Case 1. Learning through crowdsourcing
InnovationJam at IBM –[1] Large companies like Amazon, Boeing, IBM, P&G and Merck have been crowdsourcing ideas to foster innovation. Some ideas come through proprietary channels and networks such as licensing, outsourcing, and joint ventures, but a large part come through open and amorphous social networks. IBM first introduced InnovationJams in 2006 by inviting employees from more than 160 countries – along with clients, business partners, and even family members – to join in a massive, open brainstorming session. Over two 72-hour sessions IBM engaged over 100,000 participants in a series of moderated online discussions. Their combined insights surfaced breakthrough innovations for industry, health and the environment.
Cisco i-zone is another example of an ‘innovation jam’, where people openly share ideas that could be converted into ‘innovations’. In this example tens of thousands of people contributed to hundreds of ideas. http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/2007/12/cisco-enterprise-20.html
How does collective learning take place – These examples focus on crowdsouring ideas. Those involved in the innovation jam actively shared ideas then collaboratively developed new knowledge. The people involved in the InnovationJam learned through the knowledge sharing and knowledge creation processes.