Comments on: The InnoCentive Insider: Making the Connection http://blog.innocentive.com/2008/12/18/the-innocentive-insider-making-the-connection/ Highlighting Global Open Innovation Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:56:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: michael albarelli http://blog.innocentive.com/2008/12/18/the-innocentive-insider-making-the-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-4245 michael albarelli Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:32:56 +0000 http://blog.innocentive.com/?p=156#comment-4245 Hello Sjors, We have not looked statistically at the correlation between questions asked and solutions, but we have discussed it many times and I can tell you my general observations from expirience. The most successful Solvers usually ask a few direct questions early on to make sure they understand the problem correctly. They may also mention an idea of two briefly to see if I think they are reasonable in my and the Seeker's opinions. They are not looking for yes or no if it will be a winning solution, but just making sure there is not some "red flag" item that they are missing where they might be wasting their time from the start. After that, they usually go about solving the problem, and yes, they solve them mostly in a single attempt. There maybe a followup question in the middle. The solutions are not always perfect, but the winning ones usually convince the Seeker that there is a chance of success and they feel they can advance it further. Also, many times the Seeker contacts the winning Solver and continues the relationship. I also find that Solvers that ask many questions (roughly > 10) usually do not solve the problem. I would guess that they do not really understand the problem enough to make a reasonable attempt at a solution. I would say if after a few questions back and forth, you still do not understand, it is probably not the question for you. Again, I have to mention that there are always exceptions to these general observations. Some people just normally ask lots of questions and are very detailed so it does not mean they do not understand the problem. Only the Solver knows that for sure. I would also mention that many Solvers that win, never ask a single question at all. They just submit the winning solution! I do not have numbers on how often that happens, but I have observed it enough to know it is a significant number. In general, questions to us at InnoCentive are a good sign of activity and shows that Solvers are interested and working on the problem. It is not always a sign of an individual winning solution. If we get almost no questions, it is usually a bad sign of the question being way to difficult or not written properly. If there are no questions, then there are usually not many submissions. Michael Hello Sjors,

We have not looked statistically at the correlation between questions asked and solutions, but we have discussed it many times and I can tell you my general observations from expirience. The most successful Solvers usually ask a few direct questions early on to make sure they understand the problem correctly. They may also mention an idea of two briefly to see if I think they are reasonable in my and the Seeker’s opinions. They are not looking for yes or no if it will be a winning solution, but just making sure there is not some “red flag” item that they are missing where they might be wasting their time from the start. After that, they usually go about solving the problem, and yes, they solve them mostly in a single attempt. There maybe a followup question in the middle. The solutions are not always perfect, but the winning ones usually convince the Seeker that there is a chance of success and they feel they can advance it further. Also, many times the Seeker contacts the winning Solver and continues the relationship.

I also find that Solvers that ask many questions (roughly > 10) usually do not solve the problem. I would guess that they do not really understand the problem enough to make a reasonable attempt at a solution. I would say if after a few questions back and forth, you still do not understand, it is probably not the question for you. Again, I have to mention that there are always exceptions to these general observations. Some people just normally ask lots of questions and are very detailed so it does not mean they do not understand the problem. Only the Solver knows that for sure. I would also mention that many Solvers that win, never ask a single question at all. They just submit the winning solution! I do not have numbers on how often that happens, but I have observed it enough to know it is a significant number.

In general, questions to us at InnoCentive are a good sign of activity and shows that Solvers are interested and working on the problem. It is not always a sign of an individual winning solution. If we get almost no questions, it is usually a bad sign of the question being way to difficult or not written properly. If there are no questions, then there are usually not many submissions.

Michael

]]> By: Sjors Provoost http://blog.innocentive.com/2008/12/18/the-innocentive-insider-making-the-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-4223 Sjors Provoost Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:44:51 +0000 http://blog.innocentive.com/?p=156#comment-4223 Have you also looked at the correlation between the number of questions asked by the solver? I'm very new to InnoCentive, but I personally cannot imagine solving a problem (quickly) without dialog. Especially when I am unfamiliar with the subject. Does this show in the data, or do successful solvers manage to solve the issues in a single attempt? Have you also looked at the correlation between the number of questions asked by the solver?

I’m very new to InnoCentive, but I personally cannot imagine solving a problem (quickly) without dialog. Especially when I am unfamiliar with the subject. Does this show in the data, or do successful solvers manage to solve the issues in a single attempt?

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