Claims
- 1. A system for facilitating a self-organizing workforce of one or more workers comprising:
at least one worksite; at least one work module associated with the at least one worksite, the at least one work module for enabling the one or more workers to work on at least one idea; at least one worker module associated with the at least one worksite, the at least one worker module for tracking at least one worker credential for the one or more workers; and wherein the at least one worker credential is a function of the one or more workers' work on the at least one idea.
- 2. The system of claim 1 further including at least one idea definition module associated with the at least one worksite, the at least one idea definition module for enabling the one or more workers to post the at least one idea to the at least one worksite.
- 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one work module includes a posting module for the one or more workers to work on the at least one idea by providing at least one post discussing some aspect of the at least one idea.
- 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the posting module further includes at least one descriptor selection for characterizing the at least one post.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one descriptor selection is selected from an agree selection, a disagree selection, a benefit selection, a challenge selection, an opportunity selection, a fact selection, or a correction selection.
- 6. The system of claim 3 wherein the posting module includes a message board.
- 7. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one work module includes a voting module for the one or more workers to work on the at least one idea or the at least one post by providing a vote on the merits of the at least one idea or the at least one post.
- 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the voting module includes at least one weighted voting selection.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one weighted voting selection includes a −1 voting selection, a 0 voting selection, a +1 voting selection, a +2 voting selection, and a +3 voting selection.
- 10. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one work module includes a recommendation module for the one or more workers to work on the at least one idea by providing a recommendation for the outcome of the at least one idea.
- 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the recommendation module includes a summarization selection, an abandonment selection, and a further funding selection.
- 12. The system of claim 3 wherein the one or more workers include a first worker and a second worker, the at least one work module includes a linking module for the second worker to establish a link relationship to the first worker.
- 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the linking module includes a positive link selection, a negative link selection, and a neutral link selection.
- 14. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one worker credential includes a link credential that is a function of the link relationship.
- 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the links credential for the first worker is incremented by 1 when the link relationship is established.
- 16. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one worker credential includes a wisdom credential that is a function of the recommendation for the outcome of the at least one idea.
- 17. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one worker credential includes a merit credential that is a function of the post and the vote.
- 18. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one worker credential includes a links credential, a wisdom credential, a merit credential, and an influence credential, the influence credential being a function of the links credential, the wisdom credential, and the merit credential.
- 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one worksite is associated with a worksite rules module for defining at least one worksite rule for the at least one worksite.
- 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes at least one configurable worker credential coefficient.
- 21. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes a configurable percentage allocation of merit points for work performed in the posting module and a configurable percentage allocation of merit points for work performed in the voting module.
- 22. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes an influence-weighted voting selection for scaling the one or more workers vote as a function of the influence credential, an influence-weighted posting selection for scaling the one or more workers post as a function of the influence credential, and an influence-weighted recommendation selection for scaling the one or more workers recommendation as a function of the influence credential.
- 23. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes a minimum influence for posting selection for setting a minimum influence credential to access the posting module.
- 24. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes a minimum influence for voting selection for setting a minimum influence credential to access the voting module.
- 25. A method for facilitating a self-organizing workforce of one or more workers comprising:
providing a worksite having a set of worksite rules; providing at least one work module associated with the worksite for the one or more workers to collaborate on at least one idea; associating at least one worker credential with the one or more workers; and updating the at least one worker credential for the one or more workers as a function of the collaboration.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one work module includes a posting module for the one or more workers to collaborate on the at least one idea by providing at least one post, and further including the operations of:
receiving the at least one post; and displaying the at least one post in association with the at least one idea.
- 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the posting module further includes at least one descriptor selection for characterizing the at least one post.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one descriptor selection is selected from an agree selection, a disagree selection, a benefit selection, a challenge selection, an opportunity selection, a fact selection, or a correction selection.
- 29. The method of claim 26 wherein the posting module includes a message board.
- 30. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one work module includes a voting module for the one or more workers to collaborate on the at least one idea by providing a voting selection corresponding with the at least one idea or the at least one post and further including the operations of:
receiving the voting selection; and displaying the voting selection in association with the at least one idea or the at least one post.
- 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the voting module includes at least one weighted voting selection.
- 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the at least one weighted voting selection includes a −1 voting selection, a 0 voting selection, a +1 voting selection, a +2 voting selection, and a +3 voting selection.
- 33. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one work module includes a recommendation module for the one or more workers to collaborate on the at least one idea by providing a recommended outcome for the at least one idea, and further including the operations of:
receiving the recommended outcome; and displaying the recommended outcome in association with the at least one idea.
- 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the recommendation module includes a summarization outcome, an abandonment outcome, and a further funding outcome.
- 35. The method of claim 34 further including the operation of taking the recommended outcome.
- 36. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one work module includes a linking module for one of the one or more workers to collaborate on the at least one idea by establishing a link to another of the one or more workers.
- 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the linking module includes a positive link selection for establishing a positive link, a negative link selection for establishing a negative link, and a neutral link selection for establishing a neutral link.
- 38. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one worksite rule include at least one configurable worker credential coefficient.
- 39. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes a configurable posting percentage allocation of merit points for the work performed in the posting module.
