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Knowledge production and decision making to the max

cbased is a truly knowledge based company that efficiently combines inhouse research with processes and tools that tap the immense pool of knowledge available in communities. We create

·         processes that combine individual genius with collective knowledge through the creation of lively communities

·         tools that structure idea generation processes, crowdsource documents and efficiently deal with large amounts of knowledge

·         algorithms and processes that help to understand discussion and consequently to find consensus

·         empirical research based on sound methods, firsthand experience and a large network of partners.

cbased has patented a consensus algorithm in the US, received together with the Austrian Council the EPSA Best Practice Certificate 2011, and is an OECD best practice example for public sector innovation.

Our services

cbased combines software development with  the design and management of decision processes and empirical research. The resulting combinations create new avenues to better and consensual decisions that create sufficient momentum for implementation. Here are the services in more detail:  

Design of decision making processes that maximize consensus

Ideally, making a decision is the final step after an in depth analytic and consensus finding process that is well described by the SECI model developed by Prof. Ikujiro Nonaka. In this model “Socialization” is the sharing and creating of tacit knowledge through direct experience, “Externalization” the articulation of tacit knowledge through dialogue and reflection. “Combination” is the systemizing and applying of explicit knowledge and information and “Internalization” the earning and acquiring of new tacit knowledge in practice.

We use this model to deliver tailormade decision making processes that combine individual genius with group intelligence and involve different communities at different level of the process. The aim is to create efficient processes, consensus and momentum for the implementation of the decisions taken. We favour decision making processes that insource as much knowledge as possible. Making the final decision on controversial issues in such an environment is neither strictly hierarchical nor democratic but a mixture of both: participatory.

 

Software tools that increase participation in decision making irrespective of location or position

cbased has developed and programmed tools that help to create discussion and decision making spaces (called “Ba” by Ikujiro Nonaka) for each of the steps in the SECI model:

cbasedQA is a straightforward but flexible question and answer tool that helps to identify important and critical issues through voting and commenting on questions organized in a portal. SECI phase: Sozialisation
cbasedIG models an idea generation process that accommodates brainstorming, idea development and selection phases to elaborate a solid portfolio of new ideas. SECI phase: Externalization
cbasedDCS – a document crowdsourcing tool – enables the broad discussion of documents, e.g. strategies, that may be based on the ideas created with cbasedIG. iPhone, iPad and Android apps allow the use of mobile devices when participating in cbasedDCS. SECI phase: Combination

The cbased tools are complimentary to offline process elements where people meet face to face and work on the issues. In fact, we prefer to design processes that combine offline and online elements in a meaningful way to create even more productive constellations. Of course, access to the tools can be open or precisely restricted to selected persons or communities. The layout of the site can be changed according to specifications.

Research and policy consulting

We also perform and organise research and policy advice on topics such as innovation, competitiveness, regulatory issues and regional development. We are also involved in evaluations of public sector interventions. We do this with our network of leading European research institutes and use our tools when appropriate.

The tools in more detail

What is the problem?

Access to knowledge is a crucial issues for decision making. Knowledge in our society is embodied in humans which are dispersed across the globe. Even within organisations it is difficult to mobilise people to contribute their knowledge and to have structures that allow them to participate in decision making. Making efficient and well-accepted decisions in such an environment is difficult, as both the relevant and yet dispersed knowledge and the goals of the stakeholders have to be integrated. Such decisions usually entail costly physical and virtual meetings and electronic communications like E-mail which create highly fragmented and unstructured content and result in chaos for decision processes of even modest size. Unanticipated side effects, alienation between decision makers and stakeholders and a loss of trust are often the results of such processes.

What is the solution and how does it work?

In stark contrast to this situation, cbased creates a virtual space where the issues at stake can be discussed and consensual solutions are developed in a very efficient way. The content items discussed in these Bas are either suggestions and questions (cbasedQA) or ideas (cbasedIG) or documents (cbasedDCS).

The discussions in the Bas are managed by cbased. The process behind cbasedDCS is illustrative in this respect. The document at the centre of cbasedDCS Ba, e.g. a strategy, is discussed at the paragraph level through voting and commenting – the first phase of the process. This part of the processes reduces the number of issues to be discussed – and thus the complexity - significantly as all noncontroversial paragraphs are obviously accepted by the community.

In the second phase consensual solutions are generted for the identified controversial issues. This can be done by a simple survey – a very traditional and robust approach – or by the patented cbased consensus algorithm which is a quick and easy way to maximise consensus. The consensus algorithm identifies those paragraphs that should be changed and also the comments that should be considered in this process.

In the third phase, feedback is given and the decisions are explained to the community. This phase is often neglected in traditional processes but is quintessential for participative decision making processes: Adequate feedback carries the momentum over to the implementation phase and keeps the community motivated to contribute to future participative decision making processes.

Examples

The merger of A1 and Telekom Austria was a successful business application of cbased with about 7000 participants. Managing strategy and communications processes throughout a merger is always a big challenge. cbasedQA helped to identify pressing questions among employees and was online throughout the merger process. The new strategy was elaborated in small teams while the outcome was then discussed on cbasedDCS. This allowed all employees to participate in the formulation of the strategy for the new company and to contribute their knowledge and ideas. This process tapped the large knowledge within the companies by creating a common space where the now merged employees could discuss and influence the strategy process. Last but not least, the discussion of the strategy document facilitated communication between top management and employees at all levels of the hierarchy and helped in diffusing the content of the new strategy.

DG Enterprise and Industry used cbasedDCS to elaborate the pillars for their future cluster strategy together with stakeholders that are dispersed across Europe. The three step process started as a private consultation among institutional stakeholders and was opened to everybody interested in the topic in the second phase. The third phase was a voting session on open issues at the European Cluster Conference. This was achieved with the help of cbased apps for iPhone and Android. The resulting changes were immediately introduced into the Cluster Manifesto which will now guide the future European policy in this area.

cbasedIG was used by the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) to reorganise the teaching program Production Management to accommodate the Bologna architecture. Based on the ideas given by former students significant changes in the program were implemented that resulted in quadrupling students´ interest.

Benefits/Experiences

·         massive broadening of the knowledge base that enters a decision

·         more reliable decisions through integrating more knowledge and stakeholder interests

·         faster implementation of decisions through earlier involvement of stakeholders

·         efficient diffusion of relevant issues in large communities

·         creation of a community

·         improvement of organizational culture and customer relationship

·         efficient crowdsourcing of innovative ideas. relevant issues and problems

·         increase of the legitimacy of the proponent within the community

·         improved visibility, control and efficiency of the decision making process

·         high degree of self regulation of the discussion

·         reconnection of different layers in organisations

·         improved efficiency of top down and bottom up communications

About cbased

cbased reflects the experiences and mindsets of the founders - Hannes Leo and Alfred Taudes - and the young team around them. cbased was founded in 2010 and received support from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) to develop the document crowdsourcing tool and the consensus algorithm. cbased has patented a consensus algorithm in the US, received together with the Austrian Council the EPSA Best Practice Certificate 2011, and is an OECD best practice example for public sector innovation. cbased has offices in Vienna and Brussels. 

Feedback

We would be happy to receive your comments and questions on the above description of cbased on www.cbased.com/en/consultation/cbased. Please register to vote and comment on the site or contact us directly.

Contact

Hannes Leo, Director

leo@cbased.com

+43 664 352 08 12

+32 484 24 24 94