The Message
Motivation is what drives people to do their best, instead of doing the bare minimum.
Lessons Learned
The main goal is to obtain control and power over the way we think. Described in the video are certain attitudes assumed by members of organizations. They are what is "good enough" and what is "inspired". "Good enough" attitudes create stagnate work environments and negative outcomes toward innovation. Maybe organizations can get by through this train of thinking, but they will never grow beyond it. "Inspired" attitudes create an elevated work environment and positive outcomes toward progressive thinking. When an organization is collectively joined in this thinking, they will have advantages over other firms. The margin of difference between both attitudes, most of time is narrow, but can make a large difference in an organizations progress. There are 5 specific areas in which an organization can obtain the margin of difference. They are through social networks, social capital, conversations, engagement process and individual thinking.
Social networks are the platforms for sharing knowledge between people. Anyone who has a stake in the firm is connected to this platform. When there are problems, most people within a firm go to the social network to find information on solving it. If social networks are "inspired", then operations run smoother because information flows easily and is accessible.
Social capital refers to the pool of great rapport between individuals within a company. If the aspects of trust and respect are amongst co-workers, than the relationship between employees are enhanced. Conversations are also important to achieving "inspired" status of an organizations' performance. This ties into building social capital amongst each other. If there is harmony between employees, than the conversations that are built upon their experiences in working together, create synergy within the organization.
The engagement process has to do with the scenarios of learning, working together, and accomplishing goals. Engagement is the way interact with each other. It can either produce a positive outcome or a negative outcome. If the goal is understood, than the engagement process can bring out the best in each employee.
Individual thinking is building block of all the other areas of obtaining the margin of difference. It is up to the individual to make a decision as to how they will cope with the forces of collaboration in a positive way or a negative way. Empowerment of the individual's thinking is what creates this understanding of striving for the best instead of what is accepted. Positive energy is contagious. Making a decision every day to remain positive is a great step in changing your attitude and affecting other people in the right way.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Video on Collaboration and Collective Intelligence
The panel was made up of diverse individuals with professions that focus on collective intelligence. This included; Mimi Ito, a cultural anthroplogist who studies media usage of young people in America and Japan, Cory Ondrejka, who is affiliated with Linden Lab, known for it's creation of an online 3D virtual reality collaboration tool called "2nd Life," and Trevor Scholz, an assistant professor and researcher at University of New York at Buffalo and creator of the Institute of Distributed Creativity.
After watching the video hosted by MIT, I have a more well-rounded perspective toward the collective intelligence topics that were discussed. Collective intelligence is described in the video as being a group of people forming together to make decisions. This collaboration between our kind is assumed to have been existent in some form or another as long as humans have inhabited the earth. However the video focuses mainly on the role that information technology has played in allowing collective intelligence to be fully harnessed and possibly abused. To harness collective intelligence, it requires successfully connecting the right people with computers.
One key point made is how corporations are able to monopolize through social networking websites. Social networking websites operate on a platform in which the user creates the content. Once a user creates their profile, they give up personal information that is aggregated to a population for the benefit of staying connected to their friends and families. Due to a site's volume of traffic, companies that run these websites gain ad revenue. The more eyes that are tuned in, the higher an ad price could be. An argument that is proposed is that the companies that run social networking sites should operate as a non-profit. If this cannot be done other things are suggested, such as; allowing users to exit easy, to increase the transparency of the terms and conditions and also give the public control over the content that they have created.
Another key point made is that of today's youth in collective imagination through social media. Because of social media, a small niche idea can become infectious. One example used is that of Japan's craze of the portable technology for kids, called Pokemon. With this highly interactive toy, in order to play, kids have to interact with each other. One comment that relates to collective intelligence is that the kids feel they can accomplish more as a group than as an individual. This game allows kids to do that. An argument made is that of it being a moral hazard for society due to the indifference in traditional ideologies. The retort is that esoteric knowledge is common that we all want to be involved in something or feel accepted.
The last key point discussed is that of the differences between professionals and amateurs and how information technology has allowed amateurs to gain professional insights. Because of the internet users have and now are able to compare their knowledge with professional knowledge. Now, the only difference between amateurs and professionals is their lingo.
After watching the video hosted by MIT, I have a more well-rounded perspective toward the collective intelligence topics that were discussed. Collective intelligence is described in the video as being a group of people forming together to make decisions. This collaboration between our kind is assumed to have been existent in some form or another as long as humans have inhabited the earth. However the video focuses mainly on the role that information technology has played in allowing collective intelligence to be fully harnessed and possibly abused. To harness collective intelligence, it requires successfully connecting the right people with computers.
