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Critical success factors in the management of ideas as an essential component of innovation and business excellence

Gilberto Santos (College of Design, Polytechnic Institute Cavado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal)
José Afonseca (College of Technology, Polytechnic Institute Cavado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal)
Nuno Lopes (College of Technology, Polytechnic Institute Cavado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal)
Maria João Félix (College of Design, Polytechnic Institute Cavado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal)
Federica Murmura (Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy)

International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences

ISSN: 1756-669X

Article publication date: 6 September 2018

Issue publication date: 6 September 2018

907

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to focus on the idea management system (IMS) with the main purpose of identifying and describing the factors that promote success in managing ideas, grounded on the analysis of case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used consists of a case study and semi-structured interviews with those directly responsible for the management of ideas from four companies, which are presented in this paper.

Findings

The main findings, critical for the success of an IMS, are as follow: the involvement of top management, evidence of results, establishment of goals and objectives, dissemination of good results, willingness to share and develop ideas, complete transparency in the management of ideas, maintenance of dynamic and proactive attitudes and mainly recognition. All have been described.

Research limitations/implications

This work presents a preliminary framework for further research toward the study of CSFs inherent to IMSs that is still bound by the limited number of case studies presented. Further research should be undertaken to broaden and consolidate the presented CFSs and their pertinence.

Originality/value

This study, although limited to four case studies, presents conclusive results that support managers of suggestion systems/IMSs in improving or deploying such systems. The main factors were identified and described. They can contribute to the effectiveness of employee suggestion system. It can be reasoned from this investigation that the contributions from employees toward the success of a company leads to excellence in business.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the four companies that helped providing the opportunity to make the case studies and some material published here, namely, Figures 1-3.

Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Citation

Santos, G., Afonseca, J., Lopes, N., Félix, M.J. and Murmura, F. (2018), "Critical success factors in the management of ideas as an essential component of innovation and business excellence", International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 214-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-05-2017-0051

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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