Suggestion Systems

Suggestion boxes don’t work, do they?

A suggestion system is much more than a suggestion box.  It is a very powerful employee involvement tool because it builds in specific processes for employees to submit suggestions, process suggestions, and account for suggestions received.  Participation is a part of the system because employees representing every level of the organization serve on the team or teams that process suggestions. 

Why would I want a suggestion system?

• You are frustrated with stagnant profitability and financial success – Many organizations receive and implement 50 or more suggestions each month.  Suggestions systems enable a whole spectrum of improvements, from very small to thousands or millions of dollars saved or gained. 
• Your company is performing well but you know you could move to a new level of market share, quality and customer satisfaction, or other measures, if you only knew how.  Employees will tell you how if you provide the opportunity
• You experience waste of the creativity and potential of the people of your organization.  You have brilliant people who perform mediocre.
• You haven’t been able to improve job satisfaction.  Study after study shows that employees want to have influence in their area of expertise, but are seldom given a real opportunity to do so.
• Recruiting and retention of quality employees is a constant battle.  Suggestion systems are one more step toward being an “employer of choice.”

What kind of companies benefit most from suggestion systems?

The short answer is “Any company that wants to engage employees and tap the potential.”  There is no particular industry that suggestion systems work better in than others.  Any company that has a participative management philosophy, or wants to develop it, can benefit greatly from a system.  It can be particularly useful in companies that offer Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP’s), profit-sharing, or other incentive systems that have not done an adequate job of linking performance to bonuses.

What does a suggestion system look like?

Systems implemented by The Possibilities Co. are tailored to each individual organization.  However, the core of any system includes the following four components:

1. Custom Suggestion Form.
2. Documented plan for submitting and processing suggestions.
3. A screening team to process suggestions and be accountable for suggestions received.
4. A suggestion system coordinator.

In addition, the core system can be enhanced by:

• Electronic processing and reporting data bases
• Bonus systems
• Identity education
• Linkage to performance education
• Process improvement tools
• Work teams 
• Suggestion costing tools

How is a system implemented?

Each system is customized to the individual organization.  Because of this, a representative team is formed to participate in the design.  A designated person to serve as coordinator of the system ongoing is included in every phase of the implementation.  The Possibilities Co. facilitates a series of 3-5 meetings of 1-4 hours each to design and implement the system.  Templates of policies and forms are provided to expedite the process.  At least one of the meetings is education for all employees on how to participate in the system.  Implementation of a core system can be completed in 30-60 days.

Enhanced system components are also implemented using a design team, with the appointed coordinator actively involved in every step.  Templates are also provided in the design of components, as well as education ranging from direct training to train-the-trainer.  Implementation times vary depending on features selected.

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The Possibilities Company    St. Paul, Minnesota    info@theposs.com