A new employee suggestion scheme at technology firm SAP will
soon enable staff to send their ideas directly to the managers responsible for
implementing them.
The online system allows employees to put forward ideas for
improving the business and ensures they are delivered electronically to a
manager that can make it happen.
The Idea Management software links individual employees,
senior managers and technical experts, who can judge whether the idea will
work.
Adrian Farley, HR director at SAP, said he was almost ready
to introduce the idea in the UK following successful pilot programmes in
Germany and India.
"In our business, innovation is absolutely key. This
will improve the internal communication structure and deliver ideas through the
business," he said.
Staff who submit ideas that are considered will
automatically receive a bonus from HR, and suggestions that are successfully
implemented will receive a larger reward.
The automatic system creates a faster turnover time, and is
completely open so that staff can see all the other submitted ideas and track
their progress.
"It is important for ideas go to the right person to
ensure they actually happen. Often, if you put ideas in the hands of a
committee, they don’t have the technical expertise to deal with them
quickly," Farley added.
