Idea quality forecasting models for different web-based idea management system types

Web-based idea management systems are used by a wide range of organisations across private, public and academical sector. Organisations like NASA, Samsung, Panasonic, Virgin trains, etc. have shared cases in the past that prove the results that can be achieved by using these systems. Researchers have discovered that even web-based idea management systems that provide similar functionalities can still have technological differences. Based on this, the researchers have created idea management system type classifications. Researchers have researched which of these types will provide greater idea quality, idea quantity and involvement. But there is a research gap – there is no research that tries to explore idea quality forecasting models for different web-based idea management system types. In this paper, the authors aim to close this research gap by conducting a global survey (n > 400) of companies that apply the web-based idea management system to create idea quality forecasting models for different web-based idea management system types. The contribution of this research is as follows – it provides a forecasting model to estimate the expected idea quality (ideas selected for implementation) based on the number of people involved and quantity of ideas generated by applying different web-based idea management system types. As a result, there is a positive effect in idea quality in all IMS types. By increasing the number of generated ideas by 1000, the number of selected ideas will increase by between 1 to 3 ideas across all IMS types. By reaching the involvement level of 1000 in Internal, External and Passive IMS, the number of selected ideas will increase by between 1 to 3 ideas, while an involvement of 10000 people in Mixed and Active IMS, the number of selected ideas will increase by between 1 to 2 ideas. The results highlight that idea quantity and involvement have a direct positive impact on the idea quality.