Microsoft rolls out innovation pitch

Microsoft hopes to streamline the process of innovation

Microsoft has launched a new initiative designed to streamline the process of bringing new ideas and practices to life.

The Innovation Process Management scheme aims to help businesses bring potential innovations to fruition, and to bring multiple parties together on an idea.

The software will be built on top of Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server 2007 and will be offered as part of Microsoft's Enterprise Product Management (EPM) system.

The system is based on several components of the EPM platform, including unified communications software, enterprise content management, search and business intelligence.

Microsoft said that the software will allow businesses to better manage ideas and organise new proposals.

Potential innovations can be better managed, according to the software giant, and analysed in various areas as they are being put into place.

"Innovation is a team sport requiring close collaboration and the alignment of people, processes and infrastructure throughout an organisation," said Don Richardson, director of worldwide innovation management sales strategy at Microsoft.

"Ideation, knowledge capture, knowledge management, project management and portfolio management must all be synchronised through a formal process to ensure that projects yield success."