Innovation Commons Network Tools & Process
The tools and process used to help us determine the principles of an innovation commons will hopefully be non-intrusive, practical and effective. I envision that the project will be completed early in January 2005. If the interaction has been beneficial to the participants, it can continue beyond that point and function according to the desires of the group. There is already a one page web site set up for that purpose, http://www.innovationcommons.net.

The basic tools to be used are a blog, Delphi survey, web site, teleconference, final report and newsletter.



Blog

The blog is the primary method of suggesting principles and discussing them as well as providing information that may lead to principles. The ability to enter new information and comment on existing information is limited to members of the network. However, the blog is visible to anyone. The address of the blog is http://innovationcommons.blogspot.com/. To become a contributing member, please follow the instructions that will be sent to you by Blogger. It would also be helpful to create a profile for yourself on Blogger so that others could find out more about you. I suggest that in setting up your free account with Blogger that you indicate that you would like to receive an e-mail when new posts have been published. Your entries can be as long as you want, but I suggest that you limit blog entries to a page. If your material is longer than a page, please write an abstract or introduction to your material and post that on the blog. Send me a copy of the material via e-mail and I will post it on the web site. Blogger has some simple formatting commands built into the editor. However, if you want to insert links to material, click on the Edit HTML tag, and enter the link in the following format:

[a href="http://www.theinnovationroadmap.com/ArticleName.xxx"]Article Name[/a]

The xxx is the file type. I suggest you limited your file types to common MS Office types (.doc, .ppt, .xls), .pdf, .gif or .jpj. Replace the [ and ] in this formula with < and > when actually using it. (I had to fool this editor. Otherwise it thought that I wanted an actual link embedded.) When naming your article, use no spaces and use only numbers and letters.

If you want to provide a link to a web site or a document on another web site, use the same format with appropriate URL.

If you don't want to mess with html, send me the information along with the document and I will enter it for you.

Blogger is a really friendly tool to use. I don't think you'll have any problems.

If you want to remain anonymous using Blogger, you can create a screen name.

Survey

I will create an online survey based on the principles we've developed. You will get a chance to evaluate each of the principles. You will be required to provide your reasons. You will also be given the opportunity to suggest other principles. The raw data from the survey will be available to you for your review. After the first round survey is complete, I will summarize the results, and provide the results back to you in the form of a second survey. You will be asked to re-rate the principles based on everyone's response and rate the new suggested principles. The third round will complete the process. This survey is anonymous.

Web Site

A private web site has been created for this group. Its address is http://www.theinnovationroadmap.com/icn/index.html. Access to the web site requires a User Name and Password. The User Name is Network and the Password is Innovation. The web site will contain the results of this project as well as other resources used. It will also contain a copy of this document and the names and affiliations of everyone involved unless you tell me not to include your name or affiliation.

Newsletter

A newsletter will be sent to all participants via e-mail weekly indicating activities and schedule.

Teleconference

I envision a teleconference between the completion of the survey and the creation of the report. It will be used to discuss the findings and refine conclusions drawn from the work.

Report

A report will be written at the conclusion of the study summarizing the findings and conclusions. It will be sent to all participants via e-mail and will also be posted on the web site.

E-Mail and Telephone

If any time, you get frustrated will the tools, need help or just find them too confining, feel free to send me an e-mail or call me 512.302.1935.

Ground Rules
There are very few ground rules for participation. We trust that if you take away something from this expereince that you will give back at least as much as you take. No solicitation or promotion is permitted. Be nice. Be honest.