The Complete Guide to Ideation

Ideation is the process of generating, developing, and communicating ideas, with three stages: generation, selection, and development. The focus should be on ideation as a systematic and holistic approach, rather than just generating ideas. Ideation is important as it leads to innovation, improves products and services, and drives new business. Ideation can increase innovation opportunities, bring together diverse perspectives, develop and refine good ideas, prioritize ideas, and encourage an open and innovative culture. There are various tools and techniques for ideation, including brainstorming, idea challenges, brainstorm cards, the impact-effort matrix, idea management tools, the stage-gate process, and idea evaluation. Key success factors for ideation include aligning ideation with strategic goals, a structured and methodical approach, asking the right questions, getting the right people, expressing and testing assumptions, loving the problem and not the idea, removing barriers, and using an ideation tool.