Do you want to begin the new year with a bang? Do

you want to get some new ideas on how to improve your

business? Need some ideas on how to cut costs and improve

productivity?

Peter E. Drucker said, "One has to assume, first, that

the individual human being at work knows better than anyone

else what makes him or her more productive... even in

routine work the only true expert is the person who does the job."

Many organizations around the world are using a

unique program called, Idea Campaigns. In just four weeks

these businesses are capturing hundreds of new ideas from

their own workforce. At the end of these month-long

campaigns, they have concrete ideas on how to improve productivity,

cut costs and improve motivation.

The Idea Campaign concept is a revolutionary way of

capturing new ideas and improving employee involvement.

They are an exciting, fun and streamlined version of the

traditional employee suggestion program. The major difference

between this and other employee involvement programs is plain

and simple. There is a direct bottom-line result. The

campaign is the best way of getting hundreds of helpful ideas from

the workforce quickly. For example, look at the following

organizations that have done just that.

Harley-Davidson saved $3 million in one 30-day program.

Holly Farms identified $1 million in savings during a

four-week program.

Eaton Corporation gained 944 ideas from a workforce

of 113 people reaching 100 percent participation.

Parker Hannifin Corporation submitted 499 ideas from

103 employees.

National Semiconductor saved $3.6 million using idea

campaigns.

The U.S. Park Service made more than 12,000 suggestions

with an approval rate of 75 percent.

At Eglin Air Force Base the campaign ran for two weeks.

They asked civilian and military personnel to submit ideas that

could reduce waste and inefficiency or increase productivity. Eglin

received a tremendous bonus when workers generated $400,000

worth of cost savings ideas and new ways to generate revenue.

The goal of the program is to get at least one idea from

everyone in the organization. For the first idea, each person receives a

coffee cup. They reward the second idea with a writing pen or a

rubber buck. In addition, at the end of each week there is a special

award ceremony to recognize everyone who has turned in their ideas

or suggestions. At the end of the celebration management

randomly draw names from a basket for one of several other prizes and gifts.

Bottom-Line Results

With most suggestion programs results are sporadic and slow

in coming. It seems like the good ideas screened out or put in a

desk drawer. On the other hand, idea campaigns take a different

twist. The goal is to get at least one idea from everyone in the

organization. All ideas have to be considered and all suggestors

receive instantaneous recognition. Because the program only lasts

three to four weeks, the program generates a tremendous amount of

focused energy and motivation. No one wants to be left out.

One variation of the idea campaign is called BAD idea

(Buck-a-Day). It comes with a special guarantee. If the program doesn't

generate enough ideas to pay for the cost of the program, the

vendor will pay the difference.

People discover the most powerful force was not the awards,

but the feeling that management was listening to their ideas.

Businesses today can't afford not to listen to their employee's ideas. It is

the workforce that knows where the problems are. It only makes

sense to ask them how to solve the problem.

Gregory P. Smith lives in Conyers, Ga. He helps

organizations solve problems and build more productive work

environments. For information phone 770-860-9464 or send e-mail

to [email protected]. You can find more information and

business tips at www.chartcourse.com.

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