Strength in Numbers Facilitates Innovation at IBM

Innovation has never been more important for IBM. The company's stock price has remained fairly flat for the past three years and recent swells in earnings are the result of cost-cutting rather than new business, according the BusinessWeek article, "Big Blue Brainstorm." In order to stay ahead of Asian competitors, IBM needs to bring new products and services to the market. In an online project titled "Innovation Jam," IBM CEO Samuel J. Palmisano called on some 100,000 minds to help brainstorm powerful innovations. On July 24, those invited to participate logged on to contribute ideas around transportation, health, finance and commerce, and the environment. According to BusinessWeek, suggestions included everything from using RFID-tagged bracelets to improve the traveler's experience at the airport to adding seat movements and misting water to theaters that would enhance the movie-going experience. After sifting through the posts to identify the most promising ideas, IBM will hold a follow-up jam session to refine and rate the best ideas based on business value. Palmisano says the company will put up to $100 million behind the strongest ideas.