There are a couple of other interesting new activities that we’re using to inspire creative thinking. The Idea Market is a prediction market where NI employees can trade ideas like stocks. An employee can propose any idea relevant to NI business. Employees trade these ideas, buying and selling shares based on whether they believe the ideas will be successful. Over time, the share price becomes an indicator of interest in an idea and a possible predictor of its success. Senior management watches the market to see which ideas are generating interest and which we may want to implement. We may “buy” the idea and all the shares, in which case the employees whose ideas are “bought out,” as well as employees who “invested” in that idea, receive compensation.

Another activity we have created to foster innovation is the Edison Lunch. Thomas Edison, one of the great innovators in history, frequently gets mentioned within NI as a source of inspiration. Every other week, the group holds a 90-minute brown-bag lunch to discuss ideas that engineers have submitted. Engineers explain their ideas and answer questions from the audience. After every two lunches, a panel of senior engineering leaders chooses five presenters whose ideas have particular merit. These five receive a financial reward. More importantly, individuals then set goals to more fully develop the idea, leading to further research, a prototype, or even a full research grant.

These are just a few examples of how NI seeks to actively engage employees in innovative and creative thinking. Regardless of the specific activity, however, the core philosophy of NI is that innovation is essential to our longterm success.

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