Show #162: Collective Intelligence in Organisations

Special Guest: Michael Silverman, Managing Director of Silverman Research

Michael is a psychologist and opinion research specialist, whose specific interest focuses on Social Collective Intelligence. Before establishing Silverman Research in 2010, he worked in academia, commercial research and in-house at Unilever as the Head of Employee Insight. Silverman Research conducts research on behalf of some of the world’s biggest organisations, collecting opinions from employees and consumers.

In the last ten years there has been an explosion in both research and interest in Collective Intelligence. The main reason for this burst of enthusiasm is the rapid advance of social and digital technologies in both business and in the public sphere. These changes reflect the rise of a new era for Collective Intelligence, one that is able to fully take advantage of both the increasing interconnectivity between people and also the increasing computing and storage capabilities of advanced information and communication technologies.

First we talk about Collective Intelligence in general terms – what it is, how it is defined, the impact of social and digital technologies and how organisations are using it to address a variety of business issues – including employee engagement. Then we discuss the various challenges to overcome in designing and using Collective Intelligence tools in an organisational context.

Host: Jo Dodds