Idea #600

Try to get her attention

We’ve dropped another 100 ideas into Good Ideas since #500 proposed a new global monetary system (proposed by Jeff Sachs).

#600 is considerably more prosaic: an interactive billboard on Times Square which plays with the crowd below. Pretty cool.

Ideas Sites: Interview with Rob Hoehn of IdeaScale

Organizations from Starbucks to the White House have used “ideas sites” to capture, tag, rank and broadcast ideas from constituents. To learn more about this sector, we caught up with Rob Hoehn, President of Customer Development at IdeaScale, an ideas management platform. Here are his comments:

1) What is IdeaScale? How do you describe the sector you are in?

We have been building online market research tools since 2003. Throughout this time, we’ve found that traditional online research methods were not effective in fostering a sense of community among customers. In addition, we found that our client’s customers are talking about their organization all over the social web (Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, etc.) Our goal is to help channel these discussions to both increase engagement and provide focused, effective feedback for your organization.

IdeaScale is used by all types of organizations ranging from government agencies to non-profits to companies of all sizes. Some of the worlds most recognizable brands such as Xerox, RedHat, Microsoft, the Veterans Administration, and even The White House have used IdeaScale as their crowdsourcing platform. Our parent company, Survey Analytics, has made Inc. magazine’s list of the fastest-growing private companies, ranking 172nd overall and 25th among business-service providers. Puget Sound Business Journal recognized Survey Analytics as one of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in Washington State.

2) What are the three or four main motivations a company or non-profit has for using an idea management platform?

1) Increase employee (or customer) engagement.
2) Sense of involvement/ownership.
3) Build a sense of community around a specific idea.

3) I see a number of federal agencies just launched feedback sites on your platform. It looks like information is rolled up here: . What is this initiative trying to achieve?

OpenGovTracker was built during the big snow storm in DC last winter by two developers with a lot of time on their hands . They were aware of our API, and were able to use it to build a very helpful dashboard. They key lesson is platform and APIs – there are just some things you’ll never dream up on your own. The only viable approach is to build a rich set of APIs and plugins to allow anyone to mashup the data to build cool and interesting applications. We’ll seeing the same type of response from our iPhone plugin – an application that we recently open sourced for our user community.

4) What common pitfalls are you seeing as clients turn to idea management platforms?

I see several issues:

Properly Assigned Moderators: Since the initial setup/configuration of these community tools can be slightly technical, there tends to be situations where this same person ends up moderating the community. In reality, this role is best suited for a marketing or PR person within any organization. We see many of the same people that are setting up and configuring the sites end up moderating hundreds of ideas a day.

Clear Terms of Services and Rules of Participation: Also, we see a lot of folks failing to define a set of moderation guidelines for their community members. A clear set of terms of service as well a defined moderation policies goes a long way in clarifying to your users what they can expect from you and vice versa.

Don’t Be Afraid: Many folks are deathly afraid of publicly talking to their customers. You’ll soon learn, however, that the people that take the time to leave you feedback about your organization can end up becoming some of your best customers.

5) Matthew Lees’ latest report on crowdsourcing and ideas sites talks a lot about management. How hard are ideas sites to manage?

Not hard at all! For example, our flagging functionality allows you to leverage your own crowd to help control inappropriate or foul language. So for example, if a user sees a comment that she thinks doesn’t belong on the site, she can click a link to flag the item. This will then remove the comment from your community and drop it into a queue for a moderator to review.

6) Any other words of advice for people learning about this sector?

Moderate early and often. The first few hours/minutes after your community goes live is most important. If a user sees a bunch of inappropriate ideas or comments, your site may not be taken very seriously. A very common practice is to “Seed” the community with a bunch of pre-writtem poems.

Cross-posted on Online Community Report.

Five Smart Policies for Improving Public Health

The laws passed by federal and state politicians have great impact on public health. Here are five smart policies government can employ to improve the state of health in the US.

