Collaborative Innovation Networks

Definition

COIN = Collaborative Innovation Networks

Research on Coins can be found at http://www.ickn.org/html/innovation.htm

Collaborative Innovation Networks (COIN) form from the interaction of like-minded, self-motivated individuals who share the same vision. An innovative idea is pushed forward by charismatic leaders, who assemble a group of highly motivated collaborators. These people join not for immediate monetary reward, but because they share a common vision, and want to be part of the innovation that “will change the world." These individuals typically bring a broad range of skills and expertise to the COIN and are not necessarily related in terms of the corporate hierarchy, as they work outside of the formal organization. As a result a COIN at work is initially invisible to the organization that hosts it.

COIN have been present in organizations for hundreds of years. What makes them so relevant today is that they have reached their tipping point thanks to the communication capabilities of the Internet, which greatly extends their global reach and lets them spread out at breakneck speed.

Three types of communities work together to form an ecosystem of interconnected communities, which we call Collaborative Knowledge Network or CKN: COIN (COllaborative Innovation Networks), CLN (Collaborative Learning Networks), and CIN (Collaborative Interest Networks).

Definition 2

There is a somewhat different definition in the Wikipedia article on the same concept, which focuses more on technology-enablement of the process, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_Innovation_Networks

"Collaborative Innovation Network is defined as “a cyberteam of self-motivated people with a collective vision, enabled by the Web to collaborate in achieving a common goal by sharing ideas, information, and work."

It cites the example of Spinework, at http://www.spineconnect.com/

"One of the first examples of a collaborative innovation network is SpineConnect, a community of spine surgeons interacting in a variety of ways, ultimately with the goal of producing innovation."

More Information

Self-Organizing Innovation Networks, article by Robert Rycroft at http://www.gwu.edu/~cistp/research/SelfOrganizing_RWR_2.24.03.pdf