- 40. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes a configurable voting percentage allocation of merit points for the work performed in the voting module.
- 41. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes an influence-weighted voting selection for scaling the one or more workers vote as a function of the influence credential, an influence-weighted posting selection for scaling the one or more workers post as a function of the influence credential, and an influence-weighted recommendation selection for scaling the one or more workers recommendation as a function of the influence credential.
- 42. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one worksite rule includes at least one minimum influence selection for setting a minimum influence to perform work.
- 43. The method of claim 25 further including the operation of closing the collaboration on the idea.
- 44. The method of claim 43 wherein the operation of closing includes selecting to summarize the idea or selecting to abandon the idea.
- 45. The method of claim 25 further including the operation of assigning the at least one idea to one of a plurality of stage gates.
- 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the plurality of stage gates includes an open stage gate, a summarized stage gate, a reviewed stage gate, a sponsored stage gate, and an implemented stage gate.
- 47. A method for facilitating a self-organizing workforce of one or more workers comprising:
receiving a first post from a first worker, the first post having a vote total; receiving a vote on the first post from a second worker, the vote having an associated vote value; adding the vote value to the vote total for the post to determine a new vote total; receiving a second post from the second worker, the second post having a second vote total; receiving a second vote on the second post from a third worker, the second vote having an associated second vote value; adding the second vote value to the second vote total for the second post to determine a second new vote total; adding the new vote total by second new vote total to determine an overall vote total; and dividing the vote value by the overall vote total to determine a post credit for the first worker.
- 48. The method of claim 47 further including the operation of:
determining if influence-weighted voting is selected; and after the operation of receiving a vote, if influence-weighted voting is selected, multiplying the influence credential by the vote value to influence weight the vote value.
- 49. The method of claim 48 further including:
assigning a posting percent allocation of merit points; multiplying the posting percentage allocation of merit points to the post credit for the idea to determine an allocated posting merit; assigning a voting percent allocation of merit points; determining a vote credit for the idea; multiplying the voting percentage allocation of merit points to the vote credit for the idea to determine an allocated voting merit; and adding the allocated posting merit to the allocated voting merit to determine a total worker credit for the first worker.
- 50. The method of claim 49 further including:
receiving a merit points assignment for the idea; and multiplying the total worker credit for the first worker by the merit points assignment for the idea to determine the total merit points for the first worker.
- 51. The method of claim 50 wherein the merit credential is associated with a pecuniary interest.
- 52. A method for a plurality of workers to collaborate on an idea and to receive compensation for the collaboration comprising:
providing a message board having at least one idea posted thereon, the at least one idea having an associated number of merit points; providing a posting module for a first worker to provide a post of a discussion about the idea; providing a voting module associated with the post for additional workers to provide a vote on the post; and assigning a portion of the associated number of merit points to the first worker as a function of the post.
- 53. The method of claim 52 wherein the merit points being associated with a pecuniary interest.
- 54. The method of claim 52 further including the operation of:
assigning a portion of the associated number of merit points to the first worker as a function of the vote.
- 55. The method of claim 52 further including the operation of:
providing a linking module associated with the post for the additional workers to establish a link with the first worker.
- 56. The method of claim 52 further including the operation of:
providing a recommendation module associated with the post for the additional workers to submit a recommended outcome for the idea.
- 57. The method of claim 56 further including the operation of:
assigning at least one worker credential to the first worker and the additional workers.
- 58. The method of claim 57 wherein the at least one worker credential includes a merit credential, a links credential, a wisdom credential, and an influence credential.
- 59. The method of claim 58 wherein the merit credential is a function of the assigning a portion of the associated number of merit points, the links credential is a function of the link, the wisdom credential is a function of the recommended outcome, and the influence credential is a function of the merit credential, the links credential, and the wisdom credential.
- 60. The method of claim 56 wherein one or more of the worker credentials are configurable to evaporate.
- 61. A method for a third party to invest in a company product comprising:
establishing a worksite with an idea associated with the company product; selling at least one merit point to the third party; and allocating the at least one merit point to the idea.
- 62. The method of claim 61 further including the operation:
compensating the third party in proportion to the operation of selling the at least one merit point to the third party.
- 63. The method of claim 62 further including the operations of:
determining a revenue from sales of the product; and allocating a portion of the revenue to the third party in proportion to the operation of selling the at least one merit point to the third party.
- 64. A system for facilitating the self-organization of a plurality of workers, comprising:
an idea definition module for defining an idea; a rules module for specifying worksite rules; a plurality of respective worker modules for the workers, each of the worker modules having a credential parameter and a capability of effecting work on the idea; and a work module responsive to the idea definition module, the rules module, and the worker modules for processing the work of the workers on the idea to enable collaboration amongst the workers in accordance with the worksite rules, and for determining the credential parameters in accordance with work of the workers on the idea and links between the workers.
- 65. The system of claim 64 further comprising:
an additional idea definition module for posting an additional idea, the worker modules further having a capability of effecting work on the additional idea; an additional rules module for specifying additional worksite rules; and an additional work module responsive to the additional idea definition module, the additional rules module, and the worker modules for processing the work of the workers on the additional idea to enable collaboration amongst the workers in accordance with the additional worksite rules, and for determining the credential parameters in accordance with work of the workers on the additional idea and additional links between the workers.
