Four ways ideas are selected for implementation

While generating ideas may be easy, turning those ideas into actual products or services is the real challenge. This requires support from senior leaders who are willing to back the idea, fund it, and make it part of their plan. There are four common ways that ideas can make the transition from concept to realization: Assignment, Sponsorship, Adoption, and Spinout. Assignment involves a senior executive who assigns the development and deployment of an idea to a team. Sponsorship involves executives recognizing a problem or solution and using innovative teams and techniques to create ideas. Adoption occurs when executives identify and choose to deploy a compelling idea. Finally, Spinouts may be necessary for orphaned ideas that have potential but no support. It is important for organizations to understand which conversion method will work best for them, since each method requires different implementation programs, funding mechanisms, and capabilities.