1) Tax Soda

A penny per ounce tax on soda will cut obesity, decrease medical problems, and pay for better school lunches. Nice NY Times review http://nyti.ms/8YTX6y

2) Ratify the International Tobacco Treaty

168 countries have signed and ratified the international Tobacco Treaty. The US has signed the treaty but not ratified it. The Treaty puts a number of sensible limits on tobacco sales and marketing. Time to send the treaty to the Senate! A Change.org “top ten” idea 2010. http://bit.ly/ahuMTz

3) Return Speed Limit to 55 MPH

The lifting of the 55 mph speed limit in 1995 has resulted in over 12,000 additional deaths – more than Iraq, Afghanistan and 9/11 combined. Higher speeds also burn way more fuel. Freakonomics blog: http://nyti.ms/9NRmEq

4) Regulate Fast Food Restaurants Through Zoning Laws

In an effort to improve public health, L.A. now regulates fast food restaurants within certain zones. NY Times “best of 2008″ idea. http://bit.ly/7EZK4o

5) Regulate Thirdhand Smoke

We all know about the dangers of secondhand smoke, but what about all of the smoke residue and toxins that settle on our clothing, furniture and walls (“thirdhand smoke”)? http://www.nytimes.com/projects/magazine/ideas/2009/#t

To comment or vote on these (or other) ideas – or add your own! – visit Good Ideas.

Five Good Ideas For Detecting Epidemics

One way to detect epidemics

As with a forest fire, if you can detect an epidemic early, it is much easier to control. Here are five good ideas for detecting epidemics (and diseases) before they spin out of control.

1) Use Google to Detect and Prevent Epidemics Early

The Predict and Prevent Initiative at Google uses search analysis to detect epidemics at early stages. A Wired Magazine “smart idea” 2008. http://bit.ly/6nTYUu

2) Use Social Media for Online Disease Surveillance

Researchers have shown that combining an awareness of social networks with search data, better early detection systems for disease outbreaks can be designed. Economist.com http://bit.ly/dzowbl

3) Detect Drug Epidemics Via Community Urinalysis

Researchers can sample water at sewage treatment plants to detect drug epidemics and monitor progress in treatment – all anonymously. A NY Times “best idea 2007″ winner. http://bit.ly/4YgWr0

4) Food Wrapping Detects Pathogens

New Canadian meat wrapping materials turn color in presence of certain pathogens. A NYTimes “best idea 2007″ winner. http://bit.ly/4TLzlM

5) Cough Into Your iPhone for Instant Diagnosis

Cough into your iPhone – new app will diagnose your ailment. http://ow.ly/B11E

To comment or vote on these (or other) ideas – or add your own! – visit Good Ideas.

Five Good Ideas For Providing Clean Water in Developing Countries

A billion people drink highly polluted water. Here are five good ideas for providing cleaner water to more people in developing countries.

1) Solar Water Disinfection

Treating water by putting it in 2 liter cola bottles and setting it in the sun on a black surface for 5 hours kills 99% of pathogens. One of the world’s truly great ideas (and currently highest ranked idea overall on Good Ideas). See http://www.sodis.ch/

2) Water “Tarpaulin” Combines Transport, Purification

The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin (SWDT) combines easy transport of water with solar purification. A Metropolis Magazine winning idea 2008. http://bit.ly/4tpQvv

3) Filter Water With Rice Husks

Tata Consultancy Services in India has invented a cheap, effective water filter employing rice husks. Economist Magazine. http://bit.ly/9pcaVx

4) Burn Cow Manure to Purify Water

Dean Kamen’s latest quest: a box which burns cow manure to purify water. Forbes http://bit.ly/cPgxO0

5) Water Testing with Reporting via SMS

A South Africa water quality testing system, “Aquatest”, decentralizes water testing by distributing tools for testing and gathering data by SMS. http://bit.ly/bhgWi1

To comment or vote on these (or other) ideas – or add your own! – visit Good Ideas.

The Genesis of a “Good Idea”

Archimedes has his "eureka!" moment

Popular culture portrays the good idea as a “eureka moment”: a brilliant insight that is excitedly shared with others who immediately see its value.

