ShareIdeas.org: Social Innovation in the Mobile Phone Industry*

Abstract:

On June 20, 2007, the world's leading mobile communications company, Nokia Corporation (Nokia) in collaboration with one of the world's leading telecom majors, Vodafone PLC, launched a wiki site called ShareIdeas.org. The site was launched with the aim of encouraging users to use mobile communications for addressing social and environmental challenges. The website featured how-to-guides and case studies citing success stories handled by organizations and individuals by collaborating online and using mobile technologies. While some analysts opined that the site was rich in content, others felt that its long-term success depended upon creation of increased community awareness.

Issues: » Sustainability. » Social innovation. » Knowledge sharing. » Information and communication technology. Introduction On June 20, 2007, Nokia Corporation (Nokia), the world leader in the mobile phone industry, in association with Vodafone Group PLC (Vodafone) launched a website called ShareIdeas.org (ShareIdeas). The website was launched with the stated aim of encouraging mobile phone users to collaborate and share their ideas and know-how on using mobile technologies to address environmental and social issues.... Questions for Discussion: 1. Discuss the rationale behind the launch of ShareIdeas.org. 2. Discuss the significance of mobile communications in handling social and environmental challenges. 3. Do you think ShareIdeas.org is a social innovation? Give reasons for your answer.

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Key words:
Innovation, social innovation, knowledge sharing, Nokia, Vodafone, ShareIdeas, promotion, financial management, organization management, collaboration, wiki, mobile communication, webinar, NGO

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