According to experts, many innovative companies find success through their employees' ideas, rather than by hiring outside consultants. Some firms are seeking to encourage new ideas by holding contests or votes. Though companies want to encourage ideas, research shows that employee ideas are implemented once every six years. Employers see encouraging more ideas to be both beneficial for the company, and the bottom line.
See "For Bright Ideas, Ask the Staff", Rachel Emma Silverman, The Wall Street Journal, October 16, 2011