The Knowns and Unknowns of the Front End of Innovation

Innovation involves exploring both the knowns and unknowns, and a good idea management system can help with this process. By breaking down our thinking into different quadrants of knowledge, we can better understand and assess risk and opportunities. A well-designed idea management system can capture and translate ideas into tangible improvements, as well as cultivate unknown possibilities. To manage emerging ideas, it is important to have a structured system that encourages engagement and collaboration among team members. Prototyping early on and using observation techniques can help validate ideas and turn them into commercializable propositions. A common tool, such as the three-horizon framework, can also be valuable for understanding uncertainty and framing the business needs of today and the future.