Assessment of differences in web-based idea management systems: industry perspective

As a result of increased digitization and increasingly dynamic work environments, web-based idea management system (IMS) research has significantly increased in practical and academic relevance. A Web-based IMS is a manageable, systematic tool to generate and evaluate ideas. The following research gap was identified in IMS literature by the authors – are there industry-specific differences in web-based IMS results based on application type? To fill the gap, this paper aims to investigate how the number of ideas created (quantity), the number of ideas selected (quality), and the number of involved people (involvement) changes depending on the applied IMS type and industry. To achieve the aim of the research, the authors conducted a global survey of 504 organisation representatives from different industries that apply web-based IMS within their organisations. Based on the analysis, Chi-squared test results (p is less than 0.05) allow us to conclude that there is a statistically significant difference at a confidence level of 95% in the number of ideas created and people involved using all five IMS types. Further test results (p is less than 0.05) allow us to conclude that there is a statistically significant difference at a confidence level of 95% between industry groups in the number of ideas selected when applying external, mixed and active IMS types. All industry groups, except the manufacturing industry, generate more ideas with mixed and active IMS. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying and activities of households as employers generate the greatest involvement when using mixed, external, and active IMS, while more ideas are selected when using mixed, active and internal IMS. Results show that different types of IMS applications could result in different outcomes in different industries. The main contribution of this research highlights the most likely IMS type industry should use to achieve a desired idea management outcome.