Creating a concept: 5 steps to a finished concept

Content

Create a concept: why is it so important?
What makes a good concept?
Goal oriented
Receiver-oriented
Courageous and to the point
Realistically planned
Activity triggers
Steps for a successful concept
Define the goal
Gather information
Develop strategies and approaches
Stick to the basics
Get feedback
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We also need a concept for this - can you do that? If the boss gives you the job, you have little choice, but you may want to come up with an idea of your own or propose a project that you think looks promising. However, you must first ask yourself: can you even have a good one create a concept? Often the mistake is made of underestimating the work on a concept, hardly worrying about it and trying to just get started. This usually results in either no result at all because the creation of the concept has already failed, or the document does not look much and you could have saved yourself the work. But there is another way: What is important in a concept and the steps you can take to create a finished concept ...

Create a concept: why is it so important?

Concepts are mostly used in the Project work created or when new ideas and innovations want to be introduced and implemented in a team, department or company. The goal is to present as informatively and convincingly as possible what is to be achieved.

For example, if you have a suggestion for improving everyday processes, you can create a suitable concept that you can present to the boss. This mediates clear and compact all information worth knowing, a possible process, organizational information and ideas for implementation.

However, it is a common problem that concepts do not go down well and are rejected out of hand. This is by no means always a bad idea or faulty project planning to blame. Rather, it's because the concepts not convincing, incomplete or simply bad to be created.

Even if you may not have the most fun having to create a concept because you would rather get to the implementation directly, you should deal with it. Otherwise leave some Opportunities pass unused. Your otherwise good idea will fall on deaf ears because the concept is not convincing and it will be difficult to attract customers if your concepts provide more questions than answers.

What makes a good concept?

When you create a concept, it is often only evaluated according to whether it helps with implementation and whether it convinces everyone involved. However, this does not help you with the creation itself. Here you already have to know what is important and what needs to be considered so that your Concept really successful too can be.

The author and trainer Katja Ischebeck has in her guide book which factors play a role and which criteria you have to meet when creating a concept Successful concepts by the ZEBRA principle answered.

So good concepts are through five principles marked:

Goal oriented
If a concept is drawn up that does not clearly and unambiguously define the objectives, it will fail from the start. After reading your concept, the boss shouldn't ask: What exactly is it all about?
Receiver-oriented
A successful concept should always be based on who it is created for. Only in this way can it really be understandable for everyone, even if not everyone involved has the same level of knowledge on the subject. A crucial point for successful communication.
Courageous and to the point
If you want to create a good concept, you should make it short and sweet. Don't go endlessly and don't talk around the bush. Keep it short, focus on the most important statements and create a clear line.
Realistically planned
Concepts can also contain big goals, but it must also remain feasible. Utopian expectations and goals that can never be achieved - be it from a time or perhaps a financial point of view - make every concept fail.
Activity triggers
Last but not least, you should create concepts that not only contain ideas and goals, but also clear strategies and recommendations for action. This is based on the question: What must and should be done to achieve the goal?

Steps for a successful concept

The good news is that while creating a good concept isn't a sure-fire success, neither is rocket science if you take the time and make serious efforts. With the following tips and steps can convince you and ensure that you not only create a concept, but that it is actually implemented.

Define the goal
The first and at the same time particularly important step in creating a concept is to clearly define the goal. Don't rush into other things until you've clearly clarified and answered this fundamental question. The further concept is geared towards this goal and it defines what the team is working towards. The decisive question at the beginning of every concept is therefore: What exactly is to be achieved and implemented?
Gather information
With the goal in mind, in the next step you can take care of collecting all the relevant information. Who is involved in it? How much time is available? Is there a budget? Which expectations have to be met? What do you have to pay attention to? The more precise the information, the better you can use it to create the concept.
Develop strategies and approaches
Now you can devote yourself to the important core of a successful concept: the strategies for how the goal is to be achieved. Be sure to orient yourself towards the goal and summarize the various steps that have to be taken on the way there.
Stick to the basics
The concept should be complete, but at the same time absolutely clear and to the point. So don't digress and don't waste time on unnecessary information or absurd scenarios. It is better to concentrate only on the essentials, but to formulate them all the more clearly.
Get feedback
You create the concept, but many others are entrusted with the later implementation. Do not leave them out of the picture, but get their opinion and feedback. Perhaps a colleague is an expert in a certain area and can provide you with new insights. In addition, this communication helps in gaining greater approval for the concept.