Bridging the gap between web-based idea management and organisational competences by systematic literature review and four case studies

Abstract

Web-based idea management systems are directly connected to the creativity process, driving innovation, and challenging “conventional” way of idea management. To fully utilise web-based idea management systems, it is important to research what competences organisations should reward and boost to improve idea management results using web-based idea management systems. This investigation identifies the academic trends and their interaction between overlapping scientific fields, such as idea management, idea management systems and the basic and technological organisational competences using bibliometric and network publication analysis. To verify the results and gain additional practical insights, four practical case studies of idea management practises of different organisations and industries are included. The data is collected through systematic and scientific podcast interviews with different organisation representatives. To achieve the purpose of this research and to support the interview process, the scientific publications and their citations on idea management, idea management systems and competences are systematically analysed. The findings of this study provide important conclusions of the current state of research and serve as the basis for further empirical research on the organisational competences relevant for web-based idea management systems and their applications. This research is the first step to answer the question: which competences do organisations need to establish or improve, so that open innovation technologies will “boost” not “kill” creativity? The results are presented in a critical review form to establish a framework for the body of knowledge gathered in this research. The study highlights what kind of competences should be stimulated to successfully apply web-based idea management systems. Organisations should stimulate overall organisational competences and technology management competences. From overall organisational competences this includes – analytical, communicative, social, and monitoring competences. From technology management perspective this includes – process competences, project, systems competences, operations systems competences.