Idea culture refers to a cultural style within organizations that is characterized by a high number of new ideas in all processes and task areas of the organization. It represents a special variant of a culture of innovation.
Idea cultures are particularly dominant in start-ups and young companies, as they are primarily concerned with the rapid and uncomplicated further development of a core entrepreneurial idea.
Within an idea culture, ideas are evaluated independently of the rank and task of the idea giver. This leads to a high individual performance of the employees and a reduction of status thinking and hierarchy structures.
The output of a culture of ideas is creative, fresh ideas and unusual approaches to solving even small problems in day-to-day business.
The term innovation culture is closely related to that of idea culture, as they share almost all characteristics. In contrast to the idea culture, the innovation culture refers exclusively to the pursuit of new business and product ideas in order to increase the market success of an organization. Seen in this light, a culture of innovation is a subset of a culture of ideas. Idea cultures strive to optimize costs, processes and workplaces in addition to innovations.
The effects of a living culture of ideas are:
1. high competitiveness
2. leaner and efficient processes
3. operating and production cost reduction
4. high employee satisfaction and motivation
5. decreasing sickness rates
6. improved communication internally and externally
7. reduction of internal resistance
8. increasing ability to work in a team
9. high problem solving competence
10. improved crisis resistance
