Oct 10-12th : IBM hosts a Service Jam
Yet another jam hosted by IBM which engages the general public to generate breakthrough ideas to help solve world's largest problems..
Adoption being my topic of interest, I thought of writing about some of the key factors that must be affecting / influencing adoption of this Jam.
Observation 1 : Touch the pulse
A large proportion of people on this planet want to live a better life. Most certainly do not plunge into community service, and some live with a guilt of not being able to do so... with this jam, they can at least get online to express their ideas, emotions and opinions. In "Adoption" terminology, there is a clear "business case" for a lot of like minded people to participate.Observation 2 : start with a BANG !!
Here's the message that is loud and clear on IBM's website
http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/minijam/overview.html
Join us October 10th – 12th, 2010, for an important dialogue on "Service as a Solution."
The Service Jam is an online event that will engage non-profit organizations, corporations, academic institutions, and government agencies in a discussion on how social innovation can help solve our world’s largest problems. By bringing together prominent leaders, professionals, and passionate individuals, the Jam aims to generate breakthrough ideas that will redefine service and social innovation. Through IBM’s Jam technology, participants can collaborate virtually and have the flexibility to log into the Jam from anywhere in the world at anytime most convenient to them during the three day event.Observation 3 : Use of proven tools
What they use to drive this jam is a decade old proven technology - IBM's InnovationJamTM . There have been several jams hosted on this tool by IBM and other organizations.Observation 4 : Get (hire) the celebreties onboard
Look who is participating...
Featuring special guests:
| George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the U.S. Ben Kernighan, Deputy CEO, National Council for Voluntary Organisations C. B. Bhattacharya, Full Professor and E.ON chair in Corporate Responsibility, European School of Management and Technology Elena Topoleva, Director, Agency of Social Information João Falcão e Cunha, Professor, University of Porto, Portugal Harris Wofford, U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation John Gomperts, Director, AmeriCorps Justin Davis-Smith, CEO, Volunteering England, UK Luminita Oprea, Founder, Saga Business, Society Romania | Marc-Philippe Daubresse, Minister for Youth and Solidarities, France Michael Bürsch, Former Member of the Bundestag, Founder of Centrum für Corporate Citizenship Deutschland Michael Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia Momo Mahadav, President, Maala Business for Social Responsibility, Israel Oistein Mjaerum, Head of Industry Relations, Red Cross Norway Ray Chambers, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria Sam Palmisano, President & CEO, IBM Dottor Ugo Castellano, Chief Operating Officer, Sodalitas Foundation, Italy |
Observation 5 : Build up the momentum with mailers
Mailers - a traditional marketing approach, which still works...... got to send them just in time - not too early, not at the last moment - the first flash for the jam came to us in IBM 3 weeks ahead of the jam. I registered after a couple of alerts from the IBM's internal "On Demand Community" which engages IBMers worldwide in community service.