For this week's discussion topic I'd like you to think a few deep thoughts in response to the question of what makes a good idea a good idea. I need you to think about your position on this since you will be giving feedback to others on their ideas this week. A few thoughts as were suggested in class:
1) Ideas are like babies; even ugly ones need love
2) Bad ideas are bad ideas and need to be stopped
3) Sometimes it's the expression that's bad and not the idea
Remember to give feedback to at least 5 ideas to the teams as they post above.
Dave
A good idea will survive the absence of biased support, while a bad idea will die without it. With luck, a good idea burdened with poor expression will be pushed back to its creator for fixing.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is a good idea when it solves a problem or a need that nobody had previously been able to solve. Good ideas are also those that bring additional comfort to our lives such as new advancements in TV design, etc. Great ideas are also those that make any process more efficient, such as e-mail which made sending information more efficient. Economists say that a nation is richer when it becomes more efficient. But above all, all ideas to be good ideas have to be feasible. For example it would solve a lot of crimes if we could travel back in time to the place and time where they occurred with a time machine. But can this be implemented?
ReplyDeleteIf one doesn’t have enough information about the context in which the idea will live one must at least evaluate, as previously mentioned, how feasible it is to implement. Feasibility can be evaluated in many ways, including NPV. If one knows what type of problem is trying to solve then one can evaluate if current close alternatives are better, what the public’s reaction would be, etc.
A good idea solves the problem in a feasible manner and produces the least amount of negative consequences. I do not think a good idea has to be extremely inventive. Obviously, if the problem still exists, the solution must be original, otherwise it has been tried before. However, sometimes the most inventive ideas are not as easily executed, which is the main component. What good is an idea if you can’t use it?
ReplyDeleteIf you do not have complete information, it is important to gather as much information as you can. But, it is important to recognize that the group may have already considered certain options and deemed them impossible to implement. So, rather than suggesting new ideas, perhaps the way to evaluate someone else’s idea is to pose questions regarding the implementation, to ensure the idea has been thought all the way through.
It depends…on where you are in the innovation process. If you are at the first phase, there are no bad ideas. You don’t want to discourage anyone from suggesting an idea, and all ideas are good ideas because even a “not-so-great” idea by one person might lead to a “better” idea from another person. At this point in the process, there is no point distinguishing good ideas from bad ideas.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as you move further along, there are some bad ideas that must be stopped. A bad idea could be one that doesn’t solve the problem you set out to address. Or, it could be one that you can’t implement given the project constraints. Therefore, an idea could be “good” for one situation and “bad” for another situation. A good idea can be implemented in order to solve a problem you set out to address.
I believe almost all ideas can be shaped into good ideas. Ideally, you want to have a idea in itself to be great, however, often you see mediocre ideas become big money makers. For example, the mediocre idea of the VHS tape successfully "beat out" Beta tape even though the latter was smaller and lighter. I believe the packaging of that idea and the person or entity presenting the idea played a significant role in how the masses perceived it. A credible person can absolutely sell an initially crappy idea to the masses.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is simply generation of a concept by an individual or group that inspires a singular or coordinated effort to improve a process or product in a way that benefits the constituents of that process or product. Good ideas can even be destructive, when and if they are examined in a vacuum, disregarding ancillary impact of secondary or tertiary entities. For instance, the batteries being used to power hybrid cars are fantastic, innovative ideas, but they create negative consequences in terms of disposing of the batteries, as they are highly toxic. Still, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to state, isolated from external factors, the batteries are not innovative, or a "good idea".
ReplyDeleteGood ideas engender a motivation within others to generate their own "good ideas", which is productive. Bad ideas generally produce negative consequence absent positive results, and therefore generally stifle "good idea" generation among individuals and groups.
Expression, in my opinion, has less to do with the merit of the idea and more in the presenter and listener's ability to communicate. As a presenter of an idea, it is imperative that one understand the key components of the idea and be able to highlight them for the listener. More importantly, however, the listener must be willing and able to determine the core components of the idea being expressed despite the presenter's lack of effective communication skill, and recognize whether the idea has merit. This is where I believe expression breaks down, when we as listeners try to force the idea into our own pre-existing frameworks rather than trying to adopt the framework of the presenter and see the idea from their perspective.
