Collective Intelligence is a shared or group intelligence tat emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals and appears in consensus decision-making (Wikipedia 2011).
Using this definition for collective intelligence is a way to demonstrate collective intelligence it self. This definition comes from a “What I Know Is” commonly known as a wiki. A wiki is a prime example it is a collection of information that can be edited by individuals to add to the information that is already shown.
Collective intelligence has taken over information that can be accessed, especially in the last decade after Web 2.0 was realised. Web 2.0 has allowed individuals to communicate in another realm, to share ideas, thoughts, issues and problems etc with anyone and everyone. This has encouraged and stimulated world collective intelligence.
“Wed 2.0 applications can now tap into ”the collective” on a grater scale that ever before” (Bonabeau 2010).
An article written by Eric Bonabeau Decisions 2.0: the power of collective intelligence, Talks deeply about collective intelligence with decision-making. Individuals use collective intelligence to help decide on almost any thing and every thing. Lets use the example that we can all relate to, choosing what university to go to you first look at the website, then mostly like read comments and affirmations that previous students have said. This is collective intelligence where others are committing and adding information that might be useful to another.
Bonabeau (2010) also points out how there are an increasing number of users that are using information markets such as wiki’s, social networks, and collaborative software. All these medias sway the way companies/individuals look at decisions and make decisions.
(Retrieved form You Tube)
The You Tube video above shows collective intelligence in a corporate environment. Another example of collective intelligence is highlighted but in a corporate environment, and how collective intelligence is used in the corporate world.
The Gold Corp Challenge, were Rob McEwen the Founder and former Chairman and CEO of Gold Corp put the challenge to the people. Rob needed help finding gold on his property. The geologists of the company could not find any gold, Rob thought “well if they don’t know may be some one else will”. He put all his companies records and plan in the Gold Corp website and offered half a million to the person who found him gold. They’re where 77 submissions of people using techniques Rob had never seen or heard of before. This is collective intelligence in motion where anyone and everyone can collaborate and innovate thought these mediums of technology.
“The more we are able to form intelligent communities as open-minded, cognitive subjects capable of initiative, imagination, and rapid response, the more we will be able to ensure our success in a highly competitive environment.” (Levy 1997)
Collective intelligence is use in almost every profession today, with the access to internet and social media’s knowledge is added to knowledge. Collective intelligence and public relations work together on many levels, as public relation communicators for companies we are constantly updating information and informing media/society about sustain campaigns or companies.
Reference List:
Eric Bonabeau (2010) http://people.icoserver.com/users/eric/SMR_Collective_Decisions.pdf. Retrieved 25/2/2010
Gold Corp story Summary http://www.ideaconnection.com/open-innovation-success/Open-Innovation-Goldcorp-Challenge-00031.html Retrieved 25/2/2011
Pierre Levy, Collective Intelligence: Mankind’s Emerging World in Cyberspace (Cambridge: Perseus, 1997), p.217.
Pierre Levy, http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=h3YjCcGfzLgC&oi=fnd&pg=PA253&dq=collective+intelligence+digital+media&ots=4JzaO-hEfm&sig=lyK8dv3F9vPeLxeArc2ph5g7CBA#v=onepage&q=collective%20intelligence%20digital%20media&f=false. Retrieved 25/2/2010.
