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Learning the Lessons from Open Innovation Failures

Jun-30-13 By IdeaConnection
The open innovation and crowdsourcing landscape is dotted with many fine success stories of companies that have worked well with smart and savvy crowds. The case histories offer plenty of inspiration for those thinking about embarking on OI initiatives.

But just as important to our OI education is discovering stories of those crowdsourcing projects that did not go according to plan – and learning from their mistakes.

Over on Search Engine Watch, Simon Heseltine has published an article entitled Crowdsourcing Gone Wrong: How Brands Can Avoid Messy Marketing Mistakes.

Crowdsourcing Memories with a British Icon

Jun-29-13 By IdeaConnection
The red public telephone box is something of a British icon. They were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and introduced in the 1920s. Although they are a less familiar sight on the UK’s streets these days there are some still knocking around.

A new initiative in Leeds is reintroducing the boxes although with some modern-day modifications, some of which are geared toward a public crowdsourcing project.  The color has changed too.

 

Open Innovation Leads to Swift Launch of Snack Chips

Jun-28-13 By IdeaConnection
General Mills continues to go great guns with open innovation, primarily through its General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network (G-WIN). It’s leaping over its four walls to embrace working with numerous external knowledge sources.

As open innovation moves from the margins to the mainstream, companies such as General Mills realize they do not have the monopoly on great ideas and world beating solutions.

A current open innovation success story from G-WIN is the extension of the Green Giant canned and frozen foods brand into potato chips.

Think Innovation is Dead? Think Again

Jun-27-13 By IdeaConnection
Seth Priebatsch, Chief Ninja and CEO of LevelUp has written a guest post on Forbes.com to counter those who say that innovation is dead.

Although he admits some of their arguments have merit he believes they are wrong.

New Open Innovation Portal for Creative Company

Jun-26-13 By IdeaConnection
Newspapers, magazines, and websites are full of crowdsourcing and open innovation success stories.  An ever increasing number of companies are taking note of these and looking into whether and how the paradigm can help them to succeed.

One such company is Elmer's, an Ohio-based firm that has been producing a variety of adhesives, arts and crafts, and educational products for more than 65 years.

It has just launched an open innovation web portal for fresh ideas and approaches to augment the skills and talents of its own R&D staff. The online space will be managed by technology broker yet2.com.

Open Innovation Search for the Next Big Thing in Health and Wellbeing

Jun-24-13 By IdeaConnection
Smart brains with bright ideas have an opportunity to tap into $100,000 in prize money from Philips. The company recently launched a US nationwide competition for the “next big thing” that will help people live happy, healthier lives.

Philips has partnered with crowdfunding site Indiegogo, which means that entrants can try and raise financial support for their ideas.

Open Innovation Extends its Reach

Jun-23-13 By IdeaConnection
Two recent stories about open innovation in the UK have caught our attention and further demonstrate how the paradigm is becoming commonplace.

First up is global healthcare provider Johnson and Johnson’s new office at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, the UK’s first bioscience campus to focus on open innovation.

Boost Your Open Innovation Endeavors with These Videos About Ideas

Jun-21-13 By IdeaConnection
Stuck on where your next idea is going to come from? Worried that the pool of inspiration is a little shallow these days?  Fear not as help is at hand with these three short videos on ideas and innovation.

First up is an exhilarating journey with popular thinker Steven Johnson on what sparks flashes of brilliance.  He believes breakthrough ideas hardly ever come from one 'eureka moment'.  His view is that they almost always take a long time to evolve.  Steven calls this his 'Slow Hunch' Theory.

Get to Grips with Open Innovation with a Free Book

Jun-19-13 By IdeaConnection
If you and your organisation are wondering whether OI and crowdsourcing are for you, or if you’re still trying to understand if and how they can be of benefit, help is close at hand.

10 Burning Questions: Your New Starting Guide to Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing Success is a free interactive eBook guide to best practices and smart ways to achieve business success through adopting OI practices.

Singapore’s Open Innovation Initiatives

Jun-17-13 By IdeaConnection
The government of Singapore has decided that it wants to ramp up innovation in the country.  Therefore, it’s going to share more data sets with both public and private sectors to increase efficiency, improve the way services are delivered, and drive social innovation.

The government has adopted a new "Open Data" mindset to get even more from the power of data.