What is collective intelligence?
“The combining of behaviour, preference or ideas of a group of people to create novel insights.”– Toby Segaran
How many of us find it difficult looking for a job?
A short way to have a new job or even a better one is by going through personal connections. For example, managers like to hire people who are recommended to them by a person they trust, which is why expanding your relationships in your field is very important.
Collective intelligence means
“ supporting connections between individuals across the organization, and helping them to connect and converse, share, curate content … and collaborate with one another.”
What are the characteristics of collective intelligence?
To harness group’s collective intelligence all members have to show the characteristics of collective intelligence in their activities. Here are these characteristics:
- Openness: Members of the group must openly share thoughts so others can work with the same knowledge.
- Sharing: Ideas must be examined based on their merits not on the idea proposal reputation.
- Peering: Members can modify others ideas as long it is a shared modification.
- Acting globally: Group members can be from any country around the world.
– Daniel Liden and Wikipedia
What is LinkedIn?
It is an online business network built to connect professionals in business. Like other social networks, it all starts with your profile. From there you can mine your network for connections, join groups, discussions, ask and answer questions, and stay up on the latest news in your industry.
How dose LinkedIn meet the characteristics of collective intelligence?
- Openness: Allowing others to share your expertise by answering questions that fall’s in your area to help others improve their selves.
- Sharing: Sharing ideas, gaining new knowledge and getting the latest news and information with professional group members you are connected to.
- Peering: having group discussions and modifying the shared ideas with in the group.
- Acting globally: LinkedIn users are from around the world, just easily join a group and you will be world wide networking.
Job seekers can get overwhelming benefits of their relationships using LinkedIn, if they meet these characteristics of collective intelligence. In my opinion, LinkedIn is a really great source of connections, it is free service and it is quiet reliable than other networks.
What do you think?
What are your thoughts on LinkedIn?
How do you use it?
Do you think it is useful?
What other services do you use?
Eman ..
References:
http://c4lpt.co.uk/new-workplace-learning/liso-fostering-collective-intelligence/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-collective-intelligence.htm
http://www.socialquickstarter.com/content/18-introduction_to_linkedin
http://resonata.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/a-critical-overview-of-linkedin-to-find-your-prospects/
Eman Alshehri 
Great post, Eman. I use LinkedIn for professional networking and agree it is easy to use and a good information source. I do wonder thought, who do you see getting the most benefit from LinkedIn? And what do you think is the business model or value proposition for LinkedIn?
Great to hear that, I personally think that employed people are able to benefit more from LinkedIn, because they already have a wide base of relationships with colleges who they trust. They simply can have a conversation, engage, and interact with people that can help them grow, laugh and who care about them and what they do. However, it is not about employed people, LinkedIn provides real opportunities for job seekers and marketers also. I searched about the value proposition for LinkedIn and got this useful information … the majority of LinkedIn users are non-premium customers (they don’t pay to use the site) and yet create most of its value by filling out their profiles and resumes etc., and getting others to join, and contribute references. LinkedIn then sells this data to premium customers (recruiters) in order to make a profit. So the non-paying users add most of the value, which LinkedIn extracts to sell to the paying customers.
I hope that gives you an idea..
Thanks
Thanks so much for the information. I agree about the business model. I think the aim of LinkedIn is to have lots of users adding content for free and then some users paying to use features which capitalise on the free content. Makes you wonder how much value they get out of our free content..,,,.I plan to analyse LinkedIn against the other O’Reilly pattern: “data is the new intel inside”. I’d be interested in your thoughts on that when it goes up.
You’re so welcome. Good on you, that you’ve decided your topic for our second pattern. I’m looking forward to read your next post.
Excelent Eman, it’s the first time to hear about this social network, and I really enjoyed your post, keep it up…
I am so excited to join LinkedIn soon…
Thanks Abdulaziz, I’m happy that you enjoied my post. Yes, go ahead and try LikedIn
pleas let us know what do you think about it?
see you here soon .. 🙂
Hi,
I have been using LinkedIn for sometime and find that the social media aspect is kept very professional. However, some people tend to limit the number of people they connect to because they are afraid of opening up the profile to strangers. It is true that privacy is very important but do you think LinkedIn should promote strangers to connect with each other?
Sukshan (http://sukshan.wordpress.com/)
Hi Sukshan,
Good question, I agree with you that privacy is very important, but have you noticed that all social networks have the same privacy and security issues. The problem here is that LinkedIn users have to reveal a lot more personal information in their LinkedIn profiles than their Facebook profiles. However, LinkedIn users can solve this problem by changing their password constantly and limiting the contact information in their profiles as phone number and adders.
Thank you for dropping by ..
And sure I’m going to visit your blog
Hi my friend
I think this website is the must helpful one in business because it helps you improving business and gain new idea from others , and it helps the un employees to get a job .. What a great example for the collective intelligence !
Hi my dear,
That’s true LinkedIn enhance’s your opportunities and it is a great source to improve your knowledge and relationships.
cheers..
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I
have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Thanks, Really glad that my Post was valuable for you.
See you soon here.
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with helpful information to work on. You have done a formidable process and our entire neighborhood will probably be thankful to you.
I’m so happy to hear that. Please Keep reading my blog posts and give me your thoughts about them.
good luck in your work.
This piece of writing will assist the internet people for creating new website
or even a weblog from start to end.
Thanks for your comment.
Don’t forget to keep visiting this blog.
See you here soon.
Great work Eman!
Nowadays, I agree that we have to be socialized like never before. Although I’m not familiar with (LinkedIn) network, it is true that communication with various professionals around the globe would
very well enrich your knowledge and expertise.
I have some comments I would like to point out regarding your second question. I can’t ignore the fact that we have to have connections with people, but you still need to have the credentials to be qualified
for the position you are going to fill. Of course, you need some luck and the support from others to get along but it is really up to you to earn the trust from others.
Yes I agree with you about your comments. The idea of LinkedIn is to enlarge your social network which leads to increasing your chances of finding appropriate job.
Thanks Hussain for dropping by.
Magnificent site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you in your effort!
Thanks. I’m Very happy that you liked my post.
Keep reading my posts pleas.
We have decided to open our POWERFUL and PRIVATE web traffic system to the public for a limited time! You can sign up for our UP SCALE network with a free trial as we get started with the public’s orders. Imagine how your bank account will look when your website gets the traffic it deserves. Visit us today: http://bag.sh/16M
Pingback: Is LinkedIn a Web 2.0 site worth recommending? | Bronwyn Shimmin-Clarke
HI, Eman
Good post! Central to the success of Collective Intelligence initiatives is the ability to target and motivate the right participants. users add value. network effect and magnify the value. Linkedln is good example. It provided a platform for like-minded users to communicate.
Hi Eddie
Thanks. Yes, that’s true. I hope my post was useful for you.
see you here next time.
Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Excellent blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost
on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions? Appreciate it!