What makes an idea a “good” idea is its ability to actually solve the existing problem. It should also be able to function within the appropriate constraints and stand up to critique. Those with first-hand knowledge of the problem to be solved are most often sought out to assess the solution, but outsiders can be just as valuable. They may bring a fresh perspective not only to the solution, but also to the problem that needs to be solved. They might be able to see beyond what an insider might view as a given constraint in order to aid in more creative idea generation.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is one that, when all is said and done, will solve the problem at hand. A good idea should be practical, rational (at least in retrospect), and implementable. Good ideas tend to be new and unique, which is where innovation comes in. But innovation alone does not make a great idea. It can be difficult if others disagree (why it should be rational), and even the best concepts are not good 'ideas' if they can not actually be done. For example, we had the idea to have a chef come in to make fresh lunches at the 8:10. But the board of health will not allow us to do it, so it was quickly rejected from our top 25.
ReplyDeleteA good idea can either take an already existing idea and make it better or create an entirely new concept. I think the difference between a good idea and a great idea lies in the explanation and the framing of what the idea is trying to accomplish. There are definitely situations where a great idea will be knocked down because the person explaining the idea was not convincing enough, credible, or passionate. On the other hand, a semi decent idea with a passionate and expressive pitch can across even greater than it truly is. Another characteristic of a successful idea is one in which its inventors truly believe in. The idea will definitely be tested and questioned throughout the process, and its creators need to believe that the idea truly serves a purpose. Finally, my interpretation of a great idea is one that is "sticky". There are an infinite amount of ideas that come and go, but good ideas will last in some form forever, or built upon.
ReplyDeleteA good idea (1) considers the full extent of the problem that it addresses, (2) identifies the solutions that are currently in place to combat the problem, (3) analyzes why the current solutions leave something to be desired, and (4) poses an alternative that makes up some or all of these shortcomings. Some might say that there needs to be an element of "wow" to it as well. I would argue that the "wow is what separates a good idea from a great or amazing idea.
ReplyDeleteA good idea usually appeals to us in some way because it provides a potential answer to what we believe to be a problem. It looks like the missing piece to a puzzle. Each person may see the hole in the puzzle a different way and the new idea may or may not fit depending on how we view the missing section and how we view the puzzle piece itself. For some, the hole may look like a rectangle, so good ideas are going to be shaped like a rectangle. For others it will be a triangular shape. The best ideas usually fit from many different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteMany metrics can be used to measure the merits of an idea. In this context, I think a good idea is one that actually solves the problem it attempts to solve. Looking back on my experience, in the past I have been blinded with ideas that are so clever and unique that I never realized the problem was not getting solved in the long run. While many ideas might be brilliant, they may fail to address the problem in a meaningful way. By contrast, some ideas are very basic and “common” that they seem to lack innovation. Yet that common idea is the one that may best solve the problem within the constraints given.
ReplyDeleteI like to use the end-result as the main metric—how well will this idea actually address or solve the problem that we have? Does it merely cover up the issue? Or, does it get at the root cause of the issue?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is something that solves a problem or unmet need in an efficient and direct manner. The best ideas are able to find solutions that are very effective using a small amount of resources. This however does not mean that in order to be a good idea you must be able to do "a lot with a little." Sometimes ideas may be good that never come into fruition but they would effectively solve some problem or need.
ReplyDeleteFirst, a good idea must solve the problem at hand or at least improve the problem; however, the idea does not have to be completely new or novel. It must also be feasible given the constraints surround the issue. Finally, it must be sustainable. In other words, it truly addresses the overall problem and is not just a quick fix.
ReplyDeleteDepending on the context I think the definition of a good idea changes. In a crisis situation, a good idea is one that can be easily communicated and brings about the desired results. In a creative situation, a good idea is one that is original. In a problem-solving situation, a good idea is one that is actually doable within the existing constraints.
ReplyDeleteI think seemingly bad ideas can be good if they lead to other good ideas. In a crisis situation, an idea is probably not good if it fails because one could assume there would be severe consequences. However success is not always a determining factor in measuring the worth of an idea. While an idea may be irrelevant, impractical, impossible, etc. in one situation, it may be a great idea in another situation.
I think a good idea is first of all one that addresses a real problem that needs a solution. From there, what makes it a good idea is an idea that can be implemented easily, with resources and techniques that are either readily available or not far out of reach. A good idea must also have a specific way of being implemented and a way to measure its success so that further modification can be made as necessary.
