A puzzling process?

There are many issues to consider when trying to establish a method for solving open source problems. This is a new organisation, so there will be teething problems as we all try to create an effective solving process.   

Different work cultures, time differences, communication tools and member schedules need to be considered and are just as important as finding problems that interest and motivate responses from the group. At the first meeting we discussed what parameters should be considered in the selection of open source problems:

1. Subject - how should a problem be selected so that it would be interesting and engaging for members of the group with different backgrounds, skills and interests? To begin with, a selection of problems from Innocentive and NineSigma will be made at the discretion of the moderators and presented to the group.
2. Time - how much time should be dedicated to a problem? Submission deadlines are provided by the open innovation websites and group members will be notified.
3. Responsibility - who should have what responsibilities?
4. Communication - how should the solution be processed and presented?

The OIC solving process^BETA

OIC solving process

As a starting point we have developed a solving process with the following steps:

1. Present - a selection of problems is presented to the group
2. Group vote - users like or dislike the problem on LinkedIn group.
3. Brainstorm - share ideas, networking suggestions (who do you know who might help?) and ask questions! 
4. Delegate tasks - who does what and when for the next phase?
5. Homework - problem investigate and solution space created
6. Feedback/knowledge share - insights and potential solutions presented to the group
7. Define solution - Solution defined and tweaked
8. Submit proposal to website.

Coming up in the next post: a selection of open source problems for us to chew over.