public - capturing ideas, paying submitters a nominal (virtual) amount and then attempting to develop the good ideas as a product development company.

Creativity and Innovation blog offers white papers and links to related sites.

An interesting website that attempts to connect people together with a strong focus on innovation, innovation management or idea creation.

Offers software and research in innovation. Features company profile, description of services, articles, and contacts.

Tony Kontzer wrote this piece that was amongst the first public articles explicitly linking idea management and knowledge management together. It also includes a run down of some of the better-known vendors and includes the now-wellknown quote that "Idea Management could rescue knowledge management from oblivion" by BaseX analyst Jon Spira

Georgia-Pacific uses idea management software to generate ideas for new products and improved processes, and has saved the company millions of dollars.

Annual conference in Norway dedicated to creativity, innovation and design in the business world.

Provides information on this innovation conference to be held in London, England. Offers list of speakers, quotes, testimonials, and contacts.

Offers information on seminars, brochures, faculty, and contacts.

Themed "Smart Thinking in Challenging Times," designed to help attendees bring innovation alive within organizations by addressing challenges in innovation leadership, new product and service development and the creation of a culture that supports ideas and innovation. Features call for speakers, registration and venue information. Minneapolis, MN, USA.

The Innovation Network is an association of companies and employees committed to innovation. The site features some interesting articles as well as some fun tools related to innovation

A portal that features a collection of software tools, articles, news, and links for developing creative solutions for businesses.

KM World looks at some of the emerging software solutions for idea management, and has a nice mini-case study on Sun Life Financial.