CollaborativEye

Collective intelligence, as previously discussed in this journal, is not a new concept, and it is certainly not a "2.0" concept. Even jaded skeptics will admit that most of us have experienced it: remember that sports team you belonged to that had a special feel to it, or a band you played in,  or perhaps you belonged to a group that always seemed to create energy just because you met together?  What are the characteristics of such groups or activities such that the outcome of the group is more than the sum of the individuals? Jean-Francois Noubel offers the following characteristics:

1) Emergence - a "spirit" or "personality" in a group. More formally, a new set of properties, order, or complexity that is present in the whole, that is not present in the individuals. Think about "The Wave" in a stadium -- looking at any individual the action is quite uninteresting, but look at the entire stadium of individuals and you see the motion of the wave emerge.  Can emergence be designed and managed? I believe so.  For example, the Amazon recommendation engine does a masterful job of creating value out of the marginally valuable actions of individuals.

2) Holoptical space - spaces in which individuals each perceive all of the other members in the group.  Further, holoptical spaces provide perception to the individual of the movements/actions of the group as a whole. In a sports team for example, an individual player can see the progress of the team as a team, not simply the individuals. Many of the Web 2.0 social networking tools aim to increase the reach and efficiency of holoptical spaces by providing real-time insight into all other members' activities and maps of whole-group activity.

3) Social contract - rules of engagement, either explicit or implicit, governing the actions of the group.

4) Polymorphic architecture - relationships and responsibilities dynamically adapt to varying situations and environments.

5) Circulating object-link - the item or concept that brings the group together. Could be a ball (in the case of a sport), a song (in the case of a band), or more abstractly it could be a mission or ideology for a group.

6) Learning organization - a group with a learning process, learning from failures and successes and modifying behaviors, processes, and structures appropriately.

7) Gift economy - as opposed to a competition-economy in which payment is received in exchange for a good or service. In a gift economy, individuals give to the community first, then afterwards realize benefits as a result of benefits experienced by the entire community.

Some collective intelligence characteristics may benefit from the application of Web 2.0 or other social networking and collaboration tools. Others may require process, structure, or cultural change. Strategic leaders who desire to foster a culture of collaboration should think about all of these elements as they apply to their organizations and create specific plans to improve the collective intelligence of their organization. This will safeguard from simply applying "buzz word technologies" in the hopes that change will miraculously result.