In the real world good ideas don’t actually work that way. I’ve spent much of the last year looking at ideas sites, contest sites, answers sites, “best of” compilations, and reading about innovation. Truly good ideas – those that pass the test of time and serve a useful purpose – are never widely recognized as a good idea at first. There are three reasons for this:

* First, most new ideas in fact aren’t good ideas. It is therefore easy to assume that no new idea is a good idea.

* Second, most people by nature don’t really seem to like new ideas. They like things they already understand. The typical reaction to something new is to be critical, no matter the idea.

* Third, and most important, a good idea addresses a difficult problem in a new way. If the idea were both obvious and effective, the problem probably wouldn’t exist in the first place.

Good ideas at first are always outcasts. They may be clung to only by a stubborn zealot with few supporters. With persistence the idea slowly wins converts. Eventually enough people agree with the idea that it become accepted (although never universally).

The Good Ideas site is a repository for ideas that have passed the test of time. It also, however, can serve as an idea incubator which, through crowdsourcing, can speed the process from new idea to good idea.

Social Media and Government: Five Good Ideas for Effectiveness

We are in an era of “Government 2.0″ enthusiasm. The Obama Administration, as well as state and local governments, are working hard to move information and services online. But as agencies and departments implement new web and social media programs, they run into a number of structural and legislative obstacles.

To sort through these challenges, we asked for the views of Fred Smith, a Senior Technologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who oversees many new media efforts. The CDC is always included on the short list of US government agencies using social media in innovative ways.

Here are five of Fred’s good ideas for effective social media programs in government:

1) Take Risks

New media are new. We all are experimenting to some extent. This means accepting some risk in social media efforts, and also tolerating some degree of failure. Senior management and staff need to understand the risk profile of social media efforts. (As a related note, Amazon reportedly includes “risk-taking” in their performance reviews.)

2) Realistic Evaluations

It is important to evaluate social media efforts, and particularly to understand which channels are best for reaching which audiences with which messages. Performance reporting will improve efforts. That said, it is necessary to be realistic about how precise communications evaluations can be (e.g. nobody ever asks “how effective was that brochure?” — they ask “how effective was our campaign?”).

3) In Government, Identify and Update Social Media-Challenging Policies

Many government policies were written before social media (or even the internet). They now can create obstacles. For example, as part of the ”Paperwork Reduction Act”, the OMB is required to approve any program that asks questions of the public. Should that include, for example, voting up an idea on a social media site?  This law, as well as laws and policies dealing with terms of service, tracking technologies, privacy issues, and others topics are being updated.

4) Promote Open Source

Government should use and contribute to open source initiatives. Unfortunately there are many terms of service, liability and other issues which hinder government participation. These obstacles are (slowly) being addressed. When government agencies can’t turn to open source, they should at least investigate offering their data and content
through open APIs.

5) Coordinate Security and Social Media Efforts

IT security staff and social media staff have very different – and typically conflicting – approaches to the web. It is important that they work together. At the CDC the security and social media teams meet monthly to work out any issues, and (importantly) to describe what is on the horizon in order to identify potential challenges.

Please feel free to vote or comment on these or other ideas – or add your own – on Good Ideas.

Five Good Ideas for Improving Our Democracy

American democracy has evolved over 230 years. It has room for improvement. Here are five ideas for improving American democracy from Good Ideas:

1) Bypass Electoral College

A new proposal seeks to bypass the Electoral College and elect the President via popular vote. Without amending the constitution, it calls on states to commit all electoral votes to the candidate winning the popular vote. Information at http://www.fairvote.org/ .

