This scorecard provides a domain-agnostic template for objectively assessing innovation ideas generated during cycles of convergent and divergent thinking. Use this tool to evaluate and prioritize potential innovations based on various criteria.
- Key Questions:
- How different is this idea from existing solutions in the market?
- Does it introduce a new approach or perspective to solving a problem?
- Is it a combination of existing ideas in a novel way?
- Scoring: 1 (Highly derivative) to 5 (Groundbreaking and unique)
- Notes: Consider both the global market and your specific industry/context.
- Key Questions:
- How imaginative or inventive is the idea?
- Does it challenge conventional thinking or paradigms?
- Does it leverage unexpected connections or insights?
- Scoring: 1 (Conventional thinking) to 5 (Highly creative and unconventional)
- Notes: Evaluate the creative process and thinking behind the idea, not just the outcome.
- Key Questions:
- Can this idea be implemented with current or near-future technology?
- What are the technical challenges or barriers to implementation?
- Are the required resources and expertise available or attainable?
- Scoring: 1 (Technically impossible) to 5 (Easily implementable with current technology)
- Notes: Consider both internal capabilities and potential external partnerships or resources.
- Key Questions:
- What is the potential return on investment (ROI) for this idea?
- How does the estimated cost of implementation compare to the potential value created?
- Is there a clear path to monetization or value capture?
- Scoring: 1 (Economically unfeasible) to 5 (High potential for strong ROI)
- Notes: Consider both short-term costs and long-term value potential.
- Key Questions:
- How well does the idea address a significant problem or unmet need?
- Is the problem being solved important and relevant to the target audience?
- Does the solution offer clear advantages over existing alternatives?
- Scoring: 1 (Poor fit, minimal relevance) to 5 (Perfect fit, highly relevant)
- Notes: Evaluate the depth of understanding of the problem and the appropriateness of the solution.
- Key Questions:
- What is the scale of the potential impact (e.g., number of people affected, market size)?
- How significant is the improvement or change offered by this innovation?
- Are there potential positive externalities or broader societal benefits?
- Scoring: 1 (Minimal impact) to 5 (Transformative, wide-reaching impact)
- Notes: Consider both direct and indirect impacts across various stakeholders.
- Key Questions:
- Can this idea be scaled up efficiently and effectively?
- Are there significant barriers to scaling (e.g., regulatory, resource constraints)?
- Does the idea become more or less effective at scale?
- Scoring: 1 (Inherently limited scale) to 5 (Highly scalable with increasing returns)
- Notes: Consider both technical and operational aspects of scalability.
- Key Questions:
- How large is the potential market for this innovation?
- Is the market growing, stable, or declining?
- Are there opportunities for market expansion or creation of new markets?
- Scoring: 1 (Very limited market) to 5 (Large and growing market with expansion potential)
- Notes: Evaluate both current market size and future growth potential.
- Key Questions:
- How does this innovation differentiate itself from existing solutions in the market?
- Does it create unique value that's difficult for competitors to replicate?
- How sustainable is the competitive advantage over time?
- Scoring: 1 (No clear advantage) to 5 (Strong, sustainable competitive advantage)
- Notes: Consider both short-term differentiation and long-term defensibility of the advantage.
- Key Questions:
- How well does this idea anticipate or adapt to future trends and changes?
- Is it resilient to potential disruptions or shifts in the market/technology landscape?
- Does it have the potential to evolve and remain relevant over time?
- Scoring: 1 (Likely to become quickly obsolete) to 5 (Highly adaptable and future-ready)
- Notes: Consider both short-term relevance and long-term adaptability.
- Key Questions:
- What resources (financial, human, technological) are required to implement this idea?
- Are these resources currently available or easily attainable?
- How does the resource investment compare to other potential innovations?
- Scoring: 1 (Extremely resource-intensive) to 5 (Minimal resource requirements)
- Notes: Consider both upfront and ongoing resource needs.
- Key Questions:
- How quickly can this innovation be developed and brought to market?
- Are there significant regulatory or approval processes to navigate?
- Can the implementation be phased or iterative?
- Scoring: 1 (Very long time to market) to 5 (Can be rapidly implemented)
- Notes: Balance the need for speed with the importance of proper development and testing.
For each subcategory, assign a score from 1 to 5 based on the criteria provided. Calculate the average score for each main category, then compute an overall score by averaging all category scores.
Use this overall score, along with qualitative insights from the assessment process, to compare and prioritize different innovation ideas. Remember that while the scorecard provides a structured framework for evaluation, it should be used in conjunction with expert judgment and strategic considerations.