CURIOUS REBEL

1) 5 Ways That Standardization Can Lead to Innovation

It looks like collaboration can lead to scalable business advantage. Another reason standardization could be helpful is if it produces critical mass needed to affect significant change - or at least the coordinated reorientation of individual actions produces measurable change. That goes against the economic theory a la Adam Smith with its “invisible hand” theory. 

So a massive adherence to a single way/concept/idea of doing things breeds innovation?

This article adds to the discussion of, “can innovation be standardized or mass produced?”

2) How Insight Labs Get Smart People To Brainstorm Solutions To The World’s Problems

The interesting idea behind this article is using pro bono work to attract more and better clients. Manifest Digital, a for-profit company that funds Insight Labs, became more profitable because of their work in a mission-driven, non-profit work. An interesting business development strategy, I’d say. 

3) Design for Social Innovation: An Interview with Ezio Manzini

His concept of “Small Local Open Connected” is an interesting way to create a more sustainable society.

It’s more about catalyzing change instead of making change: ”What can I do to trigger and support these new way of thinking and doing? How can I use my design knowledge and tools to empower these grass-roots social innovations?” 

So these hashtags should suffice: #collaboration #sustainable consumption #networked organization #creative community catalysis

4) A Few Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Communication

Communication is what transforms an idea into a vision, defines how it’s different, explains why it will work, and engages people in helping make it a reality. Communication is what keeps your vision alive, whether you are in the room explaining it to someone, or they are thinking about it in places far from where you’ve ever been or will ever go.

Cheryl Heller has a point.

5) BMW Guggenheim Lab: An Outdoor Workshop For Fixing City Life

This makes urban planning more appealing and fun. But the more important thing is that you are letting the regular joe’s the opportunity to shape their city and spark their imagination of how the city could look. It’s a good start to generate conversation (as part of Guggenheim’s research project) but nothing come from speculation. Being that this is a museum’s initiative, it makes people ponder but that’s about it. 

• 08/05/11