Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
4 August 2005
www.innomate.biz
Idea Qualification
Once an idea has been converted into a potential business opportunity through
the formal process of idea management, it’s important to qualify the idea for fur-
ther investment by asking a series of questions:
Idea value is about its ability to retain existing or attract new customers, to dis-
rupt markets or undermine competitors, to enhance brand positioning, to create
proto-IP or to leverage current events and trends for publicity/marketing pur-
poses. It’s not just about the potential monetary revenue/profit picture for the
idea. Idea value answers the question: Is it worth doing?
Idea verifiability is about how suitable the idea is for testing prior to
development/launch. Is it possible to create a low-cost prototype? Can the idea be
introduced using a focus group? Is it ready for an expert to give it a serious re-
view? Are there early adopter customers ready to take on the product/service and
help refine it? An idea that can’t be externally verified in some way is likely to be
a riskier investment. Idea verifiability answers the question: Can we test this
idea externally before making a major investment?
Idea validation is about whether a context already exists in which to realize the
idea. For example is there existing IP that touches on the idea or supports it?
Are there standards or best practices that can be applied to the idea? Does the
idea comply with an existing/projected regulatory control? Is there an existing
channel in place to sell/support the idea? Idea validation answers the question:
Is there a solid conceptual platform context on which to launch this idea?