Connectional Intelligence and Problem Solving

A toothpaste company faced a mechanical issue with fluoride. Unable to solve it internally, they used InnoCentive, a crowdsourcing platform, where a physicist identified the problem as physics-related, not chemistry. This experience highlighted the importance of diverse expertise and led to the concept of connectional intelligence, which includes curiosity, combination, courage, community, and combustion as key traits for innovation and problem-solving.

What was the main issue faced by the toothpaste company?

• The company had too many chemists.

• The fluoride was getting stuck in the equipment.

• The fluoride was too expensive.

• The toothpaste was not selling well.

Who ultimately solved the fluoride problem?

• A marketing expert

• A chemist from the company

• A physicist from Canada

• An engineer from the company

What did the company learn about problem-solving?

• Problems should only be solved internally.

• Diverse expertise can lead to unexpected solutions.

• Only chemists can solve chemistry problems.

• Traditional resumes are the best indicator of problem-solving ability.

What is the first C of connectional intelligence?

• Community

• Combination

• Curiosity

• Courage

How does curiosity contribute to connectional intelligence?

• By avoiding questions altogether

• By focusing on traditional solutions

• By designing questions to engage external networks

• By asking questions only within your network

What is the role of combination in connectional intelligence?

• To focus on a single idea

• To keep ideas separate

• To combine similar ideas

• To merge different ideas and resources

What does courage involve in the context of connectional intelligence?

• Avoiding difficult conversations

• Only having easy conversations

• Having and sustaining difficult conversations

• Ignoring conversations

How can communities contribute to connectional intelligence?

• By sticking to traditional roles

• By sparking new ideas beyond traditional forums

• By focusing only on internal networks

• By avoiding collaboration

What is the final C of connectional intelligence?

• Combustion

• Community

• Courage

• Curiosity

What does combustion involve in connectional intelligence?

• Ignoring community input

• Avoiding new ideas

• Mobilizing and curating communities to create value

• Focusing on individual efforts