Pascal Le Rudulier • 2 terms to take into account: collaboration and innovation. I’d supplement my vote of « The Human dimension and the Culture » with this: making sure one doesn’t overstep the other: giving credit to individual where credit is due, promoting collaboration and not systematic consensus.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Jogesh Limbani • In my experience, one of the hardest barriers to overcome collaborative innovation is « Trust ». Processes and tools are supporting enablers that structure, incubate and filter through the most promising ideas through the ideation process. As Bill Joy said: « No matter who you are, most of the smartest people work for someone else ».

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Darryl Reichelt • Without addressing the cultural factors of a business the probability of implementing innovation is low.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Roberto Chretien • Human factor ! As Daft Punk says, we are « Human after all »

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Alain Risbourg • If you d’on’t start with culture and Human Dimension, you will not foster collaborative innovation… Start, collectively, by answering the question : Why do I, the company, need to innovate? Why do I need to innvate collaboratively ? Is the strategic for the company or not? If you work only on process, systems or tools you won’t be able to change behavior, habits and culture…

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Michel Vandenberghe • Question implicitly is : What factor has higher importance knowing that factors depend on each other.? The real question is : Can we define a process in such way that it does not depend on « human dimension and culture » ( it can foster some human dimension and culture) ? In this later case, answer would be « process »). This explains why « Collaborative » is not well defined, because this process is not defined

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Igor Vujic • Hm, interesting point of view, that I am partially sharing. We can always find examples for everything both of us are stating. Here are my examples. I don’t think I ever said that tools are irrelevant if there IS an Inno culture but if there IS NOT. It is different. I won’t expose facts from my past, but even if 1, 2 or 10 employees are struggling to promote efficient management of Innovation, even if it seems to work, to initiate an Innovative spirit into people, if top managers are not willing to innovate and to transform all those ideas into real products, there won’t be any Innovation at all, let alone collaborative one. I hate generalizing: collaborative Innovation needs a mixture of all three ingredients, not only one. You can add pepper or spices into a soup, it will surely taste better. But the most important is that the soup is salty.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Olivier Goujat • The main level is the human dimension and the culture but you cannot « harness » and maximize them without a good process powered by a good tool

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Wim Soens • So Igor, what you’re saying is that if there is a good innovation culture tools are irrelevant, and if there’s no innovation culture tools won’t work. Kind of puts the collaborative software business in a dark corner, doesn’t it? Think about this: is web 2.0 (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) just an answer to the needs of the ‘digital natives’ (Gen Z), or did it shape their very culture? When we go in for a new project, a cultural assessment is one of the first things we do. If the result is negative, we don’t back-up and say « well, you’d better call one of those change management consultants first. You have to get your culture straight before you can work with us. » Instead, we take these cultural flaws into account during implementation, and use the tool to create a new climate that will lead to a cultural change in the long term. Of course, I’m still curious to learn how the majority here would step in and boost collaborative innovation by changing the culture. Sounds like magic to me.

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

Igor Vujic • Dear Wim, What good of tools and processes if nobody use them? If people really want to innovate and if they are not afraid of doing it because of the current functioning of the company, they will innovate even with just a white-board next to the coffee machine… If « collaboration » and « Innovation » are not at all in the Culture of the company, the « collaborative innovation » won’t be easy…

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Wim Soens • Dear majority, being in the business for over 12 years I’m quite intrigued with this result. Now, this makes me wonder if we are all reading and answering the same question. So let me rephrase Martin’s question as follows: “What is the most important tool (=main lever) to jump start (=boost) a people-centric process to generate, share, enrich and validate innovative ideas (=collaborative innovation)?” If you are still convinced that the answer to that question is A, then I urge you to write down your secret sauce in a book. It will be a bestseller worldwide. Seriously, every practitioner here will agree with me that changing a culture doesn’t happen overnight. So there’s no way you can use it as a lever to boost anything. To me, the results of this poll are a better match to the question: « What is the holy grail of collaborative innovation? » Ah, yes, the human dimension and the culture. Definitely!

