# A Taxonomy of Idea Management Tools for Supporting Front-End Innovation
## 3 Results
### Overview of the Tools
#### 3.1.1 Classification of Tools  
Three categories exist within idea management research: digital tools, guidelines, and frameworks.  
Figure 1: Article screening process of the scoping review.  
* Digital tools (21 papers, 70%). This category contains idea management tools that support idea management work including local work and online collaboration. For example, these tools may zoom in on idea generation and can display images and texts with different inputs that inspire and promote idea management, especially idea generation. Furthermore, these applications tend to focus on a single context. Most applications are designed for computer terminals, with only one being a mobile app [21]. These applications support the entire process of ideas, for instance, product planning [16], idea generation [2,7], and ideation [34,35]. Some applications provide vital structure and suggestions [23] to express explicit knowledge [34]. Other applications rely on the company's internal system [36]. One research paper evaluates the classroom climate by using the application to stimulate the generation of ideas and originality [37]. Some of the digital tools are more complete, supporting more general context with users [5]. It can test more users in natural settings following their diverse experiences [5,38,39]. The purpose of systems is to increase collaboration [40], transparency [38], and quality [41,42]. Three research studies involve more users via the Internet, such as forums based on information and communication technology, developing a distributed-innovation capability [36]. As such, this research focuses on fostering the habit of posting ideas on the system [38] and increasing the ideas' quality. The idea management system concentrates more on anonymous online collaboration, attracting users to contribute.
* Guidelines (five papers, 16.6%). Guidelines are instructions or printed materials to support overall idea management work. Users can follow the instruction of strategies and guidelines to work on idea management effectiveness. Idea management strategies are designed more toward professional practitioners such as design-driven entrepreneurs [10] and experienced engineering teams [43]. Guidelines explain how designers used product characteristics for concept identification and how previous concepts were turned into new solutions by adjusting their characteristics [9]. These strategies are summarized by experienced designers [43] or those proposing high-quality ideas [25]. Furthermore, cards are a way to display the context and explanation [43]. Researchers identify a conceptual framework by understanding the development of new ideas for familiar problems or daily design activities [22]. Guidelines are derived from users' design activities, including the activities of designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. It means research adopts more user research methods than other format outcomes.
* Framework (four papers, 13.3%). A framework helps explain the process, structures, and relationships of idea management processes. It usually includes the holistic and contextual views. The framework shows the metrics [15], life cycle [19], business model [44], and process [45] regarding idea management. These frameworks were developed following a more apparent scope and purpose than the other three outcome formats. For example, the metrics introduce the annotation of ideas with a domain-independent taxonomy that describes concepts, gathering creative ideas from large groups [15]. It presents a relationship between different stages and elements from a new perspective, leading to more innovative ideas.  
In conclusion, more studies focus on digital tools to support idea capturing, generation, refinement, and selection. Guidelines assist professional designers who have the expertise to conduct idea management. The framework shows a visual overview of the idea management process.