The speakers and workshop leaders at COINS 2009 represent a rich spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Drawn from multiple disciplines that include business, technology, academia, and design, these individuals will discuss a variety of emerging themes and practical applications in Collaborative Innovation Networks.
Keynote Speaker
Thomas W. Malone
Patrick J. McGovern Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
"Collaborative Innovation and Collective Intelligence"
For two decades, Thomas Malone has been a visionary proponent of new organizational designs that take maximum advantage of information technology’s expanding possibilities. Professor Malone is the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence (CCI), formed in 2006 to study how new communication technologies—especially the Internet—now allow huge numbers of people all over the globe to work together in new ways. He also is the author of The Future of Work: How the New Order of Business Will Shape Your Organization, Your Management Style, and Your Life, a landmark exploration of the company of the future.
Thomas Malone is Patrick J. McGovern Professor of Management at MIT Sloan School of Management. In addition to the Center for Collective Intelligence, he also was the founding director of the MIT Center for Coordination Science and one of two founding co-directors of the MIT Initiative on “Inventing the Organizations of the 21st Century”.
He has co-founded three software companies and was a former research scientist at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. An inventor with 11 patents, Professor Malone has published over 75 articles, research papers and book chapters. He is co-editor of three books: Coordination Theory and Collaboration Technology, Inventing the Organizations of the 21st Century, and Organizing Business Knowledge: The MIT Process Handbook.
Presenters and Workshop Leaders
Jon Campbell, Design Continuum
Christian Madsbjerg, ReD Associates
Beth Johnson, Design Continuum
Craig LaRosa, Design Continuum
Dennis J Schleicher Jr., www.tibetantailor.com
Sean Wise, Wise Mentor Capital
Speakers
Christian MadsbjergPartner, ReD Associates
New York, USA
Christian Madsbjerg is Partner of ReD Associates and head of the New York office. Christian is a social scientist and has been leading projects for a series of large global clients during most of his active work life. He is the author of books on social theory, discourse analysis and political science. Prior to ReD he was managing director of the design firm Kontrapunkt and partner in the Consultancy Wetware, to later form e-Types. Christian holds a MRes in Cultural Studies and a BSc in political science.
Asst. Prof., Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University | Managing Director, Wise Mentor Capital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
"How VenCorps.com uses COINS in Venture Capital"
Sean Wise, co-founder of VenCorps, is responsible for the creation and implementation of the VenCorps system and leads the development of the technology platform. His analysis has been key in forming many of the strategic partnerships that VenCorps now has in place. His work in the area of weighted algorithms and predictive markets as applied to online networks informs much of the logic and information architecture of VenCorps.
Prior to Sean’s involvement with private equity firm behind VenCorps, Spencer Trask, he was the Managing Director of Wise Mentor Capital, a mentoring firm with national prominence in Canada. In addition, Sean was a national columnist for the Globe and Mail newspaper on Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital, and is currently the online host and industry advisor to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s hit angel investor reality show, Dragons’ Den. Sean is also a faculty member at the Ted Rogers School for Management at Ryerson University where he teaches entrepreneurship and innovation. Sean studied engineering and economics at Carleton University, obtained his MBA and law degrees from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing his Ph.D at the University of Glasgow, where his research focuses on Collective Business Intelligence through Collaborative Online Information Networks.
Workshop Leaders
Beth JohnsonEnvisioner, Design Continuum
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
"Design Thinking"
As an envisioner in the Design Strategy Group, Beth Johnson is inspired by real human experiences. She strives to create products and experiences that truly resonate with people while also being great business opportunities.At Continuum, Beth has worked on strategies ranging from candy to forklift, and brings energy and sas to every project.Before Continuum, Beth worked in at Techtronic Industries as a user researcher for brands like RIDGID, Milwaukee, and Ryobi where she was the first woman, and youngest employee to be patented. She also worked as an industrial designer for, Victoria Staten, a start-up baby product company. At Victoria Staten, Beth designed products ranging from highchairs to diaper bags that have been featured in Fit Pregnancy and Child Magazine.