- 66. The system of claim 64 wherein the capability of effecting work in each of the worker modules comprises a capability of vetting, further defining, criticizing, encouraging, focusing, voting, posting, identifying problems with the idea, identifying errors in the idea, describing a benefit with the idea, expressing thoughts in regard to the idea, or any combination thereof.
- 67. The system of claim 64 wherein the credential parameter in each of the worker modules comprises merit, link, wisdom, or influence.
- 68. The system of claim 64 wherein the worksite rules specified by the rules module comprises rules, incentives, settings, or any combination thereof.
- 69. A method for facilitating the self-organization of a plurality of workers, comprising:
establishing rules of collaboration for the workers; establishing an idea for the workers to work on; associating worker credentials with the workers; monitoring collaboration of the workers on the idea under the rules of collaboration, each of the workers having an influence on the collaboration; determining the worker credentials as a function of the collaboration; and rewarding the workers as a function of the worker credentials.
- 70. The method of claim 69 further comprising adjusting the influence of each of the workers on the collaboration based on the worker credentials.
- 71. The method of claim 69 wherein:
the collaboration comprises evaluations by some of the workers of others of the workers; and the determining step comprises, for a first one of the workers, determining a link credential for the first worker in accordance with evaluations of the first worker by at least some of the other workers, and further comprises, for a second one of the workers, determining a link credential for the second worker in accordance with evaluations of the second worker by at least some of the other workers.
- 72 The method of claim 69 wherein:
the collaboration comprises distribution of merit points to at least some of the workers; and the determining step comprises, for a first one of the workers, determining a merit credential for the first worker in accordance with a first assignment of merit points by an administrator, and further comprises, for a second one of the workers, determining a merit credential for the second worker in accordance with a second assignment of merit points by the administrator.
- 73. The method of claim 69 wherein:
the collaboration comprises recommendations of abandonment or advancement of the idea by at least some of the workers and an action of advancement or abandonment taken by an administrator; and the determining step comprises, for a first one of the workers, determining a wisdom credential for the first worker in accordance with whether a recommendation for advancement or abandonment made by the first worker matches the action of advancement or abandonment taken by the administrator, and further comprises, for a second one of the workers, determining a wisdom credential for the second worker in accordance with whether a recommendation for advancement or abandonment made by the second worker matches the action of advancement or abandonment taken by the administrator.
- 74. The method of claim 69 wherein:
the collaboration comprises evaluations by some of the workers of others of the workers, distribution of merit points to at least some of the workers, and recommendations of abandonment or advancement of the idea by at least some of the workers and an action of advancement or abandonment taken by an administrator; the determining step comprises, for a first one of the workers: determining a link credential for the first worker in accordance with evaluations of the first worker by at least some of the other workers; determining a merit credential for the first worker in accordance with a first assignment of merit points by an administrator; determining a wisdom credential for the first worker in accordance with whether a recommendation for advancement or abandonment made by the first worker matches the action of advancement or abandonment taken by the administrator; the determining step further comprises, for a second one of the workers, determining a link credential for the second worker in accordance with evaluations of the second worker by at least some of the other workers; determining a merit credential for the second worker in accordance with a second assignment of merit points by the administrator; and determining a wisdom credential for the second worker in accordance with whether a recommendation for advancement or abandonment made by the second worker matches the action of advancement or abandonment taken by the administrator.
- 75. A method for a worker to collaborate with a plurality of other workers, comprising:
receiving a worker credential; evaluating an idea posted on a worksite; furnishing results of the idea evaluating step to a work module, the results of the idea evaluating step being weighed in accordance with the worker credential; evaluating comments of other workers on the idea, the comments of the other workers being posted on the worksite; furnishing results of the comments evaluating step to the work module, the results of the comments evaluating step being weighed in accordance with the worker credential; posting further comments on the idea to the worksite; and receiving an adjustment to the worker credential in accordance with evaluations by the other workers of the posted further comments.
- 76. The method of claim 75 further comprising posting another idea to the worksite, wherein the worker credential is farther adjusted in accordance with evaluations by the other workers of the posted another idea.
- 77. The method of claim 75 wherein the worker credential comprises merit, link wisdom, or influence.
- 78. The method of claim 75 further comprising receiving an adjustment to the worker credential in accordance with actions by an administrator of the worksite.
- 79. The method of claim 78 wherein the worker credential is influence.
- 80. The method of claim 79 wherein the action by an administrator is assignment of merit points.
- 81. The method of claim 79 wherein the action by an administrator is abandonment or advancement of an idea and the posted further comments include a recommendation of abandonment or advancement, the influence credential being adjusted based on whether the recommendation matches the action by the administrator.
- 82. The method of claim 75 wherein the worker credential is link.
- 83. The method of claim 75 wherein the worker credential is influence.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application serial No. 60/229,928, entitled “Scalable Internet Platform to Organize and Perform Commercially-Valuable Work” filed on Sep. 1, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60229928 |
Sep 2000 |
US |