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"It wasn't rocket science, we wanted to make ideas more accessible and create a process for managing those ideas - we approached it expecting success"
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"Normally I help on projects, then set them free," says Dave Newbold, an IBM Distinguished Engineer. But while presenting ThinkPlace, IBM's open and collaborative ideas marketplace, to the Academy of Technology's technology council, one of the members voiced a concern that provided Dave with a new way of thinking about his projects. The colleague said: "You know what I hate about these projects? The people who create them never have to use them."
A year before that meeting, Dave had joined the ThinkPlace team, during its initial phase -- when processes and interfaces for the program were being explored. His background in collaboration allowed the team to tighten the interface around a central concept brought forth by IBM leadership - make ThinkPlace a cultural change agent within IBM. "It wasn't rocket science, we wanted to make ideas more accessible and create a process for managing those ideas - we approached it expecting success," says Dave. "The result was people really collaborating with their peers across the company. Employees from all over are visiting and participating, and that's a testament to IBM's culture and the people who work here."
So when an academy member challenged Dave to stay involved, he assumed the title of innovation catalyst and stayed with the application to help it become a vibrant community. Behind the scenes, more work was done to improve the processes and ensure that ideas make it to development. "One of the biggest hurdles has been the diverse culture across IBM and giving the innovations a pathway into the company." Dave's close involvement has helped keep the development team focused on improving the program by adding value where it can have the greatest affect - another subtle innovation for IBM's business culture.
When he's not reviewing ideas on ThinkPlace, Dave Newbold chairs the IBM CIO's technology board and is responsible for tracking emerging technologies for use within IBM. Dave also manages the CIO's research portfolio in partnership with IBM Research, product teams and universities worldwide. He joined the CIO on demand technology team from Lotus Development, where he has had a 12-year career, creating Internet and knowledge discovery extensions to the Notes/Domino platform, Lotus Discovery Server and notes.net.
Before joining Lotus, Dave worked in various engineering and consulting roles for 3Com and NYNEX Business Systems. Dave studied architectural history at Bennington College.