ReplyDeleteI agree with statement number 3, that sometimes it is the expression of an idea that is bad, and not the idea itself. When our group went through our 404 ideas for our project, there were several ideas that seemed outlandish. But even the craziest ideas that had no chance of implementation were based on some concept that made sense or had validity. Fleshing out ideas to get the best implementation is what’s key. Great ideas can fail with poor implementation. That isn’t a reflection of the quality of the idea, but rather the execution or expression.
ReplyDeleteA good idea excites people - small segments or en masse. Thus they should be communicated and fairly challenged (i.e. not criticized) all the time. Executing a good idea is where some of the danger can lie. Some people are great at brainstorming but cannot execute. Communicating a good idea and transitioning into implementation is vital to the idea's value.
ReplyDeleteA good idea, like a good joke, is all about delivery - and explanation. Additionally, you have to know your audience and present the idea in way that they will understand. A bad idea is only one that someone else has had. Otherwise its just an idea that needs to be refined or better explained.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is something that can simplify, increases knowledge, reduces costs, reduces time, increases efficiency, or somehow makes things better for somebody or something.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot meaningfully evaluate someone’s idea if you do not have enough information. That is one of the problems with group problem solving. Often times many people in the decision making process do not have enough (or the correct) information to make an informed choice. People kill ideas because they don’t know enough behind the reasoning for the idea. This probably would be reinforced by the fact that the demographics of innovators in Silicon Valley are fairly homogenous. They all have similar backgrounds and understandings, which may lead to less miscommunication when good ideas are being discussed.
In my opinion, there is no such of thing is a bad idea in the first phase of brainstorming a solution. Then we need to filter based on the constraints that make the ideas are not plan able and implementable. These constraints can be anything, from money to time to manpower, depending on the resources on the project. Once the ideas are narrowed down, focus on the one that has a huge impact on the objective; seek for feedbacks from other people who are familiar with the problem as well as from them who are not. Then, the filtered idea(s) potentially be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is only as good as the person who owns it. Basically, most good ideas require a persistent, passionate, and results-oriented person to see it through to completion. A great idea in the hands of a person who isn't able to compel others to see its value will likely not be successful. That being said, there are plenty of people with passion who come up with unoriginal ideas but have the charisma to get it done.
ReplyDeleteAnother important aspect of the very best ideas is it must directly addresses a need. It may not be the easiest idea to implement, but it addresses the problem head-on.
A good idea is a good idea when it can potentially solve a problem and it can be implemented. Many good ideas need polishing to fit these two requirements, and thus you can not always rule out an idea as "bad" if it does not fit. Many good ideas are ruled out because they approach a problem from a direction that was previously not considered. Others are tossed aside because they're too hard to implement. It is unfortunate that creativity can be stifled because of what is normal and easy. Those with passion and persistence can turn an odd idea into a groundbreaking one, so it is often hard to evaluate what is a "good" idea at the thought's inception.
ReplyDeleteA good idea is one that is different from all previous solutions (ie new) and also relevant to the problem. Early on, a good idea can merely be a suggestion that will take the brainstorming phase into an entirely new direction, or promotes thinking that differs from previous conceptions. A bad idea is a suggestion that has already been established, or something that would ultimately lead one down the wrong path. It would not solve the problem at hand, and may make it worse. However, I'm reluctant to say that any idea is completely bad. Many great products have come from people trying to make one thing, and coming out with another product, that solves a completely different problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is my belief that good ideas are often destroyed before they can be successfully implemented. Communication is definitely a key aspect to presenting an idea in a manner where people are going to jump on board. The best way I think this can be achieved is by promoting the benefits of the idea and not really the idea itself. In this way, people will not judge the idea so much as the benefits that the idea may have. If a person is really passionate about the idea then delivery should be easy, as the creator will fully understand the idea and should be able to present it in a structured way. Bad ideas are in an abundance in our world, just look at the advertising industry. They create ads that dont serve a purpose, or their target market are not understood and they land up making a bad commercial based on a bad idea. These ideas need to be stopped in their very early stages before time and resource are devoted to implementing the idea and people are truly vested in it. These are key elements to idea creation and adoption.
ReplyDeleteA good idea in the context on innovation is anything that is feasible, addresses a need or opportunity, is beneficial, and stands to be adopted. A good idea is simple in design and can be easily understood. If someone has to spend longer than a couple minutes explaining the idea there is probably a better way to do things.
ReplyDelete