When I tell you collective intelligence, I can already hear you think: “Another buzz word.”

Maybe.
But it is also a real search field, whose outlines we will define in a few minutes.

The concept ofcollective intelligence is the result of the observation of the animal world, in particular social insects such as ants, the bees Or the termites.

We can draw inspiration from them to make human communities function differently.

4 forms of collective intelligence

Single individuals have limited knowledge of their environment. However, they seek to optimize their decisions and actions.

They are therefore organized in communities of interest : company, association, team.

Objective: Connecting intelligence and knowledge.

There are four main forms of collective intelligence.

1. In a swarm

It is that of social animals.

Fascinating... and sometimes a bit fascinating.
Analogies with human societies remain fragile. What is natural in an ant is not necessarily natural in us.

2. Tribale

It is the collective intelligence of small groups: primitive tribes, sports teams, jazz groups.

It works well in organizations with human size.

3. Pyramidale

It is that of the hierarchical organization, typical of the 20th century company or the symphony orchestra.

It is based on a vertical structure.

4. Holomidale

It is the emerging form, made possible by the Internet.
One more organization decentralized, plus Connected, plus participatory.

Concept inspired by Jean François Noubel.

New forms of collective intelligence

Collective intelligence Holomidale, or global, is based on the collaborative Internet:

• Wikis
• Social networks
• Free software

Here, individuals share their knowledge and synchronize their actions.

The more individuals are interconnected, the more the collective becomes smart.

New tools facilitate these dynamics: 3D printing, Crowdsourcing, collaborative platforms.

We are seeing the emergence of more decentralized organizations, where money and competition are no longer the only drivers.

Utopian?

A few concrete examples

• Wikipedia, financed by the gift economy
• Citizen mobilization via social networks in case of emergency
• The projects resulting from open source software
• Hyperloop, an attempt at open innovation on a large scale

Boundaries and tips

1. Focus on animation quality

• Avoid “commercial coffee”
• Attention to group effects: conformism, ideological homogeneity

2. Do not seek collective decisions at all costs

Collective intelligence does not exempt managers from making decisions.

If the climate is not serene, it is better to postpone the decision.

3. Continue to value individual intelligence

• Each individual has their own opinion and interests.
• Expert advice is valuable

Neglecting expertise can lead to errors in judgment.

Towards a new fraternity?

Today, everything indicates a strong desire to reconnect with a joint project :

• Community involvement on the rise
• Business liberated
• Participatory democracy

Collective intelligence promises us connecting individuals to build a new form of fraternity.