Innovation Edition
You and I are trapped in a two dimensional corporation. The corporate version of Carl Sagan’s Flat Land. Where we only see a cross section of the truth. But if we were able elevate the corporation into the third dimension we’d have much better visibility and access to information.
And that’s where the innovation solution providers fly in. They provide that platform to innovate in three dimensions. They provide what’s typically missing in organizations. Depth and altitude. Depth to lay a deep foundation and altitude to build on the ideas of others to make them better.
The Updated Innovation Management Players
My previous Decision Makers post on the innovation vendors was well received. In fact I am still receiving calls and emails for updates to the guide. I thought the first version lacked some depth so I’ve expanded it slightly with the matrix below.
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Innovation |
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In 8 words or less |
Full service innovation platform meets Facebook & Mobile |
Behavioral science meets innovation social network |
Social community driven innovation |
Full Lifecycle innovation Management |
Key customers |
Mercedes Benz, P&G, General Electric, Coca Cola, Fidelity, Microsoft |
Cisco, Southwest Air, Pfizer, eBay, Paypal, Farmers |
Chordiant |
Adobe, American Express, Philips, Emerson, Honeywell Travelers |
Perfect for |
Companies looking for a turnkey solution, full service approach, cutting edge consumer engagement technology |
Companies interested in robust innovation solutions |
Looking to supplement their current Jive install |
End to end idea management |
Search Buzz Meter* |
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Supported Languages |
Spanish, French, German, Italian, UK English Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese in 1H 2010 |
English |
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English |
Unique Monthly Web Traffic** |
10k/month |
36k/month |
10k/month |
33k/month |
Cloud/SaaS enabled? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
The Videos |
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Community Approach |
Will build and operate a community for you |
Will help build/support community |
Deployment planning |
Deployment Planning |
Modules |
· Enterprise · Mobile · Directed ideation |
· Enterprise · Contest · Prediction · SharePoint · Mobile |
Ideation |
· Pipeline · SwitchBoard · Webstorm · Mobile |
Target Market |
Fortune 1000 |
Enterprise & SMB |
Enterprise |
Enterprise |
Private/Public options? |
Private |
Public/Private |
Public/Private |
Public/Private |
DIY or Full Service |
Full Service offering only |
Full Service/DIY |
DIY |
DIY |
Facebook Integration? |
Extensive |
Limited |
None |
Limited |
Reputation/Social Currency System |
Extensive |
Extensive |
Broad |
Some |
Content rating system |
Extensive |
Extensive |
Some |
Extensive |
Office Locations |
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Strengths |
Fast start-up, cutting edge technology, recruitment of community members, full service moderation and community management |
Easy to use, many tools on their website to demonstrate the power of their software. |
Can leverage the Jive SBS platform to increase value of innovation module |
Has 300+ customers and good enterprise traction. End to end ideation lifecycle technology feature set. |
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* from Google insights & trends. Jive meter for innovation module only. |
**Est. traffic from Google Adplanner. Jive Traffic for innovation module only. |
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Each of these companies provides a value beyond idea creation. They also provide a means to vet ideas in a public forum. They allow the ideas to be tested, scrutinized, improved or as importantly shut down.
The Ideation Detection Kit
In Carl Sagan’s The Demon Haunted World, Sagan suggested a set of tools for testing arguments. I contend that the same tests can be applied to ideation. In fact, the companies listed above make this process more efficient.
- Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts. Each of the companies listed deliver strong solutions that expose ideas across an organization for increased scrutiny.
- Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view. Each of the platforms allow a mechanism for comments and voting in order for all ideas to be vetted.
- Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no “authorities”). The authority arises within the crowd.
- Spin more than one hypothesis – don’t simply run with the first idea that caught your fancy. Amen.
- Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis just because it’s yours. By subjecting your idea to the crowd, feedback is instantaneous.
Note: Sagan’s tests in BOLD, mine in italics.
So Who has the Best Innovation Solution?
Unfortunately we can’t point to one best solution. It’s up to you to do a needs analysis for your company and choose the appropriate solution. For example, if your company has little or no experience then ThinkPassenger may be your best option. If you have Jive and need a solution to vote on ideas, then adding the innovation module from Jive may be your best option.
But I’ve given you a head start. I’ve studied the market for you. The companies listed in the matrix should be top on your list if you’re in the market for an innovation solution.
Did I miss anyone? What do you think about the four I’ve listed?
Innovation Management, that is a new buzz word? what is really different from the collaboration under the cover?
Nice comparison – but i think your list is a bit confusing.
Not only because you left us out (Qmarkets idea management), but because these 4 don’t really compare with each other – they are 4 representatives of 4 groups of innovation platforms.
Each one of the vendors in your list offers something different to customers, and as such – customer should first identify what they are looking for.
– One offers Customer/consumer communities, with a main focus of offering their own available community
– One offers a very comprehensive enterprise social software solution, but has no real focus on innovation or providing clear ROI from an innovation process
– One offers an end-to-end idea management solution – this is where companies like Qmarkets fits in as well
– The last offers a combination of the previous two, somewhere in the middle
So I would recommend to customers to first decide what they want to solve – and then look at the players in that category.
Thanks Noam, I believe that was my point as well.
Again, nice comparison Mark !
Would you consider to share it on socialcompare.com ?
It could be great (FYI: you can save a snapshot of your initial version and then leave it opened for community/collaborative updates…we keep history changes… like Wikipedia).
It is also possible to embed a custom design of your table.