Business and Organization Design, Leadership and Management

Azar & Associates/Canopy Management Group

Canopy Management Fundamentals

Filtering, Growing and Developing Business Ideas using

Purpose, Work Volume and Flow(Updated: May 2015)

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Filtering Raw Ideas

We all have ideas for business projects or ventures—usually more than

we could hope to implement.

How can you quickly determine which raw ideas have the potential to

be a viable venture that is “right” for you in this place at this time?

Raw Ideas

Developing a business plan will help you determine the potential

viability of an idea. However, this is a very time consuming

process that will become overwhelming if applied to each idea.

Raw IdeaBusiness Plans

Ideas Worth Developing

Detailed plans can be developed for those ideas that pass

through the three basic filters described in this presentation.

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It is much more efficient and effective to filter raw ideas

BEFORE developing business plans.

Filters

Raw Ideas

1st Filter: Purpose or So what? Personal and Business Goals:

So what do I really want to do and achieve?

Serve a cause, create a livelihood, keep busy, make heaps of money,…?

Will this service/product help me achieve those goals?

Or will it simply divert my attention from what I “really” want to do?

Raw IdeasWhile it’s fun to dream, think and discuss “great” ideas, it is important to never, ever implement a raw idea without

first passing it through a series of filters

3rd Filter: Work Activities and Volume Is this the kind of work I really want to spend my time doing?

What are the key activities and tasks required to deliver this idea?

Do I want to do or manage the required work? (See “Personal Goals”)

How big is the pile of work associated with each activity and task?

Can I do it all myself, or do I need help?

If help is needed, are people with the needed knowledge and skills available?

2nd Filter: Opportunity or Who cares?

Clients/Customers:

Who cares enough to use and pay for this service/product?

Is there a large enough pool of people willing and able to pay?

Co-opetition:

Who else is doing this? Is there room for one more? Can we cooperate?

Constraints:

What other constraints exist? Lack of trained people, permits, etc.?

Only a small percentage of your ideas will make it

through the filters.

These are the ideas that have

the greatest chance of

succeeding.

Three Principal Idea Filters

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Creating an Idea Garden

Ideas Worth Developing are:

planted in an idea garden where they will

be nurtured and developed

sorted by categories

developed as inputs of information become

available

Ideas That Don’t Develop:

will be weeded out

transplanted into someone else’s garden if

they are more likely to grow there

or

the Journey to Success Begins

Ideas That Develop:

Can be harvested for detailed plan preparation

Implemented when ready

and

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