2) Change Senate Filibuster Rules

Requiring 60 votes to do anything is a recipe for partisanship and paralysis.http://bit.ly/8rARoJ

3) Establish Redistricting Commissions

A politically neutral redistrcting commission, such as California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, will make Congressional races more balanced and Congress more centrist. Thomas Friedman NY Times http://nyti.ms/aLX6de

4) In Elections, Adopt “Alternative Voting”

“Alternative Voting”, such as employed in Australia, allows voters to designate their first and second choices. If the first choice loses, your second choice gets the vote. This favors third party candidates and competition. Thomas Friedman NY Times http://nyti.ms/aLX6de

5) Give Your Vote to Third World

A new website called Give Your Vote allows British citizens to seek input for their votes on issues which impact developing countries. http://bit.ly/b5LnW0

What do you think? Vote or comment on these ideas – or add your own – on Good Ideas.

Five Controversial Good Ideas – That Are Probably Right

Some good ideas seem so counter to conventional wisdom that they make you cringe. But these can be some of the smartest ideas out there. Here are five that fit the bill on Good Ideas:

1) Forget about Global Climate Agreements – Just Deal With China

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu argues that we should expend less efforts on international treaties and more effort on bilateral discussions with China. The US and China combined create 40% of the world’s pollution. An innovative, aggressive, bilateral treaty will represent great progress, and encourage other nations to join. Wired Magazine profile http://bit.ly/bttpI8

2) To Combat Global Warming, Forget About CO2, Worry About Methane

Methane only has 75% of the impact of CO2 on global warming, but has short lifespan and is easier to contain. WSJ: http://ow.ly/QJuy

3) Revoke Corporate Personhood

By an historical accident, corporations enjoy the privileges of natural persons, but don’t have the same responsibilities. The recent SCOTUS decision eliminating constraints in corporate campaign donations is one of the many ways this plays out in our lives.

If we pass an Amendment to the Constitution specifically resetting corporations as artificial entities with greater responsibilities, it will have a cascade of beneficial effects through other reals where people have failed to change the status quo.

4) Abolish Budgeting

UBS decided to stop judging employees against pre-determined budgets, and start judging them against previous results and their peers, making all figures public. Growth accelerated. Wired Magazine http://bit.ly/c1YS1J

And finally, the most controversial of the bunch (check out comments here):

5) Remove Tax Deductions for Donations to the Church

Donations to the chambers of commerce, political parties, civic leagues and associations, home owners associations and union associations are NOT tax deductible. In contrast, donations to the church are tax deductible.

Arguably for all of the above, people receive a personal benefit. Arguably for all of the above, there is a social benefit. Some would argue that donating to one’s own church is less deserving in the form of a government subsidized tax deduction than other types of nonprofits.

Removing the tax deduction for churches would increase government revenue substantially – revenue that could be used for other kinds of social services and programs.

You can vote and comment on these ideas, as well as add your own, on Good Ideas.

Five Innovative Ideas for Managers

Managers do a lot of learning on the job. Why not supplement that process with good ideas from other managers? Here are five management ideas from Good Ideas which seem sensible and applicable:

1) Balancing Innovation and Execution

How does an organization balance the need to innovate with the need to execute on current projects? Eric Schmidt at Google imposes the 70 / 20 / 10 rule for percentage of company resources spent on core business / new businesses / speculative efforts. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/70/20/10_Model

2) Have Your Employees Choose on Your Customers’ Idea of the Week

Become a more customer-centric organization and generate visibility for your customers’ ideas by having your employees crowdsource your customer-crowdsourced ideas. Make sure to let your customers know which ideas your staff liked best. (And definitely let the person know whose idea it was.)

3) Abolish Budgeting

Believe it or not, UBS decided to stop judging employees against pre-determined budgets, and start judging them against previous results and their peers, making all figures public. Growth accelerated. Wired Magazine http://bit.ly/c1YS1J

4) Use “Walking Meetings” for Creativity & Perspective

Walk around the block with colleagues, rather than sitting in the office, for planning or problem solving discussions.

5) Don’t be Obsessed with Profits

Some internet companies “do what’s cool” as the main component of their business plan. NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/business/yourmoney/02frenzy.html

Feel free to vote or comment on these ideas, as well as adding your own, on Good Ideas!