Innovation researcher: Idea development is more than finding the best idea

What actually happens between the time an idea is born and before it possibly becomes an innovation? Karlstad university researcher have studied this question in depth.

– We know a lot about how ideas are generated and how they are later evaluated. But the actual development process, i.e. what happens in between, has often been ignored. That’s where I wanted to put my finger, says Jana Huck, Karlstad University.

Process rather than individual ideas

Her doctoral thesis studies idea development as a process. Through interviews, group discussions, think-aloud studies and digital platforms, Jana Huck has followed how individuals and groups refine, change and concretize ideas.

– What matters is not always the individual idea. Bringing people together to develop ideas also creates new knowledge and greater commitment. This can give legitimacy to proposals and make it easier to take them forward.

One example is meetings where patients and health professionals discussed improvements in health centers together. The ideas themselves were refined, but more importantly, participants gained a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.

– Even if the outcome is not always a ready-made solution, the meetings are valuable. They act as catalysts for knowledge exchange and create a commitment that allows ideas to take hold in the organization, explains Jana Huck.

Two approaches to ideas

Her research identifies two perspectives on ideas:

1. As objects with an inherent value that can be measured and compared.
2. As triggers that set cognitive and social processes in motion.

– I see ideas mainly as triggers. They start something that can lead to change, rather than being valuable in themselves. What matters is what they do, not what they are.

Relevance for the public and private sector

The studies were mainly conducted in the public sector, such as health centres and public transport organizations. But the results also apply to businesses.

– The public sector often does not have the resources for large, radical initiatives. This makes continuous development in everyday life even more important. But fundamentally, it’s about human processes, and they’re similar in the private and public sectors, Huck points out.

Three tips for innovation leaders

• Focus on the process, not just the idea. It is the cooperation and exchange that leads forward.
• See idea development as an investment in knowledge. By involving different perspectives, a broader understanding is built in the organization.
• Create a climate for participation. Empowering people to contribute and develop ideas in their daily lives strengthens both engagement and innovation.

– Innovation is about people and their desire to improve. If we understand those processes better, we can also create organizations where ideas actually have the opportunity to develop.

Contact jana.huck@kau.se

More about the thesis
Jana Huck will defend her doctoral thesis Idea development for innovation at Karlstad University on September 25.