A web-based framework for collaborative innovation

Abstract

Twenty-first century global change in most sectors is challenging our use and management of resources. For a community to adapt to this systemic change, while maintaining and even enhancing its economy and quality of life, the World Economic Forum has recognized the need for new approaches to enable collaborative innovation (CI) and related action among both the leadership and concerned members of the community. Many see the web as an approach to CI and as a new form of creativity machine that can augment our intelligence. This paper outlines the concepts of an approach to CI based on asset mapping and how it has been supported through a web-based technological framework that requires both communication and operations on the asset map. Based on the experience using the framework in designing and building over 50 systems that incorporate asset-mapping CI, it is clear that CI takes many forms. We illustrate some of these forms through specific examples in environment, cultural heritage, socio-economic development and planning. We conclude that it is not possible to build a single set of tools to support CI and that the users need access to meta-tools and frameworks to implement tailored systems supporting CI directly rather than relying on people with in-depth knowledge of the technologies. WIDE is an example of the type of meta-tools that are needed. Lessons learned from WIDE are being applied in the creation of WIDE 2.0. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.