FROM EXPERIENCE - NEW IDEA ENHANCEMENT AT AMOCO-CHEMICAL - AN EARLY REPORT FROM A NEW SYSTEM

Amoco Chemical Company operates the New Ideas Process (NIPr) as its innovation support system for employee ideas generated outside formal business development channels. The system's goal is to operate a process that involves employees in the identification and initial development of ideas for new business opportunities for the company. Jeff Felberg and David DeMarco describe NIPr's basic philosophy, procedures, organization, and staffing. Additionally, they provide quantitative and qualitative results from the first four years of the system's operation for the areas of employee involvement, business concept development, production of funded ideas, and cultural enrichment of the company.