Idea Management

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for idea management and development of a structured idea. The methodology includes obtaining a structured response over a computer network from an employee of a business. In certain embodiments of the invention the system and method may be employed without the use of a computer network. The structured response is developed through a series of templates in which the employee enters information into a template. From the responses in the first template a second template is selected. The second template may request information regarding the financial consequences of implementing the idea. Once the structured idea is developed through the series of templates a routing decision is made by the server. The server determines one or more members of the business management to whom the idea is routed based in part on information entered by the employee in the templates.

1 . A computer implemented method for providing, through a computer network to business management, a user's suggestion for business improvement, the method comprising:
 causing presentation to a user, seeking to submit a suggestion for business improvement, a series of two or more templates for entering a structured response on a user processing device;   receiving at a processor, over a computer network from the user, the structured response entered into the two or more templates, wherein the structured response includes a characterization of the type of suggestion entered into one or more templates by the user;   in the processor, logically selecting at least one of the templates presented to the user according to the type of suggestion characterized by the user; and   in the processor, determining routing of data from the structured response to business management over the network.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the routing of data from the structured response to business management is determined based upon content of the response. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor logically selects a plurality of templates subsequent to a first template based upon data entered by the user in one or more templates. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one template provides for entry of cost savings information. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one template provides for access to a database containing cost information. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein a financial template is provided. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 calculating a financial benefit based upon submissions in the financial template.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 calculating a financial benefit based upon submissions in the financial template and financial data from a business database.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 obtaining financial data requested from a business database.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein, if no financial data is available in a business database associated with the network and if the user enters financial data in a template, the method further comprises:
 adding the financial data to the business database for a subsequent user suggestion.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining routing of data to business management is dependent at least in part on one or more of a user selected business group, a user selected deadline, one or more user selected potential implementers, a department affected by the user suggestion, whether the suggestion has a financial benefit, whether the user indicates that the suggestion is a team suggestion, the suggestion characterized by the user, workload of the business management, and information about the user submitting the suggestion. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving over a network a structured reply to the structured response from one or more members of business management.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the structured reply is based upon a response by business management into one or more templates. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the processor routes a new template to the user requesting more information about the employee suggestion in response to the structured reply. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a template is provided to the user for entering information regarding implementation of the user suggestion. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after receiving information from business management indicating acceptance of the user suggestion, sending via the computer network information about the user suggestion to possible implementers.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for providing to business management a user's suggestion for business improvement, the computer readable code comprising:
 computer code for presenting to a user, seeking to submit a suggestion for business improvement, a series of two or more templates for entering a structured response on a processing device;   computer code for obtaining, over a computer network from the user, the structured response entered into the two or more templates from the user, wherein the structured response includes a characterization of the type of suggestion entered into one or more templates by the user;   computer code for logically selecting at least one of the templates presented to the user according to the type of suggestion characterized by the user; and   computer code for determining routing of data from the structured response to business management over the network.   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the routing of data from the structured response to business management is determined based the content of the response. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the computer code logically selects a plurality of templates subsequent to a first template based upon data entered by the user in one or more templates. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one template provides for entry of cost savings information. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one template provides for access to a database containing cost information. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein a financial template is provided. 
     
     
         23 . A computer program product according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 code for calculating a financial benefit based upon submissions in the financial template.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program product according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 code for calculating a financial benefit based upon submissions in the financial template and financial data from a business database.   
     
     
         25 . A computer program product according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 code for obtaining financial data requested from a business database.   
     
     
         26 . A computer program product according to  claim 22 , wherein, if no financial data is available in a business database associated with the network and if the user enters financial data in a template, the computer program product further comprises:
 code for adding the financial data to the business database for a subsequent user suggestion.   
     
     
         27 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein determining routing of data to business management is dependent at least in part on one or more of a user selected business group, a user selected deadline, one or more user selected potential implementers, a department affected by the user suggestion, whether the suggestion has a financial benefit, whether the user indicates that the suggestion is a team suggestion, the suggestion characterized by the user, workload of the business management, and information about the user submitting the suggestion. 
     
     
         28 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 code for receiving over a network a structured reply to the structured response from one or more members of business management.   
     
     
         29 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the structured reply is based upon a response by business management into one or more templates. 
     
     
         30 . A computer program product according to  claim 28 , wherein the processor routes a new template to the user requesting more information about the employee suggestion in response to the structured reply. 
     
     
         31 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein a template is provided to the user for entering information regarding implementation of the user suggestion. 
     
     
         32 . A computer program product according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 code for receiving information from business management indicating acceptance of the user suggestion; and   code for sending via the computer network information about the user suggestion to possible implementers.   
     
     
         33 . A system for providing a user's suggestion for business improvement to business management, the system comprising:
 a first processing device for presenting to a user, seeking to submit a suggestion for business improvement, a series of two or more templates for entering a structured response; and   a processor for receiving, over a computer network from the processing device, the structured response entered into the two or more templates, wherein the structured response includes a characterization of the type of suggestion entered into one or more templates by the user, the processor logically selects at least one of the templates presented to the user according to the type of suggestion characterized by the user, and the processor determines routing of data from the structured response to business management over the network.