Applying impact based incentives for idea generation in R&D projects

Innovation is a key factor for sustainable competitiveness, and idea generation in Research and Development is an essential part of it. In the present study, we focus on a specific process that intends to inhibit some dysfunctional behaviors occurring in team work schemes for idea generation - namely free ride, evaluation apprehension and production blocking. To that effect, we follow a twofold approach: a literature review of some aspects pertaining to creativity, reward systems and team work; and the application of an anonymous and asynchronous idea-generation system with incentives based on impact (IDEATION) in real-world situations of an R&D department. The outcomes of the proposed IDEATION process are analyzed and compared to the estimated results for verbal brainstorming, thus allowing conclusions about the effectiveness of the former.

Department dc:contributor.department

System Design and Management Program.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Holzhacker, Rafael

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dan Ariely.

• System Design and Management Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32472

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32472