Shades of our recent conversation with Alan Robinson and Dean Schroeder, authors of Ideas Are Free, a white paper released by Imaginatik last summer goes far to address the ROI of idea management.

In the 17-page PDF, Mark Turrell, the research firm's director, outlines the costs of idea management, as well as its benefits. Among the costs:

• Advisory services
• Manpower
• Process
• Training
• Technology
• Reward and recognition

The white paper also covers the main types of return on investing in ideas:

• Return from specific ideas
• Return from improved innovation processes
• Return regarding corporate objectives

Rather general, no? Thankfully, Imaginatik breaks ROI down even further:

• New Markets for Existing Products
• New Products and Concepts
• Revenue Acceleration
• Cost Reduction and Productivity Improvement
• Process Replacement
• Avoiding Waste by Selecting Quality Concepts
• Employee Involvement
• Strategic Goals and Specific Targets

Is the report missing anything? What other specific ROI would you add to the mix?