James Surowiecki, Wisdom of Crowds
Actions : Here’s fifteen ways you can collect and profit from the wisdom of crowds.
Set up diverse groups and teams filled with a diversity of thinking and learning styles
Ask for feedback from those around you. Be cautious about relying on friends as they are more likely to think just like you.
Use Google to find out what the rest of the world are thinking on the same issue.
Use Survey Monkey to poll a group of people to find out what they think.
Get your product out to market as quickly as possible and let your customers decide for you.
Invite suggestions from your crowd. Make it easy for people to contribute. Be transparent.
Allow the crowd to vote on the best solutions. Use Poll Daddy or a web widget to do it on your website.
Like a football tipping competition, give your crowd the opportunity to wager on the best outcome.
Reward independent thinking. Thank them for their opinion and formally, as a monthly award.
Be on the lookout for ‘Group Think’ and ‘Herding’. Establish penalties to discourage them.
Break your teams into small units and give them the power to make their own decisions.
Check your innovation process for a diversity of idea creators AND sponsors.
For your next major decision avoid using a Top-Down CEO type of decision. Explore alternatives.
Build systems that encourage, promote and reward co-operation. Create a future focussed culture.
If you don’t have a crowd to source, then assemble one. Or tap into an existing group.
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