Ideas Are Free

Preface
Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1 THE IDEA REVOLUTION
What s in an Idea?
How Ideas Drive a Culture of High Performance
The Need for Managerial Humility
Why Organizations Never Run Out of Improvement Opportunities
Overview of the Book s Main Points
Conclusion

CHAPTER 2 THE POWER OF SMALL IDEAS
Excellence Depends on Small Ideas
Small Ideas and Rapid Organizational Learning
Sustainable Competitive Advantage
How Small Ideas Lead to Big Ones
The True Currency of Managing Ideas
Key Points

CHAPTER 3 THE PITFALLS OF REWARDS
Some Inconvenient Evidence
Why Do People Step Forward with Ideas?
The Invisible Costs of Rewards
Reward Systems That Work
Key Points

CHAPTER 4 MAKING IDEAS EVERYONE S JOB
It s Not Your Job to Think
Making Ideas Part of Employees Work
Making Ideas Part of the Work of Supervisors
Making Ideas Part of theWork of Middle Managers
Making Ideas Part of the Work of Senior Leaders
Making Ideas Part of the Organization s Work
Key Points

CHAPTER 5 PUTTING THE PROCESS IN PLACE
Characteristic 1: Ideas Are Encouraged and Welcomed
Characteristic 2: Submitting Ideas Is Simple
Characteristic 3: Evaluation of Ideas Is Quick and Effective
Characteristic 4: Feedback Is Timely, Constructive, and Informative
Characteristic 5: Implementation Is Rapid and Smooth
Characteristic 6: Ideas Are Reviewed for Additional Potential
Characteristic 7: People Are Recognized, and Success Is Celebrated
Characteristic 8: Idea System Performance Is Measured, Reviewed, and Improved
Key Points

CHAPTER 6 FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST
Choosing What to Focus On
Making Focus a Way of Life
Key Points

CHAPTER 7 GETTING MORE AND BETTER IDEAS
How People Come Up with Ideas
Idea Activators
How to Broaden Employees Perspectives
Improving Alertness to Problems and Opportunities
Key Points

CHAPTER 8 LIBERATION AND TRANSFORMATION