A Framework for Identifying and Validating Idea Screening Criteria—A Case of Research and Development Projects in the Computing and Automation Industry

This article developed an integrated framework for idea screening in the front end of innovation. A hierarchical decision model was used to develop the integrated framework. The proposed framework is deployed via a questionnaire of 15 experts from 7 well-known high technology organizations across multiple countries, using Delphi method to identify and validate criteria in front end new product idea screening process. The findings from integrating three perspectives (intuition, rationality, and reflections) show that idea screening can be improved in the context of creativity, quality, transparency, and effectiveness in decision making. This integration helped to reveal additional screening criteria to existing studies. The conversion of implicit to explicit knowledge that can be documented is beneficial to continuous improvement in decision making. Combining the three perspectives within the deployed framework contributes to a more in-depth understanding of idea screening that is complementary and represents a robust approach in comparison to existing studies that use either one or two perspectives, particularly since the findings complement the limitations of a human mind; given that much of idea screening occurs in the minds of experts. Future work involves applying the proposed framework in practice, for selecting the best idea to fund in a specific organization.