Competing for defence ideas: Looking wider for innovation

Abstract

Purpose

Focuses on new thinking towards innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews current practices at the UK's Ministry of Defence.

Findings

As more and more organisations actively encouraging external input into their “fuzzy front end” of new product innovation, the internet is providing a rapidly expanding channel for this input. In particular, “crowdcasting” practices, such as idea competitions or challenges are becoming increasing popular.

Originality/value

One example of a very traditional organization looking to adopt these new practices in order to achieve wider engagement with possible “solution” providers is the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD), with its Grand Challenge and Competition of Ideas.

Citation

(2008), "Competing for defence ideas: Looking wider for innovation", Strategic Direction, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 35-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/02580540810839359