Consideration Offers More Than Idea Management

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought on many changes in how businesses operate in this new normal. 

One of these changes has been rapid innovation - a method of coming up with various ideas in a short period. Rapid innovation increases the number of ideas produced, thus increasing the likeliness of coming across a great idea.  It is the common view that to have a great idea you need to have lots of ideas; this is not true. We subscribe to the job to be done thinking that really says that there is no connection between quality and quantity and that what needs to happen is that the process is as follows: identify needs and especially unmet needs. Then brainstorm ideas that satisfy those unmet needs.

However, there is a problem. How should a business determine what makes a great idea? And even before that, how should they keep track of the sudden increase in contributions? With no way to keep track - businesses would lose out on the very benefit of rapid innovation itself. 

Enter: a smarter and more empathetic Idea and Innovation Management Platform. 

A tool and process used to garner, share and evaluate ideas throughout the company. Now, idea management itself isn't new. But in Consideration, we have given it a much-needed revamp. Beginning by asking: Why should idea management stop at simply collecting and presenting ideas? Why not do the whole job and help employees explain those ideas, so that they are clearly understood by both peers and decision-makers? 

Consideration works to encourage open discussion about topics related to business and more. We give employees space to voice their needs and suggestions on a plethora of issues. Some of these subjects can relate to the workplace but we believe conversations at work need to be more than that. The outcome is Co-creation of policy and interventions that make it much easier for employers to uphold their social responsibility towards employees.

There are two main ways for employees to make contributions in Consideration. 

First, Challenges. These are a way to discuss problems or issues that directly relate to the workplace and productivity. In Consideration we have a “bank” of important and relevant Challenges ready to deploy. For example, we offer a mental health Conversational “Session” on our platform. Employees are asked how best to develop policy and how interventions can best be implemented. They are asked about Needs. They are taken through a series of questions designed to encourage intuitive thinking and obtain their insights and experience. Other employees can then interact with these views. It is not a survey; it is a transparent conversation!

One interesting thing about Challenges is that we like to start the sensible way: with the problem. In Consideration we do not begin by asking what do you think will solve this problem - instead, we ask why do you think this problem exists in the first place! We ask first about struggles and needs. Then we offer the opportunity to propose solutions, always requiring the desired outcomes be made clear. In this way we create conversations amongst stakeholders and a way to enhance the original idea made.

Secondly - and uniquely - Consideration utilises what we call Sessions. These are discussions that make people think about issues beyond work; to think about a higher purpose or need or truth. We believe employees are citizens of their workplace ecosystem and have important things to say.

There is a tendency sometimes to shy away from topics like mental health, racism or gender in the workplace, or even what the future may look like after Covid-19. To be a company of the future, these are discussions that need to happen. After all, it is harder to innovate for the future if you don't understand the present - or be informed by the past. 

Consideration helps us to re-evaluate what it means to be a business in this day and age. Rather than placing importance solely on maximizing shareholder revenue, businesses should strive to be both profitable and ethical. A business that values and sees the full potential of their stakeholders (employees, local community and the Planet) are businesses of the future; because consumers want to buy from such companies and work for them too!

Having these 'extra’ features which enable Conversation makes Consideration perfect for businesses that want to establish a business culture whereby success is not only defined by profits but also by upholding social responsibilities.