Establish Supporting Processes

Employee Ideation Program Planning—Step 6 of 7

Before you launch your Employee Ideation Program, there are a few key processes you may want to consider creating. A brief description of each is provided below.

Site Moderation

Moderation is the process by which posts are reviewed, monitored and removed if necessary. Issues to consider include:

Will you allow employees to post anonymously? Why or why not?
Will you pre-vet the posts or allow employees to post directly to the site?
Will you allow the community to report abuse on posts?
Will you actively moderate the site or will you rely on the community to identify abuses?
How will you handle off-topic posts or non-ideas?
How will you monitor the site in off-hours?

Idea Evaluation

Evaluation is the process by which ideas are reviewed by Subject Matter Experts. The best evaluation includes a response posted on the site stating the current status of the idea’s evaluation and description of the status. For example, if an idea is already in action or cannot be implemented, tell your users where they can find more information or why the idea isn’t going to move forward. Here are a few more things to consider:

How will you determine what ideas are evaluated? Will you review all of the ideas or only a certain amount based on a combination of vote/score and/or Subject Matter Expert referral?
Who will evaluate the ideas?
What types of procedures and guidelines can you put in place to ensure accountability in the review process?
Who is allowed to approve ideas?
Will you ensure a cross-functional review of ideas or are program offices allowed to implement ideas without having a broader organization-side vetting?
How will you enable and facilitate the evaluation process?

Rewards and Recognition

Rewarding and recognizing employees for their activities related to the program is very important. It is critical to recognize not only good ideas, but the good community members in the program as well. Here are a few things to consider:

Will you use monetary or non-monetary awards for employees who suggest ideas that are implemented?
Do you have existing awards directives with which your program must comply?
What recognition methods that resonate with your employee base?
How do you want your employees to behave on the site and how can you reinforce good behavior?
Do you want to create “recognition groups” and designate certain groups of people as special on the site?

Next Step

After you develop the key supporting processes, then the next step is to determine your success metrics.

Content Lead: Justin Herman
Page Reviewed/Updated: May 16, 2012