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

Martin Haigh • Processes are really important as it provides a framework and established mechanism but, of course, processes are developed by and operated by people. Humans get my vote.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Sercan Uslu • By all means, human is the very element of any organization that puts the flavor to its culture… It is the human element that drives the rest and therefore the most important resource an organization has…

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Valentina Di Gregori • human factor can be stimulated to new processes and tools ..not viceversa…but you need to work on cultures and ambitions in different directions and various purposes..

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Stuart Lewis (CTS, TCSA) • In my experience most companys investigate and deploy « New ways of working » in reverse order. Typically starting with looking into software & tools. They then try to figure out how and where in the business the tool can bring benefit and value with process orientated integration. Lastly, they try to access the cultural issues preventing adoption and service utilisation, as without this there is no benefit. – Start by understanding your organisational culture (the more hierarchical your organisation. The harder it is to change, to more open and collaborative ways of working) – Secondly work with departmental and business unit heads to investigate, where in a process you can save, time, money or drive innovation. – Once the above are understood, you can then work confidently and openly with your technology partner to identify the right solution for your business demands and objectives. « Business and Technology working as one »

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Mark Keller, M.S. • Answer A Every exploring innovative person has their own process(es), that have been developed through exploring and examining the interests, passions, ideas, and possibilities. Software and tools are by products of A then B

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Fatima Landin • The human dimension and culture are the creators of software tools that boost the Collaborative Innovation. So, the main lever here is definitely the human factor..

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Edouard SIEKIERSKI • I would use Roger Martin’s design of business steps to imagine that each lever must be used at different moments: – mystery : for innovation it would be similar to culture. It’s The beginning of the story – heuristics : similar to Process – algorithm : similar to Software (http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/rogermartin/DesignofBusiness_HK.pdf) To add few more cents, a tool don’t create the culture of collaborative innovation! In soccer for example, giving the best « tools » to the French Team wouldnt make these players a Team!

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Jean-Christophe Tisseuil • Mainly the 2 first for sure, but a company without an innvovation culture….

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Vincent Siveton • Human dimension and culture are the first step for a company, software tools are the next one.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Catherine Le Drogo Ferrari • The challenge is to turn ideas into high value propositions and to guarantee an excellent execution. Apple is a perfect example : they were not the first to propose applications or touchscreens but they have been the first to deliver it properly.

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Alberto Emprin • A good management of the innovation process and an appropriate software infrastructure & tools shared by the participants are required for any serious cooperative innovation project, but without the proper human resources, mindset and culture, there is no collaborative innovation !

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

David Simoes-Brown • Slightly counter-intuitively it’s tools in 100%Open’s experience. Culture is ‘what we do around here’ so changing behaviour through a cool new tool really get collaboration going. Try to train a whole organisation to be more collaborative and it will simply ignore you.

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

Dominic Pride • It’s hard to choose between the first tool. Successful innovation depends on organisationa culture. At the same time employees need to see a pathway and process for their ideas moving from bright idea to something which the company can sell or use. For that reason process management is a very close second. Software tools are only a means to an end, however attractive and user-friendly they may be.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Sumitha Nair • I would say all 3 in that order. A strong culture of collaboration comes first – it is critical to foster openness to internal and external knowledge. Lots of ideas,knowledge and creativity already exist in many organisations. The ingredients for powerful innovation often surface during brainstorming sessions – but the challenge has typically been how to organize, manage, respond to and evaluate these ideas – leading us to the importance of process management. Which brings us to the 3rd piece: Technology. Software tools and solutions facilitate this by institutionalising the innovation process.Technology is more effective if it enables you to include both internal and external networks. We have written a white paper at Affinnova on the 9 Hallmarks of Divergent Collaboration. Feel free to msg me and I will be happy to share. Thanks for the question Martin, a compelling topic indeed

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Wim Soens • Without any doubt innovation is all about people. So yes, the human dimension and the culture is the most important factor for sustainable innovation ecosystems, as most contributors here seem to agree upon. But is it ‘the main lever to boost collaborative innovation’? I don’t think it is. An innovation culture ingrained in your company’s DNA is the ultimate achievement in the journey towards innovation excellence. That makes it a long term objective, not a lever. We can’t change a company’s culture in the short term, but we can change the climate. Look how changing a CEO can effect the climate instantly. In a similar way, the introduction of collaborative or social software effects the collaborative climate, which makes it an ideal lever to boost collaborative innovation. Social software spreads like a friendly virus that carries important value genes like freedom, trust, openness, playfulness and humor inside an organisation. If the adoption is successful – it usually is if the management doesn’t fight it – the organisation will gradually adapt to these values and they will become an integral part of its own DNA in the long term.

