Our colleague, Walter Derzko gives some interesting insights into why good ideas don’t get results – see his blog at – http://smarteconomy.typepad.com/smart_economy/2007/02/why_good_ideas_.html
With respect to innovation, one study suggests that you need 3,000 ideas to get one commercial launch – see this article: Stevens, G.A., J. Burley. 1997. 3000 raw ideas – 11 commercial success! Research Technology Management 40(3) 16-27.
In a recent study my colleague Thomas Keil and I have just finished, we found that very different management processes are needed to make sure that outcomes other than launch result in good ideas getting circulated in a company.