Beth received her BFA in Industrial Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2004, and is currently pursuing her MBA.
Vice President, Service Design, Design Continuum
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
"Design Thinking"
Craig has been creating compelling brand experiences for over 15 years. As a Principal at Continuum, Craig works with a wide range of industries from national retailers and restaurant chains to healthcare and financial services. He understands how to translate the emotional needs of the user and the functional needs of the brand into a holistic, ownable experience that connects organizations and the people who rely on them.
Craig has led programs for a multitude of services: designing a consultative retail service and space for the Canadian diamond chain, Spence Diamonds; reinventing Captain D’s, a struggling Midwest seafood chain, with a successful new restaurant experience; and creating a streamlined experience that works best for both patients and healthcare providers for Quest Diagnostics. Through programs such as these, Craig’s thinking has expanded from the design of specific tangible elements, overall space and process planning to the development of holistic service engagements that help companies achieve their customer’s goals while fulfilling their brand promise.
Prior to Continuum, Craig spent 8 years as a Studio Director at WalkerGroup, a leading New York-based design and architecture studio with roots in retail design and environmental branding. There he created retail experiences for brands as diverse as Cardinal Health, Busch Gardens, Tim Hortons, Playboy, Lladro, Motorola and Pepsi, among others. Previously Craig was engaged at Donald Deskey Associates and Ancona 2 Designers, where he designed packaging and products, including furniture, lighting and high-end fixtures.
Sr. Brand Strategist, Brand Experience, Design Continuum
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
"Design Thinking"
Jon has 10 years of experience defining and building brands. As a senior brand strategist with one foot firmly planted in the world of business and the other in the world of design, he strives to bridge the two to help develop innovative products and services that are valued by the user and profitable to the organization.
Prior to Continuum, Jon served as manager, prospect marketing, at Harley-Davidson Motor Co., overseeing lead generation, lead nurturing and interactive programs focused on the acquisition of new customers and development of compelling customer journeys. He also spent time at the ad agency Cramer-Krasselt working on brand strategy, marketing communications and new product development for a range of brands including WD-40, Rexall Sundown, Reddi-wip, Allen-Edmonds shoes and Case agricultural equipment.
Jon holds a Master of Design Methods degree from Chicago’s Institute of Design and a BA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin. He is a contributor to the recently published “Ninety Questions + Answers from Thirteen Design Thinkers,” and plays on the blog brandingandinnovation.typepad.com. Past work has been recognized with a 2007 PROMO Interactive Marketing Award and a 2004 Effie Award.
director, User Experience (UX) Sears Holdings
Dennis uses his background in business and industrial anthropology to design interactive products to support the way people communicate and interact in their everyday and working lives. In addition to being a past chair of the largest Information Architecture Summit, he continues to be a leading force in the design community and is actively involved with the Information Architecture Institute, the ASIST Special Interest Group of Information Architecture, Overlap, and the Interaction Design Association (IxDA). Dennis has worked on projects American Public University Systems, Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, United States Air Force, Microsoft, Dominos, and Numara. His corporate pedigree includes work at Argus Associates, the company that wrote the book on Information Architecture, and the Ford account at JWT, the largest account at the largest advertising company in the US. More info on: www.dennisschleicher.com, www.tibetantailor.com (blog)
Keynote Abstract
Collaborative Innovation and Collective Intelligence
Collaborative Innovation Networks are among the most important examples of a broader phenomenon called collective intelligence that has become prominent in the last few years. This talk will attempt to show how collaborative innovation fits within the broader context of collective intelligence.
Drawing on examples like Wikipedia, Linux, Google, and prediction markets, the talk will (a) identify a number of the key design patterns embodied in new forms of collective intelligence and (b) suggest how to select and combine different design patterns to facilitate collaborative innovation in different situations.
In addition, the talk will suggest that creating new examples of collective intelligence is, in itself, a promising opportunity for collaborative innovation.
