Innovation Jam 2008@IBM

Innovation is a hallmark for IBM, and it is also a hallmark for many other companies. To stand out from the competition and become a real trendsetter, IBM has some uniqueness in its way of innovation. As a new or prospective IBMer, you may be very proud of the IBM unparalleled achievements in inventions, patents and Nobel Prizes. However, at IBM, innovation is not a patent for R&D group. As I start to explore the secret of IBM's success, I am surprised by the breadth, depth and speed of innovation at a company of this scale. Through a series of innovation programs, every professional has the opportunity to turn ideas into reality.

Today an eye-catching image on the home page of our intranet led me to learn more about a very exciting event at IBM -- Innovation Jam. This three-day (Oct 5-8) online brainstorming event will engage tens of thousands of IBM's employees, partners and clients around the world to examine and shape the Enterprise of the Future. Jam participants can share thoughts on new business model and strategic issues by using web sites, wikis, forums and other online tools.

This kind of "Jam" is not new for IBM. Back in 2003, IBM initiated a "Values Jam" to invite more than 300,000 employees around the world to examine and redefine the core IBM values, which gave the leadership team and the entire workforce more confidence in its critical transformation. During IBM's 2006 Innovation Jam - the largest IBM online brainstorming session ever held - IBM brought together more than 150,000 people from 104 countries and 67 companies. As a result, 10 new IBM businesses were launched with seed investment totaling $100 million. (https://www.collaborationjam.com/)

The major topics of Innovation Jam 2008 are developed from the Global CEO Study conducted by IBM consulting:(http://www.ibm.com/ibm/jam/)

• Built for change
• Customers as partners
• Globally integrated
• The planet and its people

The leverage of collective creativity enables IBM to experiment new ideas in a way that few companies can match and IBMers can always be dedicated to one of the core values --"innovation that matters, for our company and for the world".