Intellectual Ergonomics: “Thought Breaks”

According to comedian John Cleese, the only way to be truly creative is to have “boundaries of space, and boundaries of time.” He argues that in a frenetic, multi-tasking world, innovation can only take place in an environment where the unconscious is allowed to explore thoughts without fear of interruptions. This downtime has helped himRead… Read more »

Creativity on the Clock

Can inspiration be regulated? This may sound like an oxymoron, but the idea of developing a predictable cycle of innovation is exactly what software company Ovo promises it can do. The company says that it can create “sustainable, repeatable innovation processes and [implement] software applications to enable the processes.” As our lives become increasingly mechanizedRead… Read more »

Wall Street Journal Reports on San Francisco Gamification Summit – Gamification is Becoming Big Business!

“Gamification is serious business,” according to the Wall Street Journal and their coverage of the Gamification Summit that happened in San Francisco this week – attracting well over 600 individuals from… For the whole story see: http://www.designingdigitally.com/blog/2012/07/wall-street-journal-reports-on-san-francisco-gamification-summit-gamification-is

Innovation through Social Business Software

The recent launch of our software platform, Open Innovation, provides an a excellent opportunity to engage in a discussion about the importance of innovation, specifically in regard to workplace efficiency and communication. Around the globe, the past few years have witnessed significant infrastructural changes, not only in the way we communicate with one another, butRead… Read more »

What is Innovation Management Software?

What is innovation management software? Unlike traditional collaborative software ventures which emphasize open communication across an entire organization, innovation management software is more selective in how different members of the company interact. The software is tailored to construct hierarchies of ideas based on “reputation ranking” and “automated stage graduation.” Essentially, innovation management software has aRead… Read more »

Google+ Fosters Collaboration

What does Google+ have to offer the public sector that Facebook doesn’t? As a social network, Facebook currently dominates the social media arena with over 750 million users compared to Google+’s 43 million. However, there is a key design difference between the two sites that may benefit the public sector in the long term. ThisRead… Read more »

GSA Schedule Pricing – Too High or Too Low?

Surprisingly the answer is in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). By placing an order in accordance with FAR 8.4, the ordering agency achieves best value at the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the government’s need. Or in plain English, the system works – pricing is good – when you use it like you areRead… Read more »

Stability and Instability in National Security

On Tuesday, July 10, the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and the Cyber Conflict Studies Association held another excellent event on “Addressing Cyber Instability“. The event marked the launch of CCSA’s new capstone report, Addressing Cyber Instability, which previews and discusses the CCSA’s upcoming monograph on the subject. The first speaker to discuss the topicsRead… Read more »

Infographic: How Yammer Will Integrate With Microsoft Sharepoint For Government Enterprise Social Networking

Mark Drapeau (Washington, DC) — Microsoft recently announced that it had acquired popular enterprise social networking company Yammer, and that these assets would largely be integrated into Microsoft’s business software like Outlook, Office, and Sharepoint. How might this work within large enterprises like government agencies? Below is the official infographic showing how Yammer might workRead… Read more »