One key point made is how corporations are able to monopolize through social networking websites. Social networking websites operate on a platform in which the user creates the content. Once a user creates their profile, they give up personal information that is aggregated to a population for the benefit of staying connected to their friends and families. Due to a site's volume of traffic, companies that run these websites gain ad revenue. The more eyes that are tuned in, the higher an ad price could be. An argument that is proposed is that the companies that run social networking sites should operate as a non-profit. If this cannot be done other things are suggested, such as; allowing users to exit easy, to increase the transparency of the terms and conditions and also give the public control over the content that they have created.
Another key point made is that of today's youth in collective imagination through social media. Because of social media, a small niche idea can become infectious. One example used is that of Japan's craze of the portable technology for kids, called Pokemon. With this highly interactive toy, in order to play, kids have to interact with each other. One comment that relates to collective intelligence is that the kids feel they can accomplish more as a group than as an individual. This game allows kids to do that. An argument made is that of it being a moral hazard for society due to the indifference in traditional ideologies. The retort is that esoteric knowledge is common that we all want to be involved in something or feel accepted.
The last key point discussed is that of the differences between professionals and amateurs and how information technology has allowed amateurs to gain professional insights. Because of the internet users have and now are able to compare their knowledge with professional knowledge. Now, the only difference between amateurs and professionals is their lingo.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Video on Zappos
Zappos is an online company that sells shoes, clothing, and various other consumer products. The company is not run like many traditional companies. With a modest approach, the company has been able to grow rapidly amongst competition through their extreme focus on their customer service by implementing core values to create a culture that revolves around a psychology of delivering happiness to their customers and employees. This approach has allowed the Zappos to stand out amongst other online companies.
One way they stand out amongst other online companies is through their oline ordering system. It creates convenience and value for customers on the front end. They provide free shipping both ways, allowing customers to try on outfits or shoes in the comfort of their own home and return the products they don't like under a 365 day return policy. This allows for increasing returns because not only does the unique service provide repeat business individually, they tell their friends, family and other coworkers about the experience. Rather than spending net profits on advertising and other means of growing the brand, they let the customers do the marketing for them through word of mouth.
To Zappos, there is not a codified means of creating a great customer experience. They feel that if the companies culture lines up right with their core values, creating a great customer experience is easy for their employees. Another way they remain competitive is through their call center, which is dedicated to providing excellent service to their customers. Whether it is to provide fashion help, redirect them to another company that has a product in stock, or give support on how the ordering and return process works, they strive for creating that unique moment with that customer, where they can deliver happiness.
The hiring process is detailed and ensures that each employee is a right fit for the company. First they are interviewed for skill sets, then they are interviewed for culture match. Candidates for the job are paid for their time of training, but for a means of weaving out bad candidates from good candidates, they are given the offer of a sum of money to quit at a certain point in training. If they take it then the company see this as progress, because they are finding the employees that want to be there and want to make their job not just a job, but a calling. This creates trust and long lasting bond beween the company and it's employees. The new hires destination is not definitive immediately. They start at the bottom level in the warehouse to learn packing, pulling, receiving, and sending. They are then moved up to the call center and classes are provided based special techniques with concentration of their core values. This creates a learning culture and allows for a knowledge sharing company.
The video on Zappos was very inspiring to me that I now consider taking a "Zappos" attitude and approach to my school, work, and life.
One way they stand out amongst other online companies is through their oline ordering system. It creates convenience and value for customers on the front end. They provide free shipping both ways, allowing customers to try on outfits or shoes in the comfort of their own home and return the products they don't like under a 365 day return policy. This allows for increasing returns because not only does the unique service provide repeat business individually, they tell their friends, family and other coworkers about the experience. Rather than spending net profits on advertising and other means of growing the brand, they let the customers do the marketing for them through word of mouth.
To Zappos, there is not a codified means of creating a great customer experience. They feel that if the companies culture lines up right with their core values, creating a great customer experience is easy for their employees. Another way they remain competitive is through their call center, which is dedicated to providing excellent service to their customers. Whether it is to provide fashion help, redirect them to another company that has a product in stock, or give support on how the ordering and return process works, they strive for creating that unique moment with that customer, where they can deliver happiness.
The hiring process is detailed and ensures that each employee is a right fit for the company. First they are interviewed for skill sets, then they are interviewed for culture match. Candidates for the job are paid for their time of training, but for a means of weaving out bad candidates from good candidates, they are given the offer of a sum of money to quit at a certain point in training. If they take it then the company see this as progress, because they are finding the employees that want to be there and want to make their job not just a job, but a calling. This creates trust and long lasting bond beween the company and it's employees. The new hires destination is not definitive immediately. They start at the bottom level in the warehouse to learn packing, pulling, receiving, and sending. They are then moved up to the call center and classes are provided based special techniques with concentration of their core values. This creates a learning culture and allows for a knowledge sharing company.
The video on Zappos was very inspiring to me that I now consider taking a "Zappos" attitude and approach to my school, work, and life.
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