IdeaStorm can help take your idea and turn it into reality.

What information do we need to share to spawn new ideas? How should we share it?
Stop asking what information should you share, start asking what the heck you should do to get it in the first place. I'm a customer. I want a product that meets certain cryteria, ecology included. Say i have an idea - i have to go through layers and layers of dell's websites to finally make it here. Cut the marketing babble, stop making thousands or organizational structures, make it simple for people down below to reach those way above. Talk "what information" when you first accomplish "easy to pass information" in the first place.
 

Who is not engaged that we need to get engaged?
me for example. I want dell xps 15 L502x with full HD screen that does not overheat or have harddrive problems. Why? Cause it's an awesome mid price graphics station and sweet gaming rig for the price, and i hear many ppl complaining that they would use it for their graphical work, were it not for it's issues. See? market right there.
One customer at least (i did not buy it cause of it's longlivety issues).
Just ask normal ppl, insted of letting "geniuses" at your analitycal and marketing team know better then the customers what they need.

And if it's about saving energy and the planet, then you obviously need everyone's help. Every hand and idea matters. Science for energy efficiency. Designers (HEAR THAT DELL?) to make your hardware consume less energy and produce less heat, users to know and abide by energy saving procedures on their pcs, doctors to advice on right use of pcs, and effective ways to manage your time with pcs, software engeneers and beta testers to make good software that uses pcs potential without frying it to crisp (and using up tons of energy while at it). Everyone's got a say in this.
 

How do we get ideas tested, implemented, and spread more quickly?
Answer: you don't.
Instead just make ideas that are"
a) responding to real customer needs
b) simple to grasp
c) cool to think about
and they'll be easy to get going on their own

What innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions can business demonstrate today? How can ICT help?

First ask yourself WHY do we have those emissions. You'll find two answers:
1) running pc costs energy = stuff gets burned down to power it
2) that guy at PC is still there and not done with his work = more stuff gets burned down and turned into smoke.

Unlike most i'll tell you to pay attention to point nr 2. Think on helping the guy accually getting his job in front of pc done, without further delays. Example:

1) work mode - where he can choose which programs pc will block (such as games), some easy on they eyes, relaxing wallpaper, no annoying lights, occasionaly reminder to stand up, do some exercises. The fastest pc will do nothing when faced with tired, burned down user.

2) Job frame alarm - alarm that tells him to throw in the towel for the day and get some rest.

3) combo count - who doesn't love games and their achievement based systems, that rank how much and in what style you have done? Have work software (where possible) do that too. Have a system that will award smart and stylish work, encouraging the user to perform his tasks efficiently rather then pushing up his syzyfus stone for 10h non stop.

4) world news and curiosities. A man that loves his job is really on his way to do it great and now waste resources, in fact bringing a whole chain of good to the world. A little daily news (for whoever wants) about green paradises on the planet as well as unique cultures and diffrent jobs would help ppl care more about the planet as well maybe find their place in life and as happy workers work efficiently and give much more to the world for much less burn of both themselves and natural resources.


Get the idea? The best improvement to pc is improving it's user. Remember about him, and lend him a hand there when he asks. No one likes being forced, but make it real easy for him to get some backup from his working pc if he needs one.

What resources and tools exist but are underutilized or still need to be created?
logitech's solar powered keyboard is a start. And even better one would be assembly of balanced pcs. Yes, the honest approach, brrr...marketing team will surely hate it and give it a nasty name for that "h" word.

By balanced i mean pcs in which all parts are playing in the "same league" and thogher they work well allowing them all to near their max. Not like the horror stories we all know and hear about pc with powerful cpu that fries the weak motherboard, or with a hdd that self destructs in 5 seconds after initial read..

More balanced = less power wasted in vain, and less parts needed for fixes - cause good contruction will not fail that often.
 

What barriers keep employees and customers from contributing to innovation? How do we overcome them?
That's a simple one - GREED
Corporate rat race, design "flaws" so product will not "outlive" it's planned "life cycle", the brass avoiding direct contact with customers, lame custoemr support (here in poland there are some stories told about dell's support torward non business customers) etc etc etc...

Innovation is path of betterment, going the straight road - of quality and doing your bet for the others.How do you expect for that to flourish in a rat race when no one trusts no one and has secrets one from another?

It's like a cat asking how to be vegeterian. Simple - leave those mice alone.