What is the Collective Intelligence Model? Together, you know more.

Refresh HR Decision Making with the Collective Intelligence Model. Explore key dynamics and learn how to use the right platform for effective decision making, collaboration, and success.

Every phase of human evolution has depended on the ability to excel at something specific. Far in our past, we strived to be excellent hunters or gatherers. We were successful when we were able to pick berries quickly. During the agricultural era, prosperity was based on efficient crop cultivation. In the industrial age, those who had superior factories and machines were rewarded. And now, in the age of information, organizations thrive because of knowledge and access to the best information.

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Organizations are increasingly transforming into collective intelligence, or team intelligence. This concept uses the combined knowledge, insights and perspectives of employees to address complex challenges and stimulate effective decision-making. We also see this principle reflected in Agile and Scrum. By embracing the three fundamental steps of the collective intelligence model - Crowdsourcing, Co-Creation and Self-Organization - organizations can be agile, engaged and successful. These stages represent growth phases in which organizations gradually move from passive and individualistic employee thinking to active and collective engagement.

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Crowdsourcing in Collective Intelligence

Crowdsourcing is a commonly used approach in the passive and individualistic quadrant. It is often achieved through employee satisfaction surveys carried out by HR professionals. During this phase, management initiates the process by requesting information via a platform. The platform then forwards the request to the employees, who provide their feedback or input. Through the platform, management can find and follow up on this feedback. Although this method can provide valuable insights, it often lacks active participation and collective ownership. The focus is mainly on individual satisfaction and contributions, hampering collaboration, innovation and the organization's full potential.

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Co-creation within Collective Intelligence

As we move towards the center of the model, we encounter co-creation - a dynamic that is in balance between individual and collective ways of thinking. Co-creation includes the active involvement of employees in collaborative efforts, allowing them to contribute their unique perspectives and expertise. In this phase, management asks for input from employees via a specific platform. Employees provide their feedback or input, and the platform facilitates communication between management and employees for follow-up. This approach fosters a sense of collective ownership and shared responsibility, harnessing the full potential of collective intelligence. By encouraging individuals to actively participate in decision making, problem solving, and innovation, organizations can foster creativity, foster a collaborative culture, and achieve results more easily.

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Self-organization within Collective Intelligence

At the top of the model, we find the dynamics of self-organization, driven by an active and collective way of thinking. Often a difficult step because the foundation is not sufficiently laid in the previous stages. In this quadrant, individuals take responsibility for their roles within the organization and actively contribute to collective goals. They are empowered to make autonomous decisions and work together. In this phase, management assumes a moderating role, while employees communicate directly with the platform. Employees ask for input, provide information and follow up on this feedback via the platform. This direct interaction promotes the free exchange of information and ideas, allowing for efficient decision making and problem solving. Self-organization unleashes the full potential of collective intelligence, driving innovation, agility, and long-term success. This dynamic enables organizations to respond quickly to challenges, seize opportunities and, based on engagement, achieve extraordinary results.

To support an organization's progress through these phases of collective intelligence, it's essential to use the right technology. The ideal platform should provide a centralized space where management and employees can seamlessly interact. Through this platform, management can initiate requests, gather feedback, and closely monitor employee input, along with their team members. In turn, employees actively contribute, share their ideas and participate in meaningful discussions, where they can contribute to the solution. HR professionals should strive to find a platform that facilitates a smooth exchange of information, but, above all, promotes collaboration. By choosing the right platform, organizations can start using engagement as a means of jointly taking the organization to unprecedented levels.

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