Could You Open Up Innovation To Everyone?

Imagine a company reaching out to the local community for innovation help? Pretend this is the want ad:
HELP! Company wants you to help them innovate! Looking for researchers, progammers and more to help us build a new and powerful application...
Please call Mr. Thompson at 555.555.5555
Is this possible? Now what about reaching out to customers? Let's pretend this is the want ad:
If you're a passionate customer, please call us. We want your help designing our next latest and greatest widget. Yes, there's equity to share...
Please call Mr. Thompson at 555.555.5555
What would a company have to do to support this venture; this idea of connecting customers or innovators in the region? Well, that's the job of collaborative software. Moreover, the internet.

What's struck me recently is what I call the network affect: a group of people contributing to ideas/challenges via a network. The network is a collaborative program/process. Not a forum, chat or data capture system, but a collaborative space where people are open to changing ideas and promoting new concepts. It's like a networking party, where people can start/stop the conversation and propose new ideas and topics. A data capture tool or chat room is either cluttered or one-way. By opening up innovation and networks, companies will realize way more than they are now: increased innovation, faster problem solving and more profits!

Comments