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Some Problems are Too Important to Leave to the Experts

We recently announced that InnoCentive and The Economist were forming a partnership to solve some of the most critical problems facing mankind.  To kick off this partnership, InnoCentive founder Alph Bingham was invited to present at The Economist’s Ideas Economy series at the University of California, Berkeley.  The video of his speech has just been published and, as usual, Alph provides a compelling view of open innovation, set in the context of a few individual Solver stories.

Alph points out in his speech that “Some problems are too important to leave to the experts.” and presents some interesting information about where solutions actually come from.  Interesting to note is that, based on research from Harvard professor Karim Lakhani, on average, women are more successful at solving Challenges than men.  He also discusses the current trend toward Solvers creating teams to work together on problems.

Click on the presentation above to hear more from Alph.

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  • http://what-does-my-name-mean.org What does my name mean?

    wat is your myspace page

  • http://doeidoei.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/some-problems-are-too-important-to-leave-to-the-experts/ Some Problems are Too Important to Leave to the Experts « Doei Doei

    [...] points out in his speech that “Some problems are too important to leave to the experts.” (vejam a cena) and presents some interesting information about where solutions actually come from.  Interesting [...]

  • http://sites.google.com/site/biotronikanovaveda/ Konrad Ajster

    Spoštovani!
    Razumljivo je, da so nekatere težave preveč pomembne, da jih pustimo in zanemarimo!
    Vendar kaj si moremo izumitelji/inovatorji, če se noče nihče zanimati za naše rešitve na vseh pomembnih zadevah kot je :Ekologija, zdravstvo, energetika in tehnologija!
    Rešitve so, ni pa interesentov za odkup licence!?

    Zato je boljše in pametneje-”Lahko in brezbrižno življenje”- vse do smrti, ker od inovacij, ni lepega življenja, ni družine ni izletov in veselje, temveč le dan in nočno delo in ko je končano, nikogar to nezanima!??
    Zraven tega moram še vse pisati v Angleščina, ker to ne znam moram imeti še dodatne velike stroške, katerih moj osebni dohodek ne zmore!!!

    Zato je pametnije:”Pijmo ga dok ne pukne zora”!!- VRAG PO INOVACIJAH!!!!!

  • http://uwxprize.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/partnership-between-the-economist-and-innocentive/ Partnership Between The Economist and Innocentive « Wicked Problems

    [...] Alph Bingham talks about Innocentive [...]

  • http://www.primeiradiretriz.com Carlos Alexandre Medrado

    De: Carlos A. S. Medrado
    E-mail.: Primeiradiretriz@igospel.com.br

    To.: Avail Innocentive

    The Project Idea is inspirational, and invador and may be the precursor of a World System.

    Project Idea-Implementation of Digital Tape and / or think other Electronic System for Reading in the Digital Money (eg, as those who got behind the Bank Cards / Credit w / Data Read). This technology is implemented to CHEQUES Bank to recover the confidence which had in it.

    I ask you to consider carefully, and who can conceive what this might mean for Brazil, you know that the Cash Notes have a variety of IDs, which confirm that the note is true or false, among them a Little Tape Brown, which is in the midst of note, I think you know what I’m saying. and get a check.

    The idea of becoming leave this tape, a tape Electronics – Digital, which would store information about the Notes, such as Serial Number, Value, etc … (As for those who got behind Brown Color of Bank Cards / Credit), that actually would lead to a Computerized Reading these notes, especially for banks that are connected directly to the Central Bank.

    This system results in, a database of financial movements, monitored by the Central Bank, which would seem an almost automatic-ON-LINE, the entrance and exit drives financial Weight on Banks, which can cooperate to Fight Laundering especially money, This System for Reading Note-Tape Digital, track and record the same, automatically, always giving the origin and destination of each, Note, and his journey, in Commerce and Business in the country, the Central Bank of Brazil, for that would indicate the account-Bancaria Note that the scan is being deposited, and whence I came out, where to go, which creates a cycle in which ways does the Note, all this by raising the computerized system of movements Financial Statements of Banks in Brazil due to Digital Device installed in CASH NOTE.

    This would occur for this simple technology inserted in the Digital Money, this would create ribbon-Digital Electronic System Computerized National Financial Transactions, which could Fighting, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion among other crimes, imagine a bank robber stole certain amount Money, it would not be able to use at all. imagine that perhaps ajudadasse and Economy, the fate of public funds with more security. among many other advantages and benefits for Brazil and the Brazilian suffered.

    This project, summarized this idea only for its brief assessment, understanding and opinion.

    I await your return on the above, this context will be reencaminhinhado For the other countries of South America

    Graciously
    Carlos A. Silva
    Idea-creator of Project

  • John L Brown

    It is clear that experts are not finding an expedient method for ‘capping’ the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. I think Innocentive should contact the responsible party/s, perhaps set-up an agreement similar to their present practice, and effectively solicit solutions from the world at large. This would be a genuinely proactive approach to solving problems, and addressing certain kinds of emergencies. Such efforts might constitute a much needed approach worthy of adopting. The sooner the better. Thank you.

  • http://www.innocentive.com Connie French

    John – on Friday we posted a Challenge to do exactly what you propose – solicit solutions to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – https://gw.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/overview/9383447. We already have more than 300 open project rooms. Please pass this along to anyone you know who might have a solution.

    Many thanks -

  • k.v.gopalakrishnan

    Open source innovation by itself is one of fantastic innovation. Billions of people live in this planet but only negligible percentage of the population get the opportunity to transform their ideas in to something useful for the mankind. Only people working in Universities and Industrial houses are able to contribute-whereas innovation and creativity is inherent in every human brain. Great ideas do get generated in the minds of ordinary people. If only some one give them an opportunity to channelize it ,as you propose to do, it will change the world for the good- to eradicate poverty, improve health and living conditions of billions in the third world.

  • http://www.wiefling.com Kimberly Wiefling

    Don’t wait for experts! I totally agree! The experts enjoy telling everyone who it’s too hard, or even impossible, to do such-and-such. What nonsense! I’ve seen “the impossible” accomplished by “normal people” frequently enough that I no longer feel intimidated by “the experts”. Sure, they’re handy, but they’re not typically great team players. I’m personally working on solving the problems of the world by supporting Japanese companies (and others when they have the vision) transform themselves into “global problem solvers”. Global business leaders solve global problems profitably. Winston Churchill said “Sometimes doing our best is not enough. Sometimes we must do what is required.” Time for us all to “get busy” and do what is required to make this planet into the kind of world we all want to live in. I have identified 7 areas of human suffering that I am committed to relieving in my life, and I hope you all will join me in making a positive difference on this planet during our brief lifetime.
    - Kimberly Wiefling, Author of Scrappy Project Management

  • Tom Kruer

    Nice summary, Alph.
    I particularly liked the question regarding the “Lone Wolf” mentality inherent in many innovators. Perhaps it is time to overcome the many impediments and enable truly “Collaborative Innovation” between experts and Kimberley’s “normal people”. The end objective is to come up with a modality to deliver revolutionary, innovative, but vetted solutions to problems while providing equitable reward (financial and emotional) for all those involved… potentially, all of mankind. (I am right there with you, Kimberley.)
    Will contact some of you to further discuss this opportunity.
    - Tom Kruer InnoCentive Top Solver 2008