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

Manny Max Amit • Humans + Process + Technology = Collaborative Innovation . You need all these key factors to innovate successfully. It is a winning combination.

Sylvie Brémond Mookherjee • The cultural habits have to be adapted to the new deal opened by the collaborative tools …tools are not the priority but they help for the mind and behavior change.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Michel Vandenberghe • 4) Other

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Fabrice Jarry • Innovation without method can’t exist. Human dimension is very important but not enought. Have a look  http://www.asit.info

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

Frank Wiesebron • Of course it is Human dimension and Culture, but this Culture has to be created by Management’s leadership in the Innovation Process.

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Françoise Thomas-Rantet • i think that Human dimension and Culture is the main booster for collaborative behaviour: process management will enhance, tools will facilitate.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Nitten Nair • Its mainly the human dimension and culture.. Many organisations tend to overlook the human factor in almost all their operations including innovation.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Michel Operto • Human dimension wins but tools can greatly facilitate or hinder the amount of sharing and collaboration.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Anil Pagar • As they say everything that happens to Human beings is what they aspire/desire, in essence its all mind game, the aspirations and desires are stimulated when incubated in the right culture… however methodical handling and management of idea life cycle encourages individuals to aspire and desire more… and what better than Software tools to seamlessly manage idea life cycle methodically to encourage individuals to ideate and be recognized… They are all important

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Michael Gumnor • My innovation is my breakfast.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Said Belhadj • Just as mind is over matter, it’s man over process and man over software tools. We cannot just create processes and software tools for workers to use. The processes and tools used must be understood, convincing, enmeshing with humanity to bring the desired value. The tools and processes must match the natural-ness of things humans ennjoy and can identify with: Are you pushing the process or tools? or are they being ‘pulled’ by your workers? Are they self-evolving, with builtin feedback?

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

David Lubowa • I truly believe its all within the process management of ideas because to drive an idea regardless of culture,creed or tool one has to cohesively manage his/her thought process to create, discuss and execute that which they think will work, checks and balances follow suit in which case you would have created a starting point for the collaboration environment.

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Hans Konstapel • About Collaborative Innovation: http://slidesha.re/eF8d2I

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Olga KURYSHKO • To me, the process management of ideas is vitally important, however, it has little value if the human dimension and the culture of innovation in general is missing. At the same time, more the culture of innovation is incarnated in a company, more the process management of ideas is needed.

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Vincent Lorphelin • As soon as you feel you create value for the private benefit of somebody else, you stop to contribute. A major issue will be to track all the contributions – and their usefulness – and reward every contributor on a pro rata basis.

> Voted for 3) The Software Tools and Solutions ?

El Mostafa Berjamy • I share the same opinion that Ms Caroline. the Human dimension and Culture are very importante. however, culture is not sufficient and man without process management of ideas can’t improve much things. Kindest regards.

> Voted for 2) The Process Management of Ideas ?

Jean-Philippe Doyen • a fool with a tool is still a fool

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Brian Monks • I believe more and more that you can put make all the tools available and have perfected the process but if the work-place culture isn’t in sync, all that will go for naught.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Alain Deza • They all go together: culture, process & tools. Culture is key as the two others will not survive in the long term without it. Process & tools are more enablers that will support and facilitate innovation but not foster it nor stengthen the DNA of the organisation like Culture will.

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?

Mohammed Charki • interesting to see from preliminary results that the trend shows GenX to be considering the human dimension being more important than the Management Dimension as shows the trend for GenY and GenZ, i’d be very interested in getting the final raw data and push the analysis a step further based on background and experiences – the thing is that you can’t separate the managerial process from the human dimension but then the question is having right human resource without the right managerial process would be as or less effective than the contrary? part of the answer can be found in a start-up and other part in a big group

> Voted for 1) The Human dimension and the Culture ?