Opportunity-Led Ideation : How to Convert Corporate Opportunities into Innovative Ideas

Title data

Wyrtki, Katrin ; Röglinger, Maximilian ; Rosemann, Michael:
Opportunity-Led Ideation : How to Convert Corporate Opportunities into Innovative Ideas.
In: Creativity and Innovation Management. Vol. 30 (2021) Issue 3 . - pp. 523-541.
ISSN 1467-8691
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12450

Project information

Abstract in another language

Opportunities, i.e. action possibilities for innovative business models, goods, services, and processes, particularly affect idea generation, which is vital for innovation success. Capitalizing on opportunities requires complementing predominating problem-centered innovation approaches. Despite mature knowledge on idea generation, there is still a limited understanding on how to leverage opportunities. Hence, there is a limited set of methods available that provide formalized guidance. To address this gap, we co-developed an opportunity-led ideation method in an action design research project with one of Australia’s leading financial service providers. Thanks to this immersive collaboration, our method not only reflects the intent of researchers and existing knowledge, but also the influence and needs of practitioners. Building on established opportunity sources from the literature, this method structures the idea generation stage of the innovation process into the activit! ies initiation, immersion, investigation, integration. The method provides guidance on how to transform opportunities into ideas and presents activities, techniques, tools, and roles that are important within the idea generation stage. Our research theoretically extends the understanding of opportunity identification within the front end of innovation. Moreover, it provides insights on balancing formalization and creativity within idea generation. Organizations can use the method as a blueprint to systematically and proactive sense, assess, and translate opportunities into ideas.