Software for Suggestion Schemes, Ideas Management, innovation, suggestion systems
Case Study
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester PoliceWhen the Greater Manchester Police Force (GMP) decided to develop their in-house suggestion program, they installed PrIsM Ideas Management software from ISDE. GMP has run an ideas management program since 1990 with the aim to improve internal communications and provide a dedicated channel for staff ideas. The program, branded Forceful Ideas, offers cash awards for successfully adopted ideas as well as encouragement awards for innovative ideas or ideas that involved a measure of effort and initiative by the author, but cannot be implemented. In addition, recognition is given for all submissions to encourage greater participation. The original software used for the GMP program was a German package, which provided a database of submitted ideas. As the program expanded, however, GMP realized that evolving process requirements had outgrown the capabilities of the current software package, which could not be adapted. Mr. Pat Garside, GMP Suggestions Manager, explains, “As Forceful Ideas developed and the number of contributors increased, we realized that we needed a system capable of managing ideas information, not just storing and retrieving each suggestion. In addition, we were spending an increasing amount of time on administration, so we began looking for a system that would allow us to streamline our activities.” PrIsM automates much of the time consuming administration work, such as correspondence, status tracking and report production, which was a problematic area for GMP. Mr Garside explains, “Part of our function is to produce quarterly management reports and statistics for the Deputy Chief Constable, the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) and the Suggestion Awards Panel. Using our original software package, the compilation of these reports took three to four days every quarter. Using PrIsM, the reports now take just two or three hours and saves us a considerable amount of time and effort.” The final decision to go with PrIsM was based on its ability to provide a fully automated ideas management facility while offering value for money. GMP was also impressed that the system would be developed on-site and tailored to exact requirements through a consultation process between ISDE and GMP. The most important aspect for GMP, however, was ISDE's obvious long term commitment to its business and the 'partnership ethos' in after sales care. ResultsSince GMP installed PrIsM, the whole Ideas Management process has become more efficient and administration time has been reduced. In addition, the quality of internal communications has improved, which in turn has improved the success of the program and it’s reputation, both within and outside the organisation. Submissions have increased from 200 annually in 1995 to around 1000 in 2000.
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