6 Sources For New Ideas

We’re always looking for sources for new ideas.  While some ideas are momentary flashes of genius or the result of careful aligned forces of nature coincidentally leading to the perfect idea most are an conscious, purposeful, and even effort-full search.

Here are six sources of new ideas:

“New knowledge” – Radical innovations often arise from advances in knowledge, though a fairly long delay usually comes between the breakthrough and the product.

“Customers” – Pay more attention to your customers’ desired outcomes than to their specific product recommendations. They tend to suggest modifications to familiar products rather than brand-new ideas.

“Lead users” – They are pioneers. To find them, identify your target markets and the kinds of innovation you want. Observe trends, identify the trendsetters and develop relationships with them.

“Empathetic design” – Observe how people use and customize your products.

“Invention factories and skunk works” – These are permanent or temporary independent research units.

“Open market innovation” – You don’t have to come up with all the ideas yourself.  Use outside sources such as “licensing, joint ventures